If smashing England by 111 runs weren’t good news enough, Australia’s opening game of this home World Cup offered some more specific cheer.
Such slight question marks as might have existed over Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh were answered with emphatic performances. Awkwardly though, an equally good day for captain George Bailey only emphasised Australia’s chief remaining concern: the instability surrounding captain-in-waiting Michael Clarke.
Opening batsman Finch has stayed under the radar in his two years in the team, and before the tournament some on The Roar have questioned whether his place was secure given his tendency to either score high or very low.
He almost went low against England on Saturday afternoon, dropped by Chris Woakes in the first over. Having put that behind him, though, he kicked off his World Cup with his second-highest One-Day International score. In the last 18 months he now has six centuries, a 96, and five other half-centuries, at an average of nearly 45.
Finch’s 135 from 128 balls took him through to the 37th over, with some typically meaty shots through the field and over the rope. There’s not much subtlety to a Finch innings but he gets the job done. In fact, alongside his more famous opening partner, Finch has out-Warnered David Warner.
Despite 13 fewer innings, he’s hit as many sixes and twice as many centuries at a better average and a better strike rate. One more game like this and Finch would match Warner’s career run tally.
Equally pleasing for Australia was the way Maxwell iced the innings, playing himself in before creaming 66 from 40 balls, with 11 fours but not one six on the expansive MCG. His shots were clean but controlled. It was innings of balance for Maxwell, showing he’s developing as a player.
“He’s playing smart cricket,” said Finch wryly after the match, “which can’t always be said for his game at times. I think that he would say that there’s times when he makes poor choices. But over the last little while, he’s made some great choices.”
Ok, sure, he may have played a reverse sweep for four from his third ball. But he keeps telling us it’s just an ordinary shot for him. As Justin McLean messaged me on Twitter, someone probably told him to just go out there and bat like it was a Test match.
Finally, most around the team will be relieved to see Marsh take a few international wickets. Before this game he had one wicket from seven Test innings, and his career ODI figures read 57-1-290-6. Across all international innings he’s gone wicketless 16 times out of 24. But in nine additional overs at the MCG he swelled his tally by five wickets for 33 runs.
He can thank good fortune as much good bowling: Steve Smith took one of the catches of his career when Jos Buttler smashed to short cover, Eoin Morgan got a bizarre toe-end nick to be caught behind, and Ian Bell slogged to deep midwicket. But Marsh’s confidence will be improved nonetheless.
This leaves the captaincy conundrum as Australia’s only point of instability. Bailey helped add 158 runs in scoring 55, stabilising the innings from a vulnerable early position to the point where Maxwell was able to take them home. He oversaw a resounding win. Yet with Clarke supposed to resume command next match, the spot he’ll almost certainly take is Bailey’s.
“George played beautifully,” said Finch in tacit support.
“Coming in at 3 for 70 on the back of three pretty quick wickets, it wasn’t easy. They had their tail up, and for him to battle through a period early where they bowled excellent at him, that showed what a class player he actually is, which I don’t think he gets a lot of credit for at times.”
Not getting respect is more the issue: Cricket Australia and its selectors have sold Bailey down the river. With the all-round structure of the team, there are only two middle-order batting spots, and Steve Smith is in the form of his life.
Of Australia’s last 30 ODIs dating back 18 months, Clarke has started in six and finished four. Bailey has captained 24 full games and two injury-blighted halves. Yet Clarke is apparently an automatic selection, landing Bailey with the indignity of turning up to captain’s press conferences to joke and smile about his own imminent dropping.
“We’re all professionals,” said Finch. “We know that 15 don’t go into 11… you can pull a few names out of a hat and I’m sure that you could justify it some way.”
Unfortunately the selectors’ approach hasn’t been much more sophisticated. On a night that otherwise hit all the right notes, it remained the one enduring discord.
This article was first published in Wisden India
Don Freo
Guest
That's 2 different conversations, Geoff. Clarke deserves his spot...full stop. Bailey has lost form but played a really important innings the other day. If he does it a few more times, we can say he is back in form and look closer at Watson. By the way, I don't think Clarke is in our best 5 ODI batsmen (but neither is Bailey or Watson)...but he deserves his spot because he hasn't failed and he is still succeeding whenever he plays. Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges are two who should play ahead of him...but the selectors forgot to look west.
Don Freo
Guest
C'mon Geoff. You and I both know that opposition is stronger...more worthy...than two of the proposed finalists, England and India. And what is this discrimination against rangas? Nothing wrong with being ginger. I was there when Gary Cozier scored 100 on debut. I like ginger people.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Bang on with all of the above.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
On your reasoning, Don: Bailey needs "more than one good innings" and is behind others. Like Clarke, deserves his spot because he made 60 in a practice game against the UAE.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
He top scored. Opening. Against the UAE. In a practice match. Where the middle order were out slogging. And he was very ginger in the field. I was there.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Couldn't disagree more, Chris. It has a very deliberate structure, each section addressing a different part of the equation. All of which needs to be looked at to be comprehensive. Which I can tell you with confidence because I have read it all.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Bailey came in at 3-70 with the Aussies in trouble, I thought his innings was very important, played a good foil to Finch. Wato should be the first to go. Rogers had a good series against India and will be going to England.
Tom Oliver
Roar Rookie
I think the risk there is that team could be bowled out cheaply ( small but there ) . Although Marsh got the 5 wickets the other night he is keeping Faulkner's spot warm. I think better balance would be Warner Finch Clarke Smith Baily Maxwell Haddin Faulkner Johnson Starc Hazelwood or Cummins If the openers get off to an amazing start you can hold Clarke out of the order. If however an early wicket falls Clarke is a super reliable number 3 with a great average and a pretty good strike rate
Perry Bridge
Guest
The Shane Watson form line is relatively interesting - his last 10 hits have produced 222 runs at 22.2 with only 1 50 (82 v SAf) and 3 ducks. That takes us back for the calendar year 2014 plus so far this year. And - all these matches in Australia. So - on 2014 plus 2015 form, all in Australia - you wouldn't be boasting the form line of S.Watson. His previous 10 hits from Sept to Nov 2013 (all in the UK or India) produced 461 runs at 46.1 with 2 centuries and 1 other 5. (and another 49). We have to got back to the games against the West Indies in Feb 213 to find some consecutive decent scores in ODIs in Australia!!!! So - there's fair reason to not be filled with confidence in Watto in Australia in short form cricket. Now - consider that A.Finch came into this game apparently under pressure from some on theRoar - and yet even with a duck in his previous ODI - his last 10 inclusive of that blemish had produced 411 at 41.1. You'd take that. Those knocks included 76, 96 and 109 with only 0 and 8 as single digit returns. Certainly a 2nd successive duck had Woakes seen the ball then would've seen his last 10 drop to 393 at 39.3 (still not abysmal) - as it is, a stroke of luck and it's 528 at 52.8 and he ain't goin' anywhere. That other oddity of Finch being in the sights of some is that in the calendar year 2014 he produced 4 ODI 100s. Finch ODI player 2014 and thus far 2015 had delivered 1067 runs at better than 46 avg with 5 100s. Before the weekend that figure was 932 at 42.5 which to me suggests the people calling for him to be on the edge of being dropped really have no idea at all about what is going on (perhaps there's too much cricket and it's confusing some). Watson on the other hand...
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I think they really want to have 6 bowlers though. Doing that means you have 5 bowlers requiring Marsh and Maxwell to both bowl 10 full overs with the only backup beyond that being real part-timers like Smith, Clarke, and Finch. That's why I'm pretty sure Watson will get another game or two as he'll remain until Faulkner returns and then it will be between Watson and Marsh. So Watson needs to get some serious runs in the next game or two, and bowl reasonably well, or he'll likely be the man gone when Faulkner returns as Smith has shown he can easily slot into the #3 spot.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I have to agree oldtimer. I was reading and reading and decided that I couldn't read anymore, and scrolled down finding I was only about half-way through. So it already felts way too long by the half-way mark, and I think pretty much all the main points were made by about a third of the way through.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It has, and in other countries you'll find modern T20 stats favour the team batting second, but surprisingly that doesn't seem to be the case in the BBL like it is in so many other parts of the world. So if chasing isn't actually a benefit in T20 in Australia, then it's probably not so much in 50-over cricket either.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Watson's lack of recent form mean he's now battling Marsh for one spot when Faulkner returns. I don't know that Faulkner will be back for the next match, so Watson may well have one more match to try to push an argument for his inclusion over Marsh. Marsh has certainly fired the first salvo in that battle though!
Don Freo
Guest
Remember that Bailey played ok...but it was against a very weak opposition where it is not hard to succeed. Anderson and Broad only talk now...they are no longer able to deliver. There is no one else that is any good in England's attack. Bails does have to do more than one good innings. He is worth his spot...but he is behind others. Watson, however, is in trouble. Looking at the Shield game today, Rogers might be in decline too. Watson and Rogers might miss the Ashes.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Nice piece as always Geoff. I've got no issue with Clarke coming in but not for Bailey. It must be Watson. Bailey deserves his spot after a very good knock on Saturday. When Faulkner returns ( likely for Bailey ) then there is two quality alrounders plus Maxwell. There is no justification to keep Watson. It's amazing the media conundrum the Clarke inclusion has been. Every other country would welcome a guy like that with open arms, he would walk into just about every other team as well. It's a good problem to have and one which shouldn't be a real issue imo.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
+1, well played Don!
Don Freo
Guest
He'll probably keep for two more years before his expiry date.
Don Freo
Guest
First time back, top scores with 64. I like him as an opener inODI. Geff Marsh on steroids.
Monday's Expert
Guest
Your keyboard needs a service - it's intermittently typing all caps.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Can Clarke keep?