Had Sri Lanka the T20 in Melbourne, it would have been a travesty. But they prevailed when Glenn Maxwell took it upon himself to become an umpire and instruct the Sri Lankans to get on with it.
Mahela Jayawardene politely told him to, “f… off.” Maxwell, perhaps aware that he had created a scene, missed the last ball and Sri Lanka deservedly won the series 2-0.
In the overall scheme of things, Sri Lanka lost the Tests 3-0, drew the one day internationals 2-2 and won the T20s 2-0.
You might say Australia have better Test credentials and Sri Lanka are better at limited overs.
I might be way out of line here but whoever picks the Aussie ODI and T20 teams and decides the batting orders needs to take a good long look at themselves.
Australia doesn’t have novelty bowlers of the Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulusekara, Thisara Perera and Ajantha Mendis ilk in the limited overs game. And I suspect the Aussie selectors use T20 and ODIs as a gauge for who has the mettle to play for Australia at Test level.
But with an ounce of re-arrangement of the batting, an added bowler here and there, some field placements which are designed to restrict and get wickets and some hitters early in the order, Australia could beat Sri Lanka four times out of five
Could people like David Hussey, Luke Pomersbach, Tim Ludemann, Dirk Nannes, Ben Rohrer, Travis Birt, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa and Chris Lynn be T20 candidates? Certainly!
Could Australia open with David Warner and Adam Voges, bat Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh and Matthew Wade before George Bailey and introduce some of the above names into the bowling line-up? Again, certainly!
And could George Bailey make his bowlers use the off speed ball and the wide yorker with appropriate field placings? Damn tootin’!
I also wonder whether it is wise to be using Australia’s most promising left arm pace bowler in T20 games? Mitch Starc is better placed at ODI, Test match and Shield games.
Maybe Wade is better suited to Tests and ODIs, which would leave a spot for Brad Haddin and Ludemann to fight for in T20?
If George Bailey is to be the anchor batsman in T20, then maybe Voges is dropped for a blaster like Pommersbatch, Birt or Rohrer?
And maybe we need five T20 games and only three ODI games on these tours?
John
Guest
Shaun Marsh may have scored 47 last night (off 40 balls) but the fact remains that his career strike rate in T20 is only 101.25. This is well under par for a top order batsmen in this form of the game where a S/R of 125 minimum is required in order for a team to attain a competitive score. Marsh just cannot seem to turn the strike over early in his innings and this was extremely costly in the first T20 game where he took 17 balls to score 6 runs - his wastage of the early overs cost Austalia victory in that match. Marsh has had his chances and has been found wanting. Surely there are better options.
ThomasHudson9
Roar Pro
I think our poor performances could lead some to believe that the Big Bash competition is a poor standard of Cricket. I do think though, that Sri Lanka seem to be able to concentrate and apply themselves better to 50 over and 20 over games rather than Test matches.
Red Kev
Guest
Watson would be first picked, then Warner. Not sure if Finch really has what it takes.
brian
Guest
You do realise Haddin retired from t20 cricket in 2011?
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Mitchell Starc was the leading wicket taker in all T20 games in the world last year. He's got to be the first player picked for our T20 side... Most of your criticism isn't really valid. They've picked a side based on T20 performances, which is basically what you're asking for them to do. Warner, Finch and Marsh are the three best T20 bats in the country. They are rightfully our top three. When fit, Watson ought to open with Warner. I agree in an advocation for David Hussey, he's been harshly treated. But they see Glenn Maxwell as a younger version of him and ready to take over that role. But other than that, most of the side is good. I think Lyon could come into contention as the spinner, remember he made his name in the Big Bash. Clint McKay is another good option. We only lost by three runs, if the game was going to 20 overs, we might well have cruised home. I wouldn't be too critical, Sri Lanka are world number one. We did fairly well last night.
Matt
Guest
The guys last night are good, they just didn't perform well enough to win. Selection wise there are more than enough players. Could easily make a 20 man squad chock full of talent based on the BBL performances. Except Laughlin. My god, he only averages a smidge under Hussey, who is also a decent batter. Not sure why we have a "specialist" bowler when a part timer can do just a good (or bad...) a job, plus score some runs.
David
Guest
wade hit 72 of 43 in a t20 last year remember?
AndyMack
Guest
I like our top 3 of Finch, Warner and Marsh. That is world class (we just need to give Finch a few games to find his feet, but will be a gun). Voges can hit the ball big, but I agree that Rohrer might also be an option in the middle as well. Would prob play both these guys in front of Captain George.