When Australia last played the West Indies in a T20 match, at the Gabba in February last year, they employed an all-pace attack. Could they go down the same route for Friday’s do-or-die game in the World T20?
Granted, the bouncy deck in Brisbane is far different to the slower, drier surfaces in Bangladesh for this tournament, but Australia have bowled few overs of spin in recent matches against the West Indies.
During their past five games against the West Indies, stretching back two years, the Aussie quicks have taken 30 wickets at an average of 22 compared to three wickets at 68 for the tweakers.
The last time Australia did rely more heavily on the slow bowlers was when they succumbed to the West Indies in the semi-final of the last T20 World Cup. Xavier Doherty, Brad Hogg and David Hussey combined for 1-91 from their eight overs that night as the Caribbean batsmen ran amok.
Given this recent history, it seems highly unlikely Australia will play both Hogg and 20-year-old leg spinner James Muirhead on Friday. News reports have suggested that with gun all-rounder James Faulkner to return from injury, either Hogg or veteran batsman Brad Hodge is likely to make way.
That could be interpreted as a sign Australia are considering an all-pace attack.
It is also possible that Faulkner could take the place of quick Nathan Coulter-Nile, who was the loosest of the Aussie fast bowlers in their first-up loss to Pakistan on Sunday.
The Windies also faltered in their first game of the tournament due to an uncharacteristically stodgy batting display against India. Swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar remarkably conceded just three runs from his three overs as he cramped the Windies’ batsmen.
The Indian spinners also enjoyed success, combining for 6-90 from their 14 overs. Australia, though, do not have the same level of spin talent to call upon as India.
Hogg is vastly experienced but struggled for control against Pakistan. He was also expensive, giving up 29 runs from his three overs.
Muirhead, meanwhile, is as green as they come. He looked at ease during his three T20 outings against England in January, but those matches were inconsequential and comparatively free of pressure.
Encountering the likes of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels in what is essentially a knockout World Cup contest is a far more daunting challenge.
Considering this, I would back Hogg to rebound from his underwhelming performance against Pakistan. With all-rounder Glenn Maxwell also in the XI the Aussies would have sufficient spin options, while Shane Watson’s presence would provide them with four pacemen to choose from.
Maxwell was strangely overlooked during Pakistan’s innings in favour of Aaron Finch. The burly opening batsman’s modest left-arm spin was promptly dispatched for 18 off his solitary over.
Australia will rely upon their left-arm quicks Mitchell Starc and Doug Bollinger to slice into the West Indies batting order early on. Starc’s late out-swing should trouble Gayle, while Bollinger looked composed in his return to international cricket against Pakistan.
The Aussie attack have been slain by the West Indies’ aggressive batsmen numerous times before at T20 level. They will have to lift a cog on Friday if they are to avoid such a depressing fate.
swanny
Guest
I would drop Bollinger, hogg and Haddin for White, Faulkner and Christian This adds batting depth to the side, however we would have to back In Maxwell to bowl 4 overs of spin. Finch can take the gloves for aussies AUS XI (batting order) 1. Warner 2. Finch (wk) 3. Watson 4. White 5. Maxwell 6. Bailey 7. Hodge 8. Faulkner 9. Christian 10. Coulter Nile 11. Starc
ozinsa
Guest
Why would Hodge miss out? He was caught from a brilliant shot that, on another day, would have been six and possibly the game and his previous outing bar one gave us a match tonking 15 off the last over. On what basis do you judge he should be dropped?
Alex Griffin
Roar Rookie
Maxwell needs to be bowled! Disappointing from Bailey to not try and stem the Akmals with him after Hogg didn't come off, and watching Tredwell at the moment tie down Sri Lanka (who isn't too much handier than Maxwell), the more overs of spin in this tournament the better
Aaron
Guest
Everytime a batsmen gets through the initial 4-5 overs against us they cruise to a big score. We don't have enough wicket takers in the middle overs. In my opinion its a risk worth taking.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
You would hope that they manage to play the West Indies spin bowlers ok, but the conditions are useful for spin. It's not like playing spin bowling in Aus.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Yes, Nudge. It's like bowling Dave Warner at a player who has difficulty against decent leggies. Shit bowling is shit bowling.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
In the group we are in, three of the others sides have excellent spin options and playing GOOD spin is our batsmen's weakness. It's not about our side being fantastic neccessarily, in the other group we would have romped one of the top spots, this group is different. If I was pusked up against a wall, I'd say that Cam White would be better against decent spin against most of our other batsmen, but then again, they have to score fast not just not lose their wickets to it.
Beauty of a geek brains of a bimbo(atgm)
Guest
Windies batsmen struggled against amit meshra who is a leggie so i think muirhead can coz trouble for wi.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Sometimes captains can be too clever for their own good with such ideas Ray. Finch may turn it away from the right handers but is a real rank part timer so not exactly a guy you can rely on to execute such a strategy.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I wouldn't be playing two frontline spinners, particularly when neither of them are world beaters.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I still think Australia have got a fantastic side, even without Johnson and the lack of a standout spinner. But they have made it really tough for themselves now.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'd give Hogg one more game. I'm not sold on Muirhead yet, particularly the unknown of whether he can stand up under pressure.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Christian that is a fair point...Doug looked marginally better with the ball the other night but NCN is comfortably better in the field and with the bat. On reflection he should get the nod ahead of Bollinger, who I'd drop for Faulkner.
Nudge
Guest
Yeah we all got the reason but it was still bloody stupid. Finch isn't even a part time bowler where as Maxwell is nearly more than a part time bowler. Who cares if Finch was turning it away and Maxwell in. If they are at the same level of bowling absolutely. But one is crap and the other is better than average
Ray
Guest
Were you guys and gals questioning why Finch got a bowl watching the match? It was obviously a decision based on Finch turning the ball away from the right hander so the batsmen would be forced to hit against the spin to the shorter boundary. Admittedly it didn't work but there was clearly a reason behind the call to bowl Finch
Armchair Expert
Guest
It's amusing how Haddin was selected for T20s a year ago when he'd been officially retired from them for over a year, so he could extend his test career.
Phil McGrawhan
Guest
We'll play one of the spinners, I don't see us dropping Hogde either, can't blame him we lost, pretty hard losing 2 bats in the first over, unchanged line up for mine.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Faulkner's batting is sure handy but his bowling in T20 is damned expensive and he isn't a big wicket taker to make up for it.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
No, no, no, we don't want Finch bowling at all. Bollinger can at least control what he's doing.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
He's never been that good at it. HIs sr and average are pretty ordinary, I don't understand why they picked him apart from the keeping to spin bowlers thing, but Nevill could do just as well as could Whiteman.