Australian player ratings: ODI Game 1

The first ODI of the summer saw Australia lose by 6 wickets to South Africa, with the tourists chasing down 153 easily with over 20 overs to spare.

The Australian batting performance was underwhelming, and their bowling for the most part was nothing to rave about, perhaps with the exception of Marcus Stoinis and Pat Cummins. Below, every player in the XI is rated out of 10 for their efforts in Game 1.

Aaron Finch – 2.5
Finch was perhaps a tad unlucky with his dismissal, as Hawk-Eye showed that his LBW was actually just heading over middle and leg stump – as well as a well-delivered ball from Lungi Ngidi. However, he would be bitterly disappointed that he couldn’t hang around a lot longer and made use of the fast pitches pace at Optus Stadium.

His perplexing decision to open the bowling with Nathan Coulter-Nile instead of Mitch Starc will have questions asked; however there is sure to be a method behind the madness. His relatively well set fields get him to 2.5/10.

Travis Head – 1
Only scoring 1 off 9 balls, Head got himself out playing his first attacking shot of the innings.

Whilst the ball was arguably there to hit, Travis seriously lacked in footwork trying to drive Steyn early on. Criticism is sure to arise over where Head should bat in future matches, however D’Arcy Short’s failure at number three today shouldn’t see any changes for Game 2 in Adelaide.

D’Arcy Short – 1
Much like Head, the footwork used to try and hit through the covers was not up to scratch, and ultimately lost him his wicket.

Whilst the catch taken by du Pleases to get rid of him was very very good, the shot probably wasn’t there to hit having only faced one ball. At this early stage, D’Arcy looks to be the first one that would make way for Shaun Marsh once he recovers from a minor surgery.

D’Arcy Short walks out to bat. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Chris Lynn – 2.5
Having come to the crease at 2/4, Lynn was forced to play against his natural game and help rebuild an imminent batting collapse. He managed to hit two boundaries in his 32 ball stay, but ended up being caught behind to an under-edge.

His temperament at the crease was pleasing to see, however he would obviously be disappointed he couldn’t hang around a lot longer and into the middle overs. His display of a relatively unseen defensive game has scraped him an extra half a point.

Alex Carey – 5
Carey’s knock of 33 off 71 balls on paper no doubt looks scratchy to the naked eye, however, it played a massive part in Australia putting a three-figure total on the board for SA to chase.

His sweeping of Imran Tahir on both sides of the wicket was looking very good until he ramped straight up in the air for de Kock to have him caught behind.

His temperament was very commendable, and despite his inability to go on to a 50+ score, it was a knock that gave the Aussie bowlers at least something to bowl at. His keeping was seemingly sound, with only one small hiccup when unable to stop an extra four wides going against Coulter-Nile’s name in the second over.

Glenn Maxwell – 2
Whilst Maxwell’s stay at the crease was a short one, he picks up a second mark for his intent during his eight-ball stay. Hitting two fours, ‘The Big Show’ was looking alright until he was struck on the thumb by Lungi Ngidi.

The very next ball saw him scoop the ball to mid-on, and get himself out rather cheaply to Andile Phehlukwayo.

Australia’s Glenn Maxwell. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Marcus Stoinis – 7
Having gotten off to a confident start much like Maxwell, Stoinis also fell very cheaply to Phehlukwayo.

Holing out straight to Heinrich Klaasen, Stones will likely come under fire for his shot selection given the Aussies were reeling at 5/66 and looking for someone to stick with Alex Carey. His good bowling at the end of the South African run chase gets him several finishing with figures of 3/16 off his 4.2 overs.

Patrick Cummins – 7
Cummins hung around for eight overs with Carey to build a 23-run partnership, however was run out by some unreal fielding by David Miller.

Pat was a tad slow out of the blocks when running the quick single, but it could just as fairly be argued that there wasn’t a single on offer. Cummins bowled very well under the circumstances, and finished with very respectable figures of six overs, 0/18.

Pat Cummins bowls for Australia. (AFP PHOTO / THEO KARANIKOS)

Nathan Coulter-Nile – 5
Coulter-Nile hit a handy cameo that would have been more expected from either Lynn or Short, with a very solid 34 off 31 at number eight.

His runs, like Carey, gave the Australian bowlers a total to bowl at. His first over however when bowling went for 16, which really hurt the confidence of both him and likely his captain Aaron Finch. Had it not been for that, his rating would definitely exceed 5.

Whilst he took the prized wicket of Quinton de Kock, his three overs for 26 runs were extremely expensive, especially given the small total they were defending.

Mitchell Starc – 3
Starc’s 12 runs was a contribution twice the size of the top three batsman combined; which says a lot more about the top order today than his efforts.

The very strange decision to not be opening the bowling surprised many, and will likely not be used again come Game 2 should he play. His eight overs were quite expensive, with 47 runs conceded without taking a wicket. Having said that, it is never easy to bowl at a team chasing such a small total.

Josh Hazlewood – 6
Besides his 6*, Hazlewood was impressive with the new ball against the South African top order. With two maidens in his first three overs, his back-of-a-length type bowling was found as hard to hit, and had de Knock and Hendricks shuffling on the crease uncomfortably.

However, as the innings went on, his bowling became more expensive and less dangerous. His finishing figures of eight overs, 0/41 are an accurate reflection of an okay day, without anything exceptional.