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The Australian World T20 selectors on tour, Mark Waugh and Darren Lehmann, dropped Mitchell Marsh and John Hastings for Aaron Finch and Josh Hazlewood before the Australians beat Pakistan by 21 runs last night to stay alive in the tournament.
The team has been in disarray from the outset with the original selection of four recognised opening batsmen in the 15-man squad.
As a result, David Warner, one of the most devastating openers in any format, has been shuffled between batting four or three in the three games to date.
More:
» Australia vs Pakistan live blog
» Australia vs Pakistan scorecard
A tragic waste of talent, mirrored by his low scores of six, 17, and nine.
Last night the Australians were in a fair bit of bother at 3-57 off 7.2 overs, but skipper Steve Smith and a more responsible Glenn Maxwell added 62 off 38 deliveries, before Smith and Shane Watson put together an unbeaten 74 off 38 to give the Australians a tough to chase 4-193.
Paceman James Faulkner’s 5-27 off four was not only the best Australian figures of all time in a T20 international, but he was on a hat-trick twice on his way to the man of the match award.
The find has been leggie Adam Zampa with his 5-58 off nine in the three games. Not only are they outstanding figures, but it’s the calibre of high quality batsmen he’s sent packing – Bangladesh’s Mohammad Mithun, Shakib Al Hasan, and Shuvagata Hom, plus Pakistanis Shahib Afridi and Umar Akmal.
On the opposite side of the coin, paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile has played all three games to be wicketless for 99 off 12 overs.
So the Australian line-up to meet India on Sunday in a sudden-death clash to make the semis with group winner New Zealand is taking shape.
Warner must be reinstated as opener with Finch as the most successful pair in recent years.
Khawaja must be selected, but at three where he bats in the Test side, forcing skipper Smith to four where he bats in the Test order, Glenn Maxwell at five, and Watson at six.
That’s where the game against India will be won or lost. Those six must score around 145 runs between them off 15 overs, and trust the tail of Faulkner, John Hastings, Peter Nevill, Zampa and Hazlewood can club 40-plus runs off the final five overs.
That means Hastings comes in for Coulter-Nile as the more accurate bowler, a better batsman, and a safe fieldsman.
Then the best Australian side possible will be on duty for the first time.
At last.