Despite a rotten run of defeats, Australia can always rely on Glenn Maxwell taking a brilliant catch with his bucket-like hands as consistently one of the world’s finest fieldsmen.
Until last night.
India was 2/59 chasing Australia’s ordinary 230 at the MCG in the ODI decider, with Rohit Sharma (9), and Shikhar Dhawan (23) back in the shed.
Enter MS Dhoni, an ODI legend at 37 years young.
He back-cut Marcus Stoinis first ball straight to Maxwell in the gully, dropped.
Maxwell spilling a catch is as impossible to understand as Don Bradman managing a duck in his last Test when all he needed were four runs to career average a 100.
But it happened, and Dhoni was there at the death unbeaten on 87 for India to scrape home with four deliveries remaining, to take out the series 2-1.
That hurt, big time.
While the Maxwell grassing was critical, the main reason India won the series is three of them outscored Australia’s top seven.
Both sides posted five 50-pluses, but Dhoni, Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli left Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Stoinis, Usman Khawaja, Maxwell, Alex Carey and Aaron Finch in their wake.
Man-of-the-series Dhoni cracked 87*, 55*, and 51 to average 193, Sharma a series-high 133 to average 61.66, and Kohli 104 to average 51.
Australia replied with Marsh’s sole century of 131 and 51 to average 74.66, Handscomb 73 and 58 to average 50.33, and Khawaja’s 59 in averaging 38.
Stoinis averaged 43, Alex Carey 15.66, and Finch 8.66.
Those three were key disappointments.
Stoinis varied between looking as though he was on Valium to producing his undeniable talent, but there was no middle ground, while opening batsmen Carey and Finch were an embarrassment, with Australia two down for little too often.
So what does that tell us with the World Cup looming in England?
For starters, the rested quicks Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood return, D’Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, and Travis Head were dropped from this series and, if fit enough, Steve Smith and David Warner’s year-long suspensions will be done and dusted.
Throw in veterans George Bailey (36), with James Faulkner (28), as undeniable contenders with their current consistent form, and vast experience.
That leaves two spinners; leggie Adam Zampa, and offie Nathan Lyon, for England’s turning tracks.
All up, that’s 20 in the selection mix for 15 spots where the selectors must concentrate solely on just winning the World Cup from May 30 to July 14, and not beyond.
They’ll find it difficult to name Finch, Carey, Khawaja, Hazlewood, and Head in the squad.
That’ll require a new captain, where Bailey stands head and shoulders above the rest with Smith unable to lead any side for another year as part of his overall suspension.
With Carey out, Handscomb to take over the keeping responsibilities, and Jhye Richardson, who has enjoyed such a superb series against India, deserves a spot ahead of Hazlewood, with both ball, bat and in the field.
Lynn to grab the last spot as one of the most dangerous ball strikers in world cricket, and to always field close in to cover for his weak throwing arm.
That leaves no room for Khawaja, nor Head, thanks to their inconsistencies.
My 15-man squad is; George Bailey (c), David Warner, D’Arcy Short, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Handscomb, Chris Lynn, Marcus Stoinis, James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, and Nathan Lyon.
Old Greybeard
Roar Rookie
Lack of cunning
Old Greybeard
Roar Rookie
How did Lynn go against the sixers? Oh bugger. Another crap performance. Overrated.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Why Smith? on what basis, and form?
Ben
Roar Rookie
Maxwell. He is doing well for the stars and helped finch in the Odis.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Lol he’s not that bad! Plus he can bat.
1st&10
Guest
Being a St George grade fan, I’ve been watching him for a long time. The guy is overrated and too inconsistent. Then the injuries that he continually sustains - Sorry mate, a big NO
1st&10
Guest
Agree, he has no leadership skills
1st&10
Guest
A big NO to Warner. He has used up all his childish chances. No more bogans
Nezza
Guest
Got tickets for Aus V SA and the first final, both at Old Trafford. Was there in 2015 for the Aussies win and would be awesome to see this side defy the odds. Lot has to fall their way but still trying to get a ticket for the final at Lords ... whether or not we defy the odds ....
jameswm
Roar Guru
No you need spinners who spin it away from the batsmen in. Lefties would feast on those two
anon
Roar Pro
He keeps wickets in hand and doesn't let it get out of hand. Needing 9 an over with 5 overs to go and 6-7 wickets in hand is a powerful position to be in. 12 an over is a problem, but he doesn't let it blow out to that.
anon
Roar Pro
Shauny is a nervy type who looks like he's about to spew until he gets his score into double figures. Not a leader of men.
anon
Roar Pro
I agree Mitch Marsh is a decent enough contributor in ODI cricket, but Stoinis has taken Mitch Marsh's role and is doing a good enough job. He's got big flaws in his game Stoinis, but so does Marsh. It's up to Mitch Marsh now to put up some strong performances in the BBL and Shield to force his way back into the national side. Langer did say that runs are currency. Marsh hasn't made many runs recently, he cost us the UAE series. He needs to go back to the domestic series and make a compelling case for taking a punt with him again. He's had more chances than any other young cricketer in the country.
anon
Roar Pro
I agree with most of it, however shouldn't focus too much on Maxi's dropped catch because no-one really focused on all the dropped catches in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test. Everyone was blaming the supposed "dead pitch" (that Australia got rolled on when they batted). "They’ll find it difficult to name Finch, Carey, Khawaja, Hazlewood, and Head in the squad." Khawaja still retains his spot, but I'd make sure he's the next to cop it if he doesn't get his head into line. The guy plays with no passion, like he's happy to just stay on the Cricket Australia payroll. Lazy between wickets, no real urgency about his game in general. At the end of the day he averages the same as Maxwell (32), except Maxwell is 50% more efficient with a 120 strike rate vs 80. It's time to move on from Finch, and Carey isn't an opener. We have no chance in this upcoming Indian ODI series if we have those two opening the batting. Finch cost us the Test series and now a ODI series. Enough. This is the national side. We select the best 11 players in the country to represent us. Domestic cricket exists for players out of form to get themselves back into form. Can't have Bailey representing our country with that batting stance he has. It's a joke. It's all for attention. If you need to resort to such measures to stop yourself from skying balls to catchers on the leg side then you're not an international cricketer. You're deeply flawed. Plus the Indians ball smart. These aren't BBL calibre bowlers.
Graham
Guest
If he starts he captains. He's competing with smith for the accumulator /anchor role Screw it here's an even more aggressive team. On paper the list A records are comparable to Englands...Wish we had one more batter averaging 40+ at a strike rate of 100+ though... Warner 42.61/98.14 Short 44.50/112.94/40.17/5.85 Smith 45.54/87.21/38.78/5.38 Lynn 36.29/96.55 M Marsh 37.33/92.29/30.05/5.4 Maxwell 33.25/120.21/38.64/5.38 Faulkner 30.25/91.45/30.36/5.35 Handscomb (wk) 37.05/87.80 Agar 23.19/93.19/34.95/5.05 Starc 14.86/85.34/20.00/4.9 Zampa 16.47/97.39/33.56/5.34
Paul
Roar Guru
The Poms get away with Rashid in the ODI side and he's as big a gumby as Fawad in the field - great hearts but not much fielding skill
JamesH
Roar Guru
I'd happily play Fawad in T20Is but not ODIs. You can't hide him in the field for 50 overs. Agar and Zampa. We won't get quite as many wickets but they will be consistently tight.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Which worked 2/3 matches (they were 3 for 4 in the other), suggesting it's a more than viable tactic. Dhoni knows his game and knows what he is capable of. Whenever the RRR starts to get a bit dicey he finds a couple of boundaries at will to ease the pressure. He was a clear man of the series.
Paul
Roar Guru
Why couldn't Sean Marsh lead this side?
Paul
Roar Guru
James, I don't think it matters if they spin it the same direction, with one being a wrist spinner and the other a finger spinner, they'll have different flight, release speeds, etc.