By banking on explosive batsmen for the Champions Trophy, which starts next week, Australia have handed heavy responsibility to in-form keeper-batsman Matthew Wade.
When picking their 15-man squad Australia gambled by ignoring solid batsmen George Bailey, Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja in favour of more dynamic strokemakers Aaron Finch and Chris Lynn.
Bailey, Marsh and Khawaja are the kind of batsmen who add balance to a 50-over batting line-up, rotating the strike and protecting their wicket while the big hitters chance their arms.
Australia have only one specialist batsman in their squad, Steve Smith, who looks comfortable anchoring an ODI innings in this way. With cavalier players Finch, Lynn, Glenn Maxwell and David Warner likely to feature in the top five, in any given match Australia could either blast their way to a giant 350-plus total, or they could find themselves wobbling at three-or-four-down-for-not-many.
This is why Wade has suddenly become much more important to Australia’s batting line-up.
The Victorian is perhaps the most maligned player in Australian cricket. While Wade has earned a lot of the criticism hurled at him in the past he also deserves praise for his fantastic ODI performances over the last year.
In his past 20 ODIs, Wade has scored 537 runs at 38, with a good strike rate of 94. He has been a rock at seven in the order for Australia, repeatedly saving them from precarious situations.
The most memorable of those performances was Wade’s match-winning 100no after arriving at the crease at 5-78 against Pakistan in January.
(AFP / Glyn Kirk)
In the final of last year’s Caribbean tri-series tournament against the West Indies, Australia were a mess at 6-173 before Wade coolly compiled 57no from 52 balls to lead them to a winning total of 270.
Later that year, amid the carnage of the 5-0 loss in South Africa, Wade came out with the score at 5-49 and crafted an innings of 52 from 58 balls.
Then, in Sri Lanka, Wade twice played crucial knocks under heavy pressure. In the third match of that ODI series Australia were 4-106 chasing 227 when Wade steadied the innings with a calm 42 on a spinning track.
The previous match Australia had promoted Wade to number five, ahead of Travis Head and Moises Henriques, after a top order collapse left them reeling at 3-41. Wade again displayed impressive composure as he made 76 from 88 balls.
That match was a rare instance of Australia showing flexibility in their batting order when things go wrong.
If they’re dominating, Australia are prepared to change up the order and elevate a powerful striker. But when their top order fails they tend to maintain their batting order, reticent to send in a steadier batsman like Wade ahead of a dasher such as Maxwell.
That must change in this Champions Trophy. Maxwell is definitely in Australia’s best XI but he is not the man to send in at 3-50 if Australia’s gamble on big hitters backfires. In those circumstances Wade is the obvious choice, having shown he has the skill and temperament to rebuild a faltering ODI innings.
Wade shapes as a middle-order insurance policy for Australia. He must float between five and seven in the order depending on the circumstances of the match.
Australia may have the best bowling attack at the Champions Trophy, thanks to the swing of Mitchell Starc, the precision of Josh Hazlewood, the middle-overs wicket-taking prowess of Adam Zampa and the fearsome pace of Pat Cummins and James Pattinson.
But their batting line-up has been unreliable over the past 18 months. In that time it has not performed as well as those of South Africa and England, two of the other favourites for the Champions Trophy.
Australia have the power to win a batting shootout with any team at the tournament. When their aggressive top six fails, however, it is Wade who will be required to stop the rot. In a such a short, unforgiving tournament, this troubleshooting role will be crucial.
At some stage over the next few weeks, Australia’s Champions Trophy hopes may well rest on the blade of the oft-ridiculed keeper.
rtp
Guest
Why is Lynn even there? In ODIs you need the ability to graft singles in the middle overs against the spinners at 5-6 runs an over in risk free batting. Maxwell can graft. His temperament makes it hard, but he has the game. Lynn doesn't. You have to be able to play out 20-25 overs with minimal risks in ODIs and still make runs. That's why Lynn is a great T20 player and a good red ball player but useless at one dayers. Domestic level stats sometimes lie but not in his case. In T20s and red ball, you can score all your runs in boundaries but you can't do that in ODIs. Even the likes of Maxwell have to start off scoring their first 20 or so runs in singles if they come in in the middle overs.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Cheers Dylan
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Great read as always mate! I've always been a big fan of Wade, and don't think he deserves a lot of the criticism directed at him. He's such a dynamic cricketer and an integral part of our middle order. If he has a good tournament, will help the Aussies go a long way in winning the trophy!
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"Even though Maxwell is a decent part timer, entrusting him with 5-10 overs every game is a stretch." Maxwell played as Australia's sole spinner during their victorious 2015 World Cup campaign and did a solid job. Maxwell has averaged 31 with the ball in ODIs over the past 3 years, which suggests he's well and truly capable of bowling 5+ overs a match. Wen you consider that Jadeja and Ashwin average 34 and 32 with the ball in ODIs, respectively, you can see Maxwell's bowling record over his past 50 ODIs is very decent.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
Even though Maxwell is a decent part timer, entrusting him with 5-10 overs every game is a stretch. Maxwell should be used as a part-timer only. Australia have picked lots of all-rounders in the squad, so I am sure they are going to play either Stoinis or Henriques in the X1. I also think that between Lynn and Finch, there will only be one playing in the X1.
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
I'd hardly say he squandered his chances in the ODI's 1st game made 82 2nd game didn't bat 3rd game came out in the 47th over when the team wanted quick runs made 1 4th game was told he was keeping 10 minutes before the game started made 7 5th game made a duck. Take out his New Zealand tour and he averages 41
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Handscomb is in unreal form right now but he squandered his chance in the ODI side last summer, averaging just 22 from his five matches and was actually lucky to get the call up to the ODI team in the first place given he had an underwhelming List A record, averaging 32 - 33 at that stage. But yes he'd be very handy in the Champions Trophy squad instead of one of Stoinis or Henriques. They've gone too heavy on all-rounders.
Greg
Roar Rookie
Agreed, Wade is a thinking cricketer with a power game. Not that he plays expansively - he just hits good cricket shots. Wade also played really well against England in 2015.
Trebla
Guest
The squad is way too heavy in all rounders. Why was Baily dropped? He was a major part of the team contributing solid often match winning runs. And Khawaja? In the form of his life the last few years. Surely both those guys merit a spot in the top 5 ahead of Maxwell. I like big hitting all rounders, but in 50 over cricket bat them at 6 or 7. This team to me is a real gamble. The bowling attack is strong, why include so many all rounders?
AREH
Roar Guru
Yes I too was surprised not to see Handscomb's name, I felt he might've become a long-term number four or five in the ODI side, and while he still can, he'd be hurting missing this tournament. Began his ODI career with a bang scoring 82 against Pakistan yet I think it was his next few innings of single figures that followed which really hurt his chances, and another substantial score there might've saved him. He's also played some superb knocks in the Royal London domestic competition this season, however perhaps too little too late. I think a top seven of Finch, Warner, Smith, Head, Lynn, Maxwell and Wade that many have suggested is very likely.
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
I think the selectors missed a trick by not picking Handscomb,his recent county form has been excellent. If Handscomb were in the squad I think there'd be chance of Wade missing out just so they can fit everyone in the xi.
Ross
Guest
Thanks ronan, good comments
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Ross I definitely don't disagree with you on Finch's selection over Khawaja. My point is that Australia has so much depth at ODI level that we've seen time and again that if players don't take their chances when they get them they can quickly find themselves out of the side. Hopefully Khawaja will get a decent run in the ODI team in the near future to find his feet because I think he can be a very good ODI batsman.
Ross
Guest
Khawaja's water boy comment was funny and showed what a good team man he is
Ross
Guest
Ronan be fair with your comments on Khawaja, you are my favourite writer but you are being harsh on Khawaja. Khawaja only ever gets 2-3 games at one time and dropping him for a dead rubber against Pakistan made no sense at Adelaide and then sitting him out for the NZ series so he can prepare for India when he never played, finch on the other hand has had the longest run given, how can someone like Khawaja bat so well at domestic one day but not be given a proper chance at international, he is our 3rd best batsman after Warner and smith
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I believe both Henriques and Stoinis have the required ability to be successful at six for Australia in this tournament. But there's no escaping the fact that Stoinis has limited form in any of the 3 formats outside of that freak ODI ton in NZ, and Henriques for all his dominant form the past year across all 3 formats still has an extremely poor ODI record so far. Mitch Marsh is definitely a big loss. The other issue here is Smith's refusal to bowl Maxwell. He played as their sole spinner when they won the last World Cup and bowled really well in the IPL. He and Head could easily share 10 overs, but because Smith won't bowl Maxwell Australia are forced to pick another all-rounder in Henriques or Stoinis. Australia would look a lot stronger with Maxwell and Head sharing the fifth allotment of 10 overs and another specialist batsman (Bailey/SMarsh/Khawaja) in the top five.
BurgyGreen
Guest
We're definitely missing Mitch Marsh the ODI player. Adds a huge amount to the team when fit.
OJP
Guest
Interesting debate; who is the more maligned by Oz sports fans.... Matthew Wade, or Mitch Marsh ... and can I toss in a cross code suspect as well ... Dean Mumm.
Jack
Guest
Moses has always failed to deliver at international level. Can't remember what Stoinis blasted in that game against NZ but wow. There are a couple of practice games beforehand so i guess they'll get a run in those.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Khawaja has played 18 ODIs in total and averages just 31. Yes he hasn't had a single lengthy stint in the team but that's the harsh reality of playing for a dominant ODI country with great depth - when you get a chance you have to grab it. Like I said I'd have picked Khawaja ahead of Finch but he has to take some blame for only averaging 19 with the bat in the three ODIs he got against Pakistan recently. He left the door open for Finch.