Australia once again let slip a strong position to go 3-0 down yesterday in their five-match ODI series in India.
Batting first, the tourists posted a below-par total of 6-293 on a pitch bulging with runs which offered zero help to any style of bowler.
It was a disappointing finish considering Australia had been in a great position to make 350-plus thanks to a 154-run stand between Aaron Finch (124 from 125 balls) and Steve Smith (63 from 71 balls).
At 1-224, with 73 balls remaining, Australia had the chance to post a truly monstrous total before a mixture of poor batting and fine bowling saw the tourists stumble.
Aside from left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who gave up 75 from his ten overs, all of the Indian bowlers were disciplined. This was particularly evident in the final dozen overs when they choked the Aussie run rate and drew some loose shots.
Australia will, however, be delighted to see the manner in which Finch played. The burly opener missed the first two matches with injury and was fortunate to even be picked for this tour, having averaged 25 from his previous 26 ODIs.
During that slump, Finch batted with the same impatience which he had shown during his unsuccessful start to ODI cricket. In the first 18 ODIs of his career, he averaged just 30, with this poor return due to his desire to bludgeon the bowlers from ball one.
Then Finch adapted his game and began to build innings, seeking to attack only the bad balls until he was well set. This wiser approach bore fruit and, from late 2013 to early 2016, Finch made over 1500 runs at an average of 43, with six tons from just 38 matches.
(AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES)
This coincided with a strong run of performances by the Australian team, including a dominant victory at the 2015 World Cup. Over the past 18 months, Australia’s form has been patchy, with the lack of input from Finch a major factor.
During that period he reverted back to his earlier, unsuccessful method of attempting to manufacture boundaries from good balls. That was the bad Finch.
Yesterday, the good Finch returned. The batsman who is prepared to respect dangerous deliveries, to work the ones and twos until the bowler strays into his hitting zones. He crawled to 26 from 43 balls as the Indian seamers maintained a testing line and length.
Finch stayed calm and suddenly the game opened up for him as it so often does for a batsman who bides their time. He got hold of leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, launching him for a sequence of boundaries, and batted with supreme confidence from then on.
While one innings is far too small a sample size to declare that Finch is back to his best, that knock must surely have reminded the Victorian that when he remains composed he gets rewarded.
Finch would have been bitterly disappointed with the manner in which Australia squandered his efforts. With short boundaries, an exceptionally swift outfield and a road of a pitch, Indore demanded a score of 330-plus against India, who are the strongest chasing team in ODI cricket.
By the time India had cruised to 0-139 in the 22nd over, the match was all but over.
Australia’s cause was not helped by a relatively straightforward catch turfed by new wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb. Matthew Wade’s replacement stretched low to his right for an unsuccessful one-handed effort and would have been relieved when the beneficiary, Rohit Sharma, was dismissed soon after for 71.
A pair of quick wickets to Australian pacemen Nathan Coulter-Nile and Pat Cummins provided slight hope but that was extinguished by a brilliant knock of 78 from 72 balls by blossoming all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Employing equal parts patience and aggression, Pandya killed off the Australian challenge.
Australia’s attack again looked quite toothless without champion fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. In the end, however, it was the meek effort of the Australian middle order which set them on course for yet another ODI defeat.
matth
Guest
Right, well that makes sense then.
Rats
Guest
I see lots of similarities between Maxwell and Afridi and how their careers are shaping up. Really feel sorry for Maxwell sometimes. You can see the confusion on his play and sometimes on his face. He is not quite sure what the team thinks of him. This is where captain and coach have a role to play. Give him some confidence and tell him that he need not to play for his spot and he they are not going to leave him. Some players need it, especially when you know they can destroy any opponents on their day. Afridi always had this pressure and lack of support from this team and management. Even when they picked him for tests...
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
I saw that and I would venture to say that was against far inferior bowling.
Perry Bridge
Guest
If you follow Dean Jones' old theory - that in the 40-50 over stretch that you start going for it when you get to 40 + the number of wickets down. So at 2-243 in the 42nd over it was time for Smith to go for it. It was also the point at which Maxwell would launch too. Don't blame Maxwell that Smith played a shot. Unfortunately both players got it wrong the first they tried something - by contrast in England Moeen Ali managed to slog everything out of the middle.
Eddie Otto
Roar Guru
Finch is actually an under rated runner between wickets and worker of the ball when he is focused. Naturally he scores quickly without having to bludgeon the ball and take risks all the time. I think he is becoming a more intelligent player with experience. The middle order batting was very poor although you have to give the Indians credit for some exceptional death bowling.
Shree Jee
Guest
Whenever Australia lose an ODI series, that series has to be irrelevant, meaningless & money churner for the home country.No Aussie seems to be following that. However, when they (sometimes) manage to win something then everyone in world seems to be reminded that Oz are the current world champs.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Handscomb was actually listed to bat four yesterday but Australia changed their batting order after the huge stand between Smith and Finch left them with 8 wickets in hand with just 12 overs remaining.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
G Knight I'm not a fan of Smith's tactics, especially his use of bowlers, but there were mitigating circumstances last night. By the time that Head or Maxwell might have typically been used Pandya was already at the crease and he absolutely devours spinners, while being far, far less potent against seam bowling.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Thanks DJ DJ, Australia's batting lineup did look much better balanced yesterday, even if the middle order didn't get the job done.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Matth you're right Maxwell may be unsure what is asked of him sometimes. Except for yesterday when, promoted to number 4 with a dozen overs left, it was clear he just needed to swing at everything. His stodgy innings meant Smith had to abandon his anchor role and go for a big shot, which caused his dismissal.
Bakkies
Guest
His shot selection decision making gets him undone. Chasing wide ones outside of off stump trying to heave it over cow corner or reverse sweeping balls off the wrong length. Sort of nonsense that threatened to end Andrew Symonds career prematurely until he got a wake up call from Ponting.
Shane Warner
Guest
As someone who was without internet coverage last night and this morning, how come the scores/result weren't on the abc news 24, weren't on the abc grandstand digital radio (but they managed to write a line about how Wade slim chances to make the ashes squad) I'd hazard to guess that if australia won the ODI, then it'd make the news
Ben
Roar Rookie
Bad captaincy from smith. He should have looked to maxwell or head a lot earlier.
Ben
Roar Rookie
Head hasn't been better this series. Maxwell if he got going would have got us past 300.
Adam
Guest
No to Justin langer he'll have the whole WA side in there.
matth
Guest
Another disappointing game. India are just better than us at the moment. Good to see Finch return to some form. Smith is getting set and then getting out too often at the moment. I suggest he is feeling the pressure of the poor output from the middle and lower order. Head is struggling over there. Maxwell is a mess mentally. Maxwell bowled one over for two runs and then never bowls again. Head, who was bowling his ten in previous series, is not being bowled at all. There is something wrong about this picture. We could really do with an experienced, calm head in the middle order, such as Cameron White. Stoinis has cemented his spot for a fair while with another good series. If he can start the Shield season well, he may be another option for the number six spot, if Maxwell and Cartwright struggle. I would still like to see Maxwell get first go however. Handscomb is not a long term keeping option, even in limited overs, unless have can bat at 4. He is not a late overs slogger. Zampa has been hard done by. For the last two games let's make a few changes to experiment. - Give Maxwell a rest and let Cartwright have another couple of games, but in the middle order. - Bring in Zampa and wrap Cummins in cotton wool before the Ashes. NCN and Richardson can open the bowling. - Consider whether Warner needs a rest, now that Finch is back. But open with Head or even Maxwell, not Cartwright.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Yep Dizzy would be my pick. Justin Langer I think would also be good at holding his players to a high standard.
BurgyGreen
Guest
If Maxwell becomes the Test cricketer he is capable of being I won't mind if that means he's no longer a force in ODI cricket. But I think it's clear he needs a batting coach who will give him confidence and simple, consistent advice. At the moment it feels like he's being told to "play his natural game" and then in the same breath criticised for "reckless" strokeplay.
matth
Guest
Not accustomed to it I hope. i think we are still pretty cranky about it. But at this point we have to acknowledge that India are simply the better limited overs side at the moment, particularly at home.
Ouch
Guest
Time for Dizzy