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Australia have successfully targeted opposition spinners repeatedly during this World Cup.
In their opening match of the tournament against England, Australia clobbered their tweakers for 71 runs from 10 overs, with 41 of those runs coming in boundaries.
They were similarly brutal against Sri Lanka’s slow bowlers, caning them for 169 from 24 overs, including 100 runs from boundaries.
In the quarter final against Pakistan, Australia’s batsmen went hard at the typically economical leg-spin of Shahid Afridi, who was given just four overs after conceding 30 runs.
Against India, they were more conservative in their approach against spin, preferring to target India’s quicks, all of whom have a tendency to leak runs under pressure.
Brendon McCullum will be hoping that Australia are overly cautious against his specialist spinner Daniel Vettori as they were when his side beat them in Auckland a month ago.
A Kiwi mate of mine recently remarked that, “Australia always seem to give too much respect to Dan Vettori’s bowling.”
The New Zealander’s crafty left-arm spin undoubtedly is worthy of respect. But Australia have long seemed content to just get through his overs without losing wickets rather than putting him under pressure, as they often do with other slow bowlers. Even during Australia’s glory era of the 2000s it was common to see their ballistic batting line-up merely knocking Vettori for ones and twos, happy to let him get 0-40 off his 10 overs, while attacking the other New Zealand bowlers.
McCullum would be delighted to see Australia follow this defensive strategy as he uses Vettori to control the tempo of a match. Typically this is done in the middle overs when aggressive sides like the Kiwis continue to seek wickets so as to try to stop the opposition from loading up for a massive final 20 overs.
In this period, Vettori plugs up one end, while strike bowlers like Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Corey Anderson operate at the other. Batsmen frustrated by their inability to score freely against Vettori’s accurate bowling often respond in frustration by trying to collar his bowling partner.
Southee, Boult and Anderson are composed and skilful enough to take advantage of this aggression and hence mid-innings wickets are earned.
Against Australia in Auckland, this tactic won New Zealand the game. McCullum showed what unerring faith he has in his veteran spinner by bringing him into the attack after just six overs, with Australia running rampant with 51 runs already on the board.
As Vettori speared the ball in at the stumps, Australia’s batsmen played him with trepidation. Rarely did they leave the crease, or employ the sweep shot, and as a result he was not forced to adjust his lengths. By the time they first struck him for a boundary, Vettori had figures of 2-18 from 6.4 overs.
The manner in which Vettori dried up the runs prompted a series of impatient strokes from the Aussie batsmen while opposed to his bowling partners.
Australia slumped to 9-106 and the match was all but over, with Vettori the underappreciated architect of this carnage. Australia cannot let history repeat itself when it comes to Vettori.
While neither of Australia’s openers, David Warner or Aaron Finch, are particularly comfortable against spin, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin and James Faulkner have all proved capable of dismantling even elite tweakers.
Obviously, hyper aggression should be avoided, or Vettori may well capitalise, but that group need to be mindful of trying to disrupt his rhythm.
Australia cannot allow him to dictate terms. If Vettori is able to settle into a groove and roll out 10 economical overs it will play into McCullum’s hands and make the rest of the Kiwi attack even more potent.
Conversely, if Vettori’s first few overs are expensive, McCullum’s carefully-hatched strategies will be disturbed and he’ll be forced into a less attractive plan B or C.
Attacking cricket has been the key to Australia’s success in this World Cup. To win the final they must channel that intent in the direction of one D. Vettori.