Saving key wickets early in an innings has become something of a Darren Lehmann specialty in limited overs and in Test matches.
Sunday’s 169-run opening partnership between Warner and Finch was touched with good fortune…but there were very few “get out” shots.
In fact Warner played like a Test opener, but Finch wasn’t far behind. People can point to Ballance’s dropped catch but that is the one ball I felt Finch didn’t handle well; and it still went like a rocket.
This tells us that Boof gave them some instruction.
“Get a start. Keep the strike turning over. Keep the ball mostly on the ground early on. Go aerial when you are confident. Build an innings and a partnership…”
Boof’s relationship with the players has reached such a level that he can give an instruction and they will trust him enough carry it out. Craig McDermott too. Messrs Marsh, Chappell, Bichel and Inverarity just smile and say very little.
Making Test Class openers out of players like Finch and Warner is one of the great strengths in Australian cricket.
Langer and Hayden, Rogers and Warner have both been non-traditional and attacking-style opening partnerships. As a result of these fore-running partnerships perhaps, Finch is never out of people’s minds.
“He’s a white-ball player,” they say.
“He can’t play red-ball cricket.”
We’ll see. Starting an innings in red ball cricket is the same as white ball cricket, and Boof has given Davey and Aaron a chance to play 50-50, 20-20 and in Finch’s case, maybe even Test matches in the future.
There will be times when Finch and Warner might lash out from the start, but not too often. If they put on 150-run partnerships every time they go out, Boof will be on cloud nine.
Australia might not have put in its best bowling and fielding effort yesterday, but the batting was terrific. Clarke, Bailey, The Big Show…all looked purposeful!
None really threw their wicket away; everyone defended their wicket very well. And of course it goes without saying that Watson was the only real failure and has since been dropped.
I think this may be the beginning of the end for Watto unless he gets fit, gets focused and does what he is told.
No longer can he dictate any terms to Boof and the leadership group. And the team will be better off without him.
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