Australia have so few accomplishments in T20 that tomorrow’s tri-series final against New Zealand is significant. Getting after the Kiwi spinners will be key to victory.
Despite never having produced a champion spin bowler in their cricketing history, New Zealand currently have the second-strongest spin unit in T20s, after India, thanks to the presence of Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi.
Left-arm finger spinner Santner is the number one ranked international T20 bowler in the world, and leg spinner Sodhi is close behind him in third.
While I rate Indian wrist spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal as the world’s best T20 spin duo, Santner and Sodhi are the top pairing according to the ICC rankings.
New Zealand were the number one ranked Twenty20 team in the world only a few weeks ago, builing that success on the control and wicket-taking power offered by Santner and Sodhi.
So often in the past two years, those spinners have combined to halt the momentum of their opponents in the middle overs.
Australia are well aware of this, having been derailed by Santner and Sodhi in the last World T20, when that pair combined to take 3-44 from their eight overs as the Aussies failed to complete a modest chase of 143.
Australia’s batsmen were far too defensive against Santner and Sodhi in that match, scoring just three boundaries from their eight overs. That was indicative of a wider problem for the Aussies across all white-ball cricket in recent years – too often they’ve allowed opposition spinners to dictate terms.
It’s been a different story in this tri-series, as the Australian batsmen have made a point of putting pressure on the tweakers. Against Australia, Santner and Sodhi have combined figures of 1-79 from nine overs in this series, an economy rate of 8.8rpo, while English spin pair Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson have been taken for 1-97 from ten overs by the Aussies.
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Santner and Sodhi have given up ten boundaries from their nine overs in an indication of the way Australia have tried to collar them. Even still, Sodhi was the best of the Kiwi bowlers as Australia completed a record chase of 244 in Auckland.
New Zealand’s four quicks incredibly gave up 210 runs from 14.5 overs in that match, at an astonishing economy rate of 14.2rpo. Australia’s batsmen will be confident of again hammering the pacemen, which makes the roles of Santner and Sodhi all the more important.
While Sodhi has looked in decent touch this series, Santner has laboured. The 26-year-old’s great strength is his precision and frugality. Both attributes have been absent in this series to date, with Santner leaking 81 runs from his eight overs.
The Kiwi pacemen rely on Santner and Sodhi to choke the run rate, which in turn earns wickets for the quicks as they become the target of heightened aggression from the batsmen. When Santner and Sodhi aren’t effective, New Zealand do not seem to have a Plan B – their bowling strategy falls apart.
In Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and David Warner, Australia have three of the most brutal hitters of spin in the format. Maxwell and Finch are placed in the middle order specifically to exploit their rare ability to dispatch tweakers from ball one.
That will be no easy task, however, if Santner and Sodhi bowl as well tomorrow as they have so regularly in the past two years. Their battle with the ballistic Australian batting line-up will decide this tri-series final.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I was more saying previous generations of bowlers swung it more. I have been heartened to see more swing bowling come back into the shield so maybe the craft has to been lost amongst cross seam bouncers, reverse swing and dodgy Kookaburra balls.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
The Kookaburra ball is designed to stay at its original state of "a low seam for 20 overs,allowing for optimal swing and seam,then to be easier to grip for spinners for the next 60 overs". So it's probably more the bowlers
Fergus
Roar Rookie
well said, but it could also be a result of the bigger bats deforming the bowl quicker then before. Or flatter pitches offering less protection as there's little to no grass covering for the bowl so it gets scuffed up quicker.
The Roar's Filthy Conscience
Guest
If players that previously swung the ball considerably with regularity, now swing it less, less often that suggests the first not the last. Remeber its players plural, not a player whose action has gone out the window. I really hope it isn't a directive, but the cynic in me finds that a pretty convincing line of argument.
Me
Guest
Ronan - You make a strong case for Zampa as those numbers are very persuasive. He didn't really stand out in only playing 5 BBL games which probably hasn't helped his cause.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I have thought/noticed this for a long time now. It is either the ball is being built to not swing or the bowlers don't have the skill to swing it anymore. I personally think it is a bit of both. The question is if Kookaburra is building balls that don't swing or seem anymore why is that the case? Is it a directive from CA to make sure of high scoring games.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
It definitely seems like the white ball is not swinging nearly as much or as regularly as it used to. The white balls used to be very good for swing bowling.
jameswm
Guest
How does Lyon need the team to win a series in England or India for him to be great? Lyon has 34 wickets at 30 in India, and 25 wickets at 30 in England. He has 139 wickets at 33 at home. So he is better in those 2 countries than at home. And Smith averages 57 away from home. Incredible stuff. Just that he's even more incredible at home, where he averages 77. He averages over 100 at home against India, Pakistan and WI, and 65 against England. And away, he averages over 100 against NZ and WI, and 60+ in India and SA.
Fox
Roar Guru
Yep I hope not Ronan - it will be a cracker I agree. What is interesting, is that despite all the carry on about Eden Park boundaries - it usually does not produce high scoring T20 games - not even domestically because it usually swings or spins there. The other day was the exception, not the rule, as Kane Williamson pointed out. He thinks the drop-in pitch was too new and the white balls don't swing from Kookaburra like they used to either - but Williamson thinks it will turn on Wednesday, weather permitting, which only makes your point about Zampa above, even more valid. What was good to hear, was Warner saying he loves playing there because of the atmosphere with the crowd which always is very vocal, so good on him for doing that IMO, reminding us that the atmosphere of the crowd is also very important not just the size of the boundaries. On a positive note, weather report has improved for Auckland and it is a ground that has very good drainage being NZ's premier rugby ground so it has that going for it as well. Fingers crossed for a cracker match anyway.
spruce moose
Guest
A bit revisionist Fox. Shane Bond had all but given up test cricket anyway because of his injuries.
spruce moose
Guest
Only 2 left arm spinners have 300+ wickets Ronan. Herath and Vettori. It's a pretty solid effort by him. His 34 average is pretty much on par with other left arm finger spinners. Considering they barely get a look in in test cricket, I think we can applaud him for getting that far.
Brian
Guest
Is there a reserve day? Warner the only Test player not warming up for SA anyway
Brian
Guest
Lyon been really great but recently we have had a lot of downhill skiers lately. Great in Australia but terrible overseas. For me for Lyon, Warner and even Smith to be great they really need to win a series in India or England. I would rather the Poms record of winning one Ashes here and getting thrashed 3 times rather then ours of losing 4 closer series. Lyon was a better Test bowler then Vettori though not for ODI.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Let's hope the weather doesn't ruin tomorrow's final Fox, I think it could be a cracking decider.
Fox
Roar Guru
'Their battle with the ballistic Australian batting line-up will decide this tri-series final.' If the weather doesn't Ronan - doesn't look crash with that tail end of the cyclone hitting NZ today and tomorrow. Auckland least effected but still will get rain.
Fox
Roar Guru
'I still think Australia are missing a trick by not playing Zampa to complement Agar.' Yeah spot on Ronan - a strange one that one.
Fox
Roar Guru
Fox
Roar Guru
You took the words right out of mouth Targa and it surprising how many Australians don't know Grimmett was a born and bred Kiwi and he didn't leave NZ as baby either. He went to Australia - among other things - because NZ at the time, didn't play test cricket. In NZ he is regarded as a kiwi cricketer who played for Australia because they had no international status at that time and I don't think that is unreasonable given the circumstances.
Fox
Roar Guru
I think Vettori changed his bowling when the idiot at NZ cricket band Shane Bond for nearly two years for playing in Indian league and Carins had retired - and he admitted he deliberately made himself a holding bowler without Bond there. And Hadlee had a better attack around him than Vettori for most of his career. Hadlee believed Chatfield to be a great foil for him because he was so hard to get away with his nagging line and length with RPO of just 2.29. And John Bracewell was not the worst spinner either on his day and Lance Cairns with those big inswingers was hardly rubbish. Vettori for me is one of games great All Rounder spinners with 6 test centuries and 23 x 50's - Not many genuine front line spinners have that all round record. In those terms he was one of games best.
Targa
Guest
Interestingly in the tests that Vettori played when Shane Bond also played (not many sadly due to Bond's injuries), Vettori averaged mid 20s. Vettori's biggest problem is he didn't do well enough in 4th innings and bowl us to victories.