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.
Ken
Guest
I think you ascribe way too much credit to Lehmann. The true coaches are McDermott & Mick Young, and look at how our bowling and fielding has stood up in the test series. (We still need a batting coach.) Lehmann should basically stick to shouting beers after we win and instructing players on how to behave like bogans.
Shmick
Guest
Geez, a bloke's taken the time to write and share an article. Don't just dismiss it as rubbish and gang up on him simply because you disagree.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Rogers and Warner had a 157 run partnership in Perth, second innings. Though you're right overall. 5/130 or thereabouts in every 1st innings suggests that we didn't save key wickets early at all. The Finch stuff from the article is hilarious :)
Punter
Guest
Finch, Test class? Are you kidding, he averages 28 in FC cricket and is not even in Victorias SS First XI. Yes, he is a gun white ball cricketer but that was not the theme of your poorly written article. I would also imagine planning for an ODI chase has progressed past the notion of 'getting a start, turning over the strike and going aerial once set'. Sound fundamental advice, but hardly innovative. Watson is Austrlia's premier white ball cricketer and has been for six years, the fact that you assess that he was dropped further diminishes any credability you had left. However, I will continue to read your hard hitting articles if only to gain some amusement.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Rubbish from start to finish... "saving key wickets early"...Did Rogers and Warner put on a 100 stand in any of the tests? I doubt it because we were 5-less than a hundred in almost every first innings and a few second. "In fact Warner played like a Test opener, but Finch wasn’t far behind"..I must have been watching a different game. Finch cranked along at better than a run a ball for most of his innings. His recent red ball form has been to average less than 20 at about 30 runs per hundred. "Making Test Class openers out of players like Finch and Warner is one of the great strengths in Australian cricket." - Finch has never played a test and probably never will - can't be that much of a strength. Who else? "Starting an innings in red ball cricket is the same as white ball cricket"...really? how so? "If they put on 150-run partnerships every time they go out, Boof will be on cloud nine." - I'm sure he would..
Praveen
Guest
Boof has been amazing, he has united the team and made us proud of our cricket team
Larney
Guest
Watson was not dropped, he was rested as was Johnson in the first and as will Clarke and Haddin in one of the games. This was due to the heavy workload from the Ashes. One failure does not mean he should be dropped from the team. In the last ODI series he scored a whopping century in a game that secured a win for the series for Aus. He also scored a century against India in the last series. As regards to being overweight, just because he has a big frame it does not mean he is overweight. ALL players have skinfold tests to ensure they aren't carrying extra. Boof deserves all credit for turning the team around.