Everyone knew it was going to be a tough task beating New Zealand in their own backyard.
These days, the visiting team always seems to have a much tougher time than they really should.
Players seem to struggle to adjust and find their rhythm, which is always why you pick the players that are in good touch and know where their game is at.
Watching Australia go down by 159 runs in the opening ODI at Eden Park further backed the argument by many of the Australian public that Rod Marsh and his crew got the team selection wrong.
The squad seemed to lack variety with the ball and real assurance at the top of the order with the bat. It wasn’t a poor team fielded by the selectors, but there were certainly cases to be made for a couple of players that missed out.
Both Usman Khawaja and Adam Zampa were wrong to be ignored for the opener. After watching that game it was evident where those two could have had a potential impact.
Starting with Khawaja, we are talking about a man who couldn’t be in any better form if he tried. People involved in cricket talk about knocking on the door for selection. Well it would be fair to say that Khawaja has knocked down several doors and to not be picked is just an absolute joke.
The amazing part is that everyone else can see it, but why can’t the selectors? You don’t ignore anyone when they are in the form Khawaja is in.
Since the start of the Australian Test series which begun against New Zealand back in November, Khawaja has scores in all forms of cricket of 174, 9*, 121, 109*, 144, 56, 62, 104*, 70 and 14.
Is cricket even picked on form anymore? This whole phrase of ‘if you score runs then you will be rewarded’ seems to have completely gone out the door. There is nothing more infuriating seeing someone scoring so freely and bringing a real calmness to the crease like Khawaja is, but he can’t show it because he is left to run the drinks.
It was one of those days for Australia with the bat. Being 6-41 trying to get to 308, they didn’t really stand a chance. It just increased the pressure on Rod Marsh. They are obviously a hell lot better than what they showed, but the disappointing run chase has to see Khawaja included come the second game.
One non selection that wasn’t discussed enough was Zampa. I’m not sure what has happened to Australia playing a front line spinner in ODIs, but it rarely seems to happen these days.
Australia won a World Cup a year ago playing Glenn Maxwell as the part timer, but surely that isn’t how the Australian selectors are thinking long term?
There were times during the opener that you could see Zampa coming on and doing his thing. The problem Steve Smith was faced with was a lack of variety. Having pace coming in over after over really gave him a lack of options.
Luckily for the sake of selection panel, the quicks were able to peg back the New Zealand batsmen after both Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill got the Kiwis off to a flyer.
If the Aussie quicks weren’t able to stop New Zealand then it would have further backed the argument that Zampa should have played, but I still remain in the state of mind despite the fightback Zampa should have taken part in this game.
Australia needs a spinner in the shorter forms of the game. They are game changers and game winners. They offer something completely different – especially a leg-spinner.
Having watched Zampa from when he first came on the scene, he’s a young man who doesn’t show any fear. His improvement has been tremendous. His success has mainly come in the shorter formats of the game back at state cricket.
Representing the Melbourne Stars this year in the BBL, he was the leading wicket taker for the team with 12 at an economy rate of 7.08. He finished in the top ten for the BBL competition in the wickets department.
He displayed his variety right throughout. The leg-spinner, the wrong-un and the slider were the balls that he went to regularly to bring him success in the BBL.
If there was one thing Australia could of used at parts of the opening game at Eden Park, it was Zampa’s variety and consistency.
The New Zealand batsmen just got far too comfortable against the quicks and it was evident at the rate they scored at times throughout the innings. Yes they eventually pulled it back, but that won’t always happen. There will be times that a front line spinner will be required to slow the game down and drag back a couple of wickets.
It’s also important to look towards the future. Australia won’t get away with playing part time spinners. While the next ODI World Cup is a while away, getting overs into young spinners such as Zampa will only be beneficial in the future.
I’m not sure what the selectors’ plans are going into the T20 World Cup, but I think Zampa will certainly be in the discussions for the squad. Why not have a look at him now and give him a taste of international cricket against a quality side?
There are many positives in giving Zampa a go and, like Khawaja, he deserves his chance.
With the selectors under fire from the public it might be a good idea to reassess the side for Wellington.
Bobbo7
Guest
I don't like this blaming Shaun Marsh. The first 25 overs of bowling from Australia were varying degrees of rubbish and 6 other batsmen also failed. Kawaja may save the day but if the whole team plays like that again they will get spanked no matter who opens with Warner. I expect Australia to be much better tomorrow but I also consider NZ has some improvement with the bat.
matth
Guest
Here Here Don. We are the world champions after all.
matth
Guest
So why not just pick Boyce and continue to give him experience?
Norm
Roar Pro
Feelings are strong in this one
moaman
Roar Guru
Hear,hear.
moaman
Roar Guru
Spot on,I believe.NZ didnt play their leggie and held back Santner for similar reasons....
moaman
Roar Guru
Perry; "As it is – we know that our batsmen struggled in seaming/swinging conditions in England and no surprise that New Zealand offers up similar examples." There was barely any movement to speak of at Eden Park.The NZ pair of Boult and Henry extracted a tiny bit....and the trundler Anderson got a couple to tail in a tad.....I would say the elements that the batsmen struggled to deal with were-the bounce and the slowing of the pitch from around midway through the kiwi innings. Couple unfamiliarity with over-confidence (Faulkner mentioned 400 pre-match) and you hav a recipe for 6-41.
ajay
Guest
Mate watto is in Dubai or Qatar I think he's playing in psl.but stoinis seriously joke 25 avz with the bat .
Peter
Roar Rookie
Do they play cricket?
Lionheart
Guest
that's a silly statement
TheDMC
Guest
Australia need more fast bowlers cause they keep retiring or breaking down. That would be the first match I can ever remember where NZ's two fastest bowlers (Milne and Henry) were quicker than all the Aussie bowlers. Maybe Aussie should look at more of a mix - one out n out quick then some variations swing/left and right armer combos etc. Possibly the reliance on stacking the team with 145k plus the past few years has lead to these injuries (ok Johnson retired). Rotating the really quicks might be more sustainable...
TheDMC
Guest
I was gutted with how poorly NZ performed in Oz which was quite significantly due to an abysmal warm up I think. Not sure how hard the kiwis pushed to get decent time, matches, and conditions before hand - probably as half as hard as Australia pushed to give NZ utterly terrible warm up pitches and matches.
Fred
Guest
Khawaja's humiliating treatment continues at OZ Gitmo Cricket Camp, sporting a flouro orange jacket, carrying water.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Don, I like Marsh's bowling, and I like his batting when ball is not doing much. As I said, it's not he failed with bat, it is the way he has been failing with the bat last 12 months or so when ball moves around. I fear, currently, he lacks the batting technique to face moving ball. I'm still happy to give him entire series (ODIs and Tests), but if his batting keeps failing he then clearly needs to go back to domestic cricket and sort his batting, and hopefully come back more complete all-rounder.
Don Freo
Guest
Who is "we", paleface? Oz has won many games and many series. The only reason we lost the T20 was the injuries to bowlers. You can't blame the selectors for that. This team has turned over 6 retirees and has all those injuries. Watch some cricket and enjoy it. We are doing very well and have many options. Rod Marsh heads a selection panel, BTW. It is more than him. They all deserve credit for a very sound performance.
Don Freo
Guest
That has never been established. All of Khawaja's scores have been in Australia. He missed out because he got there late. Marsh was going to play the Shield game.
Don Freo
Guest
The shot that went for 4 or the next one? Are you talking about all shots? If you are talking about the shot that got him out, you can apply that to every batsman that has ever been dismissed. The OUT shot is almost always a poor selection of shot.
Don Freo
Guest
Tana, the bloke just scored 100...the previous innings. Warner, Shaun Marsh, Smith, Bailey, Maxwell all failed. You can't leave them all out because the ball moves. Just leave out Mitch because you have an intransigent opinion. It would have been handy to give him a bowl before they did. His attack on the stumps would help. As soon as he bowled he got an edge through slips (went for 4) and a top edge (carried for 6). His bowling, his ability to score 100...not bad credentials. In fact, I'd go as far as to say you are wrong...really badly wrong.
Nudge
Guest
As pathetic as NZ Clark in the World Cup final, being bowled out for 180 on a cracking deck, allowing Aus to win a fifth WC? Win the big matches before yapping buddy
Perry Bridge
Guest
Red Kev - Very much agree that form in Australia is also an ordinary guide with respect to most international tours other than the degree of confidence that a batter might be bringing to the table (rather confident than in the depths of batting despair) - and likewise for bowlers - far better appear to be master of their rhythm/control/release. As it is - we know that our batsmen struggled in seaming/swinging conditions in England and no surprise that New Zealand offers up similar examples. And that's (I assume) clearly why Siddle is still in the test squad which could in part be acknowledgement that he ought have played more broadly in England last year (a debatable point I concede). I'm comfortable with the correct facts - but, have always found the lack of context in simple cricket numbers can be distorting and an easy out for selectors. If we simply went by the top 6 batters based on domestic averages then it takes the subjective component out of selection. Clearly technique, suitability (horses for courses), etc have to come into play.