Australia’s remarkable transformation as a Twenty20 unit continued last night as they completed a jaw-dropping record chase of 244 in New Zealand with seven balls to spare.
The Aussies entered this tri-series as the world’s number seven ranked Twenty20 team yet now, after four commanding wins in as many matches, are on the verge of grabbing the number one ranking.
By picking something close to their strongest line-up, and favouring T20 specialists, Australia have looked like an entirely different team to the one which consistently disappointed in T20s for the best part of a decade.
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Granted, four matches in a single tri-series is a small sample size, but it’s not just been the results rather the way Australia have achieved them that should hearten fans.
They have not relied heavily either on their batting or on their bowling. Instead it has been a balanced effort from Australia, who have produced two fantastic bowling performances and two great batting displays.
They started the series by limiting New Zealand to just 9-117, thanks to a brilliant collective bowling effort, and were similarly-impressive in containing a power-packed England line-up to only 7-137 last week.
Australia ran down that latter total in a canter, finishing with seven wickets in hand and a whopping 33 balls to spare. Yet that batting display paled in comparison to what Australia produced at Eden Park yesterday.
Ashton Agar apart, Australia’s bowlers were horrendous as they allowed New Zealand to charge to a monstrous total of 6-243 batting first. That required Australia to execute the highest run chase in Twenty20 cricket history which, even on a ground as small as Eden Park, is still a mammoth task.
(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
Not only did Australia achieve that, but they did so with ease. If they’d been allowed to bat out their innings, Australia may well have given 270 a nudge. Just stop and consider that for a moment.
Unlike their five-wicket win over England in Hobart, where Glenn Maxwell single-handedly won the match with a blazing ton, Australia’s breathtaking innings yesterday was a group effort.
Openers David Warner (59 from 24 balls) and D’Arcy Short (76 from 44 balls) set the perfect platform with a scorching stand of 121 from 8.3 overs. Even then, Australia still needed to make another 123 runs at 10.7 runs per over.
When Chris Lynn was out for 18 from 13 balls, that equation was 101 from 53 balls which, again, is a stiff challenge. Then Short and Maxwell (31 from 14 balls) blasted a 56-run stand from just 25 balls, effectively killing off the contest.
From there Australia never looked like losing. Finch made sure it wasn’t even close by caning 36 from just 14 balls, including a thunderous six to win the match.
That was the former opener’s second consecutive belligerent cameo, following on from his 20no from five balls against England. Finch has adapted seamlessly to his new role in the middle order, making 56 from just 19 balls this series without being dismissed.
His move down the order has created an opportunity for Short, the Big Bash League player of the tournament, who debuted in this series. The 27-year-old has made a sparkling start to his international career, cracking 146 runs at 48, with a strike rate of 144.
In that short amount of time Short has managed to underline his versatility. Yesterday he was brutal, hammering 50 runs in boundaries. At Melbourne we saw a different side to Short as he played a more cautious knock which allowed the likes of Maxwell, Finch and Lynn to explode.
Australia’s Twenty20batting line-up is perfectly balanced at present. It looks capable of either playing sensibly or creating catastrophic carnage. Only time will tell whether this is a major turning point for Australia in T20Is or simply a purple patch.
chuns
Guest
I would argue he needs to captain all three formats and leave Smith to do what he does best, score runs.
Bob Sims
Guest
Dead right. All the other keepers who were in the running knew the selectors had issued a challenge and they didn't produce. Paine had been there before and had shown his class and ability, which the selectors remembered. He showed he still had that, and that he had successfully overcome his injuries. Some may say, and have said, that he was gifted his opportunity, but you still have to grab that chance and show you were good enough, and he has. Paine has always been classy, and moreover, he is a steadying influence on the team. Here's hoping he's the Test WK for some time to come
Rob
Guest
Smith has been prone to getting caught playing balls wide of off stump. Much the same as Steve Waugh eliminated his pull and hook. Smith is now walking a long way across to cover his off stump with an open stance which allows him to work deliveries pitching on/outside off through the leg side, often behind square leg. In the GABBA Test England targeted his stumps early and set a strong and somewhat funky leg side field. He scored regularly because you can only have 2 behind square and that is where he was hitting them. England then revert to bowling wide of off which Smith let go and patiently waited for them to come back to him. He did this all Test Series and averaged 137runs at SR. 48.5. Smith's SR has been falling and been below his career SR. of 55. over the last 11 Tests.
DavSA
Guest
Foe heck sakes . T20 is chewing gum . Take it for what it is.
anon
Roar Pro
Hi Darren!
Fergus
Roar Rookie
If ever a greater assumption has been made on the selection of the ODI Team and there culture i've yet to see it. Most of the guys in that team deserved to be selected (other then Time Paine) in my opinion but regardless there is no way you have any idea what Steve Smith or Darren Lehman think or want, your just making large assumptions which involve huge leaps of faith. When you start making statements with zero evidence to support them, you lose credibility. To be fair to you a lot of people do it on this site, but often jokingly; that didn't seem very joking to me. I don't want to sound all high and righteous (which i probably do) and i get why your saying it as they come across that way in the media but unless your Australia's sports physio your in no position to make that statement.
Fergus
Roar Rookie
On what basis do you think smith has a reduced offside shot ability in the shorter format of the game? with regards to his captaincy on field i don't think he's great, infact i'd argue he's bordering on inept, but that being said good players make you look good as a captain and at times he's been let down by the bowlers. However Michael Clarke was a tactical genius so maybe thats making smith look bad. However, i think smith has him covered in man management skills. All that being said i think warner would be the better captain but don't see it happening.
Fergus
Roar Rookie
He was then he wasn't then he was again. that is the story of time Paine's career so far. Paine was in better form then the other keepers if your yardstick for form is two fifties in two matches. In reality he was a highly questionable decision as he wasn't even in the shield team until the match before he was selected. it was a huge gamble and it paid off. People seem to have awfully short memories around here, Paine was gifted an opportunity simple as that, he most certainly didn't earn it. To his credit he did well but plenty of other keepers have every right to feel miffed, even the first grade ones as that was the obscurity from which paine was plucked.
maccaa62
Roar Rookie
Pick the one day team on a players ability to succeed in 20/20. If you can do it for the short format you can do it for the longer format. Most economical bowler in a T 20 when the batsmen are going at him have to be equally hard to get away in 50 overs. Also a batsman who can tonk is needed in 50 overs because 300 is the norm now. 200 will become the 20/20 norm.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Far out, man. Take a chill pill. I explained why most Australians are less invested in the results of t20s than other formats. If you think that's not relevant or can't understand what I meant, that's on you. Some players/teams being good at the format doesn't change the nature of the game. Again, if you think otherwise, go for your life, but you look pretty silly ranting and raving like that.
Fox
Roar Guru
Oh please Ronan Australia were very lucky Santner was injured and you damn well know it - Wheeler was absolute rubbish - only matched by Tye who at least finished better taking a couple of wickets. Wheeler should not be near the NZ T20 team or any other NZ side and his election was simply stupid from Hessen and co - utterly stupid. And let us not forget the Australian attack was battered as well shall we. Let me see now - if NZ beat England and then beat Australia i the final you will be crowing not fair coss Australia beat NZ twice in the preliminary rounds right?
Fox
Roar Guru
Oh please Ronan Australia were very lucky Santner was injured and you damn well know it - Wheeler was absolute rubbish - only matched by Tye who at least finished better taking a couple of wickets. Wheeler should not be near the NZ T20 team or any other NZ side and his election was simply stupid from Hessen and co - utterly stupid. And let us not forget the Australian attack was battered as well shall we. Let me see now - if NZ beat England and then beat Australia i the final you will be crowing not fair coss Australia beat NZ twice in the preliminary rounds right?
Fergus
Roar Rookie
Khawaja; because the series was well and truly won and if you take out the 174 australia would have still been in a good position and khawaja would have had a poor series. in the context of the match and series his contributions were not that meaningful. Mitchell marsh was the statistically worst performing test bat at number six in history going by tests played, enough said Shaun just had a horrible tour of india and was out performed by the incumbent maxwell in both india and the first 3 shield rounds. I'm willing to concede maybe khawaja didn't under-perform but in the future please read what i said. "head being instrumental in the one win Australia had" he scored 96 in that game and Australia only won by 3 wickets and without that performance could very well of lost.
ozinsa
Guest
Why then haven’t there been these sort of scores all the time? It presents its own challenges with swing and seam. I think the pitch was flat, the ball didn’t swing much and the bowlers failed to find a solution for some super aggressive batting. No need to downplay the batting efforts of both teams though. It was sensational
Rob
Guest
I'm not sure Smith is a good Captain full stop. The best batsmen in the country in the longer form no doubt, but does that automatically make him the smartest cricketer? He has developed a technique for Test cricket over the last 18 months which is reducing his ability to play shots through the off side. In doing so he has now limited his scoring opportunities. He needed a break.
soapit
Guest
would also give the selectors less of a headache if his form didnt warrant him in the team long term
qwetzen
Guest
Warner is also the best Root striker...
qwetzen
Guest
I'm a tad concerned about Lynn now. Everyone, even the Nein comms, is aware of his two weaknesses now. Slow bowlers pitched up and into leg, and the quicks a touch short and at the cods.
Mitch
Guest
No keep it the way it is ffs finch bats lower down the order in IPL and for his state. It allows other players to play their natural role and just look how good finch has been since he has gone down.
DaveJ
Guest
I hate to add a slightly negative note after such a brilliant chase, but I was struck by how scratchily Short played for the first part of his innings. He reached 30 off 13 balls mostly off the edge. But he really kept his head and later started to keep much stiller in playing his shots. But he still looks average against spin and didn’t seem capable of a drive in the air on offside against pace or spin. We were very lucky against Sodhi - there was a raft of mindless slogs that guessed he was turning the ball to leg when he was bowling whronguns that weren’t turning. Such luck is unlikely to be repeated. But if that sounds like being harsh, it is - Warner, Maxwell and Finch were overall brilliant. As Ronan says, the bowling was poor, same for the Kiwis. If you are trying to stop twelve an over being scored why not just stick to bowling yorkers and balls wide of off? But the number of straight drives by Guptill and Munro reflected a ridiculous number of length balls.