Allrounder Glenn Maxwell says Australia need to be more adventurous with their shot-making in a bid to break the rhythm of Sri Lanka’s pace spearhead Lasith Malinga.
Malinga (0-19 off four overs) and fellow quick Nuwan Kulasekara (1-21 off four) helped restrict Australia to just 36 runs from the final five overs of their innings of 3-137 in Saturday night’s opening Twenty20 clash at ANZ Stadium.
The home side were unable to hit out late despite having seven wickets in the shed and paid the price as Sri Lanka tallied 5-139 with seven deliveries to spare.
Seventh-ranked Australia host the second and final match of the series at the MCG on Monday night and Maxwell says the top-ranked Sri Lankans are beatable despite their daunting display of late-innings “death” bowling.
“We dropped three catches so that’s going to have to improve,” Maxwell said on Sunday.
“The batting, we’re going to have to find ways to score at the death (facing) yorkers.
“And the bowling, we’ve just got to execute a lot better at the end.”
Maxwell described his BBL Melbourne Stars’ teammate Malinga as clearly the best bowler in T20 international cricket.
“He is so difficult and he is so unique (with) the angle he comes in and the slower balls as well,” Maxwell said.
“He has amazing control and great variation.
“We have to find a way to score.
“We had seven wickets in hand at the end. We just probably needed to take a few more risks.
“We’ll see some different techniques shown.
“There won’t be the steady cricket that we probably showed last night.
“We were very good as far as hitting gaps and singles but that probably would have been more handy in the one-day team.
“The Twenty20 stuff, we’ve just got to be ahead of the game.
“Whether it be lap-shots, reverse-sweeps, backing away, charging, all those sorts of things.
“We even saw (Tillakaratne) Dilshan’s scoop. That put us on the back foot and that was an incredible shot (over the wicketkeeper’s head for six).”
Opener David Warner’s unbeaten 90 off 62 deliveries was the highlight of Australia’s innings while Aaron Finch (one) and Shaun Marsh (six) struggled to carry strong domestic T20 form onto the international stage.
Adam Voges (25 not out off 29 balls with no boundaries) has drawn criticism for failing to produce some late fireworks.
Despite some fielding lapses, one highlight in game one was Ben Laughlin’s diving catch to dismiss Dilshan.
However the seam bowler has been receiving plenty of feedback on Twitter from fans following his 19-run final over.
“We all enjoy the banter on Twitter. It’s open to everyone to give you a nice little spray,” Maxwell grinned.
Pace bowler James Faulkner is a possible inclusion for game two which could be at the expense of Laughlin.
john
Guest
everyone who is constantly bagging and saying maxwell is no good should just zip their mouths the guy is only 24 and has a long way to go, he is only going to improve and get better. Andrew Symonds who arguably was our most destructive and entertaining allrounder started his career poorly. He averaged under 20 in odi's before he scored that brilliant 143 against pakistan in the 03 world cup and averaged just over 15 with the bat in his first 10 test matches. His average with the ball wasn't that great either. All these comments are just mean and harsh to a young talented cricketer.
Jason
Guest
Is anyone else annoyed that there is a T20 scheduled for today rather than Test or ODIs? It's a public holiday - before T20s came along we would have had the TV on during the day with a test or ODI showing while you had friends over for a BBQ. Now you have to wait until 7.30 when everyone's gone home.
Red Kev
Guest
Australia is taking risks, putting Maxwell in the XI is a gamble more likely to backfire than come off.
Charles Plowdog
Guest
Then again get 50 runs and the next thing you know they're on the plane for India!
Dean
Guest
Yes agree, Maxwell should first get match wining performnce and then hand out advice.
Kris
Guest
Why would anyone take a risk, when they drop people after one crap match! No wonder Marsh and Finch got stage fright -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Pies&Beer
Guest
Maxwell shouldn't even talk, he is arguably the worst player to ever play for Australia. If this hack or Steve Smith get a test spot gig ahead of Usman Khawaja then the selectors have gone made and need to be made accountable. Can you imagine Maxwell in India? It's be carnage, his pies would be smashed for 6.. His no technique batting would make him a bunny to every bowler. How a 4th grade cricketer ever got so far up the pecking order is beyond me.. Can't bat, can't bowl.. Complete nuffie.