Australia coach Justin Langer must shelve his “they are all good blokes” tag and give Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, D’D’Arcy Short, Ashton Turner, Peter Handscomb and Nathan Coulter-Nile a right royal gobful for almost blowing the first T20 against India at Visakhapatnam overnight.
It took sensible batting from Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson to score 14 off the last over to record a three-wicket victory off the last ball of the game.
When Umesh Yadav started the final over neither Cummins nor Richardson had faced a ball, so the 14 was a huge ask.
But they both finished with seven runs off three to snatch the win from the jaws of defeat.
They shouldn’t have had to bat when Australia needed 38 off 40 deliveries with eight wickets in hand and the Maxwell-Short stand in full swing.
But Australia lost 5-24 through sheer stupidity.
Maxwell, who had batted superbly, went one big shot too many to be caught at deep mid off for 56 – Australia 3-89.
(AP Photo/Jon Super)
Short has wonderful batting talents, but no cricket nous. Like ball sense, you are born with it, or never own it.
Short was involved in two run outs – Marcus Stoinis in the first over, and himself, both from being a ball-watcher and not responding to the call – Australia 4-101.
Turner played a nothing shot trying to paddle the ball around the corner and departed bowled for an inglorious duck that will haunt him for a long time – Australia 5-102.
Handscomb received a very cuttable delivery, his favourite shot, but he decided to hook which wasn’t on to pay the ultimate penalty – Australia 6-113.
The very next ball Nathan Coulter-Nile played forward to make a yorker from Jasprit Bumrah, and lost his castle – Australia 7-113.
So chasing just 127 for victory suddenly became mountainous until Cummins and Richardson successfully brought sanity, and 14 runs, to the table.
I’ve left Finch until last because he had a captain’s game he will want to forget in a hurry.
Did he not fathom Pat Cummins was on the field?
Not only has Cummins been the best-performed Australia quick over the last 12 months, but the Allan Border Medal recipient as the best cricketer in the country.
And with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood out of action injured, who was the obvious choice to bowl the first delivery?
Pat Cummins.
Not on your life. It was Jason Behrendorff and Jhye Richardson to open, followed by Nathan Coulter-Nile and leggie Adam Zampa.
Patrick Cummins has had a great year – someone tell Finchy. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Cummins was the fifth bowler called, but didn’t bowl until the eighth over when India was galloping at 1-59.
Behrendorff had 1-16 off three, Richardson 0-22 off two, Coulter-Nile 0-11 off one and Zampa 0-10 off one.
Even then Finch took Cummins off with 0-6 off after one over, brought him back in the 11th with 0-11, then the 17th at 1-16 and the 19th to finish with 1-19 off four.
That was an insult to the best cricketer in the country, which he proved with the bat under extreme pressure to win the game.
What did the captain offer with his bat?
Out first ball, trapped in front.
Again.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Short has no real experience, Maxwell does. He won't make ugly runs, David, to see the 38 off 40 comfortably attained and bank the win. He has to try to score them of 12 balls. I can't believe the guy is touted as a short form captain if he can't use his experience to get the team over the line.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Completely agree with this. No-one seems to be taking into account that this was a difficult pitch. Don't take my word for it though. Listen to what the players, including Maxi and Bumrah, said post match. The Indians, despite their strength, only managed a tick over a run a ball for the entire game. This is where quoting career stats can be misleading. In the context of this game, run a ball was world class.
David Lord
Expert
Phillip, I don't get on my knees for anyone, and if you can't respect Pat Cummins as the recognised best cricketer in Australia by winning the Allan Border Medal, you are just another great Australian knocker. Pathetic.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
One of the things folk will come to appreciate about Richardson is the variety of balls he is developing in his armory. He is not just a tearaway quick. We already know, from the tests, his ability to swing it. It is his work on either side of the seam and with pace variations that we will see growth.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Berendorff is a specialist opening bowler as is Coulter-Nile. Use them there and let Cummins do what he does best. Interesting that despite the rankings of spinners in T20s, the quicks did all the damage
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Picking Handscomb who averages only 22 in all T20s with a strike rate of 116 and Turner with an average of 23 has to be a stop gap measure, or as a warm up for the ODIs, not for the long term in T20 internationals. Carey has a much better T20 record although an inferior 50over record.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Langer said Bancroft became "like one of his sons" during their time together in Perth. Bancroft an Ashes squad certainty.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Absolutely! Keeping Cummins towards the back end was a perfectly justifiable tactical decision. And bowling Behrendorff or Richardson towards the end would not be smart nor a good use of their skills. Though Richardson doesnt look suited to these wickets.
matth
Roar Guru
Good hit outs for Burns and Jackson Bird, The forgotten man.
anon
Roar Pro
Anyone is better than a bludger captain.
anon
Roar Pro
Maxi was our best player. You lose credibility when you criticise our most efficient and consistent white ball cricketer. Finch though I don't know why he's still getting picked. We have too many alternative options to let this guy stink it up high in the order. I've had a gut full of seeing this guy get favoured and having his failings excused. He's not one of the top 6 bats in the country. Simple stuff. The fact he's captain makes it even worse. The rest of the team shouldn't have to put up with the captain bludging
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Couldn't agree more with the headline, Aussies yesterday made a hell out of a walk on the park game then managed to win it by skin of their teeth. I am not getting it about Finch, he is not bringing anything on the table except speech in presentation ceremony. I didn't get it why Cummins was used after 4 bowlers when we were pondering about him potentially opening the bowling. My team would be Wade (wk) Short Khawaja / Head Maxwell (c) Stoinis Turner Agar Cummins Dorff Jhye Zampa
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah, I think it must have been a bit of a mental thing, now not putting himself under pressure to up the rate once set. He’s in the process of making himself undroppable for the Ashes. Another updays: Phil Nevill 101no SOK 57 to follow 4-78 Copeland 4 for Liam O’Connor 5 for for WA Joey Burns 60no in the 2nd innings after 60 in the 1st Swepson 4-for 76 SA used 9 bowlers, Sayers and Winter took 3 each Lehmann out for 11 to follow 3 in the 1st innings Head following his 50 with 21no Bird 2 early 2nd innings wickets to follow 4 in the 1st Wakim 160 – on debut I think Copeland
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'd be happy with that but Cummins, Handscomb, Ussie, Turner...whoever is playing. Maxi would be my choice too...at the moment. Shame we banned Davy from leadership.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It is Joey.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Patterson has now scored 5 tons in his last 7 innings. Extraordinary.
The Bush
Roar Guru
For a guy that struggled to convert, Patterson has suddenly become a century scoring machine.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Someone should just write a summary article after each round and we can use that.
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
Maxwell for mine.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The dumb cricket was from Dhoni who you would champion for being not out and improving his average. Australia thanks to Dhoni had a small target to chase, without Dhoni they didnt score runs fast enough, apart from Maxwell and the two at the end.