Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell proved last night at the Gabba that when they bat responsibly they can be genuine assets to the Australian ODI batting order.
Had they batted to previous ODI form, the reigning world champions and current world number one ranked side would have been embarrassingly beaten by Pakistan, ranked eighth.
Wade’s previous ten visits to the crease netted 188 at 23.50, Maxwell’s last seven just 59 at 9.93.
So when Australia was 5-78 with David Warne (7), Steve Smith (0), Chris Lynn (16), Travis Head (39), and Mitchell Marsh (4) back in the shed, Wade and Maxwell had to kick in – or else.
That they did to the tune of 82 runs with both batting superbly and patiently.
So much so it came as a shock when Maxwell was too late trying to hook a slower delivery to spoon a catch to mid wicket. He had a second ODI century at his mercy,-and would have deserved it.
But Wade wasn’t to be denied his first ODI three figures, leaping high in delight with a single off the very last ball of the innings.
What made that milestone so credible was the Brisbane heat got to him from the 50s on. But he dug in for a 42-run stand with Pat Cummins, 23 with Mitchell Starc, and 33 with debutant Billy Stanlake who contributed just a single.
That Australia went into the break at a respectable 9 for 268 was entirely due to Wade’s unbeaten 100, and Maxwell’s 60 – the rest managed only 108 between them.
If Pakistan was any good, they should have romped in. But the Australian attack and fielding were far too professional, as was Steve Smith’s aggressive captaincy.
That Australia won by 92 said it all when they limited Pakistan to only eight boundaries, and two sixes after cracking 20 boundaries and six sixes themselves.
Medium pacer James Faulkner grabbed the most wickets with 4-32 off his seven, but he wasn’t the best bowler.
Cummins was very impressive in his 3-33 off 8.4, with 36 dot balls, while the nagging offies from Head buried those knockers who reckon he can’t bowl.
His figures of 0-28 off 10 also featured 36 dot balls, perfectly pinning down one end while the quicks blasted away at the other.
The one glaring downside was yet another batting failure from Mitchell Marsh. That should make the selectors keen to reinstate Usman Khawaja for tomorrow at the MCG as there are enough attacking bowlers with Marsh missing.
As for Pakistan, they missed a golden chance to take a 1-0 result to Melbourne when they dismissed Warner and Smith in successive deliveries.
The tourists will pay dearly for that rare lost chance.
Don Freo
Guest
We are talking about 4 batsmen...not one. We are not even talking about an "arbitrary" one.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
In the arbitrary situation that a top 4 player can't build a platform reliably, they get justifiably dropped -- in fact it just happened to Aaron Finch. However, sometimes they will fail (such is the nature of good bowling and trying to move at a decent rate), so the #5 and #6 batsmen do need to be capable of playing like it's not the last 10 overs.
Don Freo
Guest
" Marsh has performed quite well in 2016..." so the criticism has no point. Why do it?
Rob
Guest
I was absolutely pissed at Maxwell's dismissal. Probably because I'm a big fan of his cricket ability, He went into 20/20 mode after 25 overs with only the tail to come? He should have dropped the circus tricks until the 40th over. He looked a class above anyone else but played like a goose IMO. I have supported his selection in all formats but at 28 and after being on the outer he is walking a thin line. Wade is a short formate keeper only. Good on him for batting out the overs and getting the 100.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Pakistan should had bowled Australia out with-in 150 or at the maximum 200, which they failed after putting Australia in the mat by taking 5 wickets for only 78 runs. Once Australia reached 250 the match gone out of their hands.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Chris Lynn has been without equal in recent weeks in the BBL and should be allowed an off day too.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Really? He couldn't even work the ball of the square, scored 4 of 26 runs while he was in the middle and looked like a deer in the headlights, regardless of whether it was pace or spin. If that's form, heaven help us. Warner got a decent pill early and Smith's seemed to be still walking to the crease as he edged his first ball to the keeper, but hard to argue with their one day performances over the past year. Marsh has performed quite well in 2016 and its obvious that limited overs is more his format, but batting at five with the score 3/52, it would be a positive to not be completely at sea and put your batting partner under even more pressure. Maybe, after being dropped from the test side (and with good reason) Mitch is feeling more pressure not to be too reckless. He looked shackled and without a clue in the first game. Thankfully, he is only a couple of clean hits away from decent touch so please don't think I am writing him off. Merely commenting on how surprisingly ordinary he batted yesterday. A better start by those at the top of the order and he may have less encumbrances. As mentioned below, rebuilding an innings is part of a limited overs number five, so Mitch will need to work on that or move lower down the order.
Don Freo
Guest
Ah Pomm....He is as bright as. This is the boy that captained Hazlewood and co to an U19s World Cup. You only need to see his intelligent bowling to know that. So...if a batsman gets a faint edge to a spinner, he is dumb? Alex...he has rebuilt many innings in his career so far. That, however, is not his job. It is why openers are picked as openers and batsmen like Smith are batting higher in the order. They are to lay the foundation so that Marsh and Maxwell can accelerate. Would you say if Smith doesn't do that he shouldn't be in the team? Open your mind if you are going to be critical and apply your same non-cricket standard consistently.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
Agreed Alex. Unfortunately, Marsh is as dumb as a stick, so he doesn't really know what to do...
Alex L
Roar Rookie
If he can't rebuild an innings then he shouldn't be batting at 5...
Don Freo
Guest
He is certainly not out of form. Have you seen him in the BBL and the earlier ODIs? His job is to attack. The rebuilding of an innings is not what he has been working on and it is not what he has been called in to do. Are Warner and Smith immune from your criticism here? One innings is not a lack of form. It just means he got out cheaply.
Jameswm
Guest
He is often like that early in his innings
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Mitch Marsh has been excellent in One Dayers lately. He is allowed an off day.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Did anybody else notice how badly out of form Mitch Marsh was with the bat? Poor timing, no footwork and he needs to throw that bat away. It didn't even have a middle.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
I loved the fight and tenacity shown by Wade in very warm, testing conditions. Having said that, I must still admit that I have never seen a batsman score such a high percentage of their runs from edges. Wade does this on a regular basis and to be honest, it seemed fitting that his hundred came off a leading edge that fell safe.
AlanC
Guest
Actually David, it would have been fair enough for you to have had a crack at Maxwell for the manner of his dismissal. Australia were still very vulnerable, he and Wade the last of the batsmen, he had the Pakistan attack at his mercy and threw it away (noting duly that his 60 was the second highest score of the match). The shot he played to get out though is why he is viewed with suspicion for a role in the test side, he needed to be there at the end and wasn't. Wade dug in and was. Personally I'd love to see him in the test side but he has a fair bit of work to do on the unnecessary dismissals.
Mickty
Guest
With Australia 5 down I wonder at a drinks break the pakis didn't load up on losing? Ditto MCG test. Sportsbet....
GM
Guest
It was closer to something in lacrosse! Scooping??? What was Maxwell thinking? David's sloppiness on that one again degrades what little claim he has left to being an expert.
The Bush
Roar Guru
There was absolutely nothing about Maxwell's dismissal that would make you think "hook shot". It was closer to a 8loody front foot drive.
GM
Guest
I do, Nudge. Plenty. But I’m willing to put it all on hold for the sake of lucid writing. And I actually felt I went easy on him. There was a whole lot more there I could have put a blowtorch on if I really didn’t have anything else to do