A jaw-dropping innings of 84* from 43 balls by rookie Ashton Turner propelled Australia to an unlikely win in the fourth ODI in India last night, levelling the series at 2-2.
When Turner arrived at the crease Australia looked gone, needing 130 from 77 balls against the world’s best ODI bowling attack on their home turf.
Yet Turner played an innings of composed brutality, hammering five fours and six sixes. He intimidated the Indian spinners with his reach and clean striking.
This much was clear when, from his 15th ball faced, Turner picked a Kuldeep googly from the hand and clobbered it for a low six straight down the ground.
Later in his innings he got stuck into India’s quicks, clattering boundaries off both Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Meanwhile, the hot form of Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb is beginning to put pressure on struggling Australian skipper Aaron Finch, who was bowled for a duck last night.
Finch showed signs he had perhaps turned a corner in the third ODI by scoring 93 only to be dismissed in all-too-familiar fashion last night, bowled by a pace delivery coming back in at him.
That latest duck gives the 32-year-old an average of just 15 from his last 20 limited overs innings for Australia.
David Warner, easily Australia’s best ODI batsman, is expected to return at the top of the order for the World Cup.
That means the second opening berth may well be between Finch and Khawaja, who stroked 91 last night and has made 397 runs at 57 since returning to the ODI side this year.
Khawaja’s numbers are extra impressive when you consider that all seven of those matches have been against India, who have comfortably the world’s best ODI bowling attack.
There is a chance Khawaja could perhaps bat at three in the World Cup. But there’s also a logjam of other players trying to slot into the top six including the returning Steve Smith, the in-form pair of Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh, valuable all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, and newcomer Turner.
That makes nine players jostling for positions in Australia’s top six for the World Cup – six of whom are in better form than Finch, plus the star pair of Warner and Smith.
No one has made a stronger impression in this current series in India than Khawaja. The 32-year-old previously has had only one lengthy run in the ODI team, back in 2016.
(AAP Image/Paul Miller)
While he didn’t make the most of that chance Khawaja is exploiting his current opportunity. So, too, is Handscomb, who made a wonderful 117 from 105 balls last night.
Since he came back into the ODI side in January Handscomb has underlined just how much he has improved as a 50-over batsman.
In that time, across seven matches against India, Handscomb has made 335 runs at 48, with a terrific strike rate of 98.
His innings last night was one of the best seen by an Australian in an ODI in recent memory. It was calm and well-paced, with his play of spin especially good.
Earlier, Australia were taken to the cleaners by the powerful Indian batting lineup on a road of a pitch. India at one stage were a strong chance of making 400 before a flurry of wickets slowed them up and saw them finish with what was still a monumental score.
India’s huge total was built on the back of a 193-run opening stand between Shikhar Dhawan (143) and Rohit Sharma (95).
With the World Cup looming India will have been delighted by the return to form of that pair, who have been below their best in ODIs this year.
Dhawan struck the ball particularly crisply, offering the Australian bowlers the finest of margins for error.
After that monstrous opening stand Australia did well to not capitulate and to manage to take nine wickets in the final 19 overs.
Quick Pat Cummins (5-70 from 10 overs) and leg spinner Adam Zampa (1-57 from 10 overs) were the pick of the bowlers for Australia, while Jason Behrendorff (0-61 from 10 overs) bowled better than his figures suggest.
This was the sort of commanding batting performance that had been a while coming from India, who had not passed 300 once in their previous six ODIs against Australia in 2019.
It looked like a score which would be well out of Australia’s range, particularly after they lost two early wickets.
But the fighting efforts of Khawaja, Handscomb and Turner underscored the fact that Australia’s ODI form is quickly turning around.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
I agree. That’s what makes selection tough... the balance between the “hasn’t let anyone down” types and the “wrecking balls”.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Chris, see my comment above for context. I can't deny the correlation between Marsh's tons and the losses, but correlation =/= causation. Surely those losses have more to do with the lack of support and the fact that we've really only had one guy in the side with that ability to explode at the death? In the four matches Marsh scored hundreds: - Marsh went at better than run-a-ball every time - only once did Australia concede more than 320 - Australia was three down for less than 100 in all but one match - Maxwell (twice) was the only batsman in any of those games to make at least 20 runs at a better strike rate than Marsh At what point do we stop laying the blame at Marsh's feet and look at the failings of those around him?
JamesH
Roar Guru
First of all, "apart from those four tons [in 12 games]" is not an argument. There is no way that scoring a ton every three games in that period - more times than he's failed to reach double figures, BTW - can ever, ever be described as inconsistent. I'll admit that he's looked a bit out of touch so far in this series but he has credits in the bank. Secondly, I was responding to a comment that said "He always fails. Every single chance. Both of them." That's not even remotely true (about either of the Marsh brothers) in ODIs.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I'm a little with Jose on this one. Marsh has consistently scored hundreds in losing causes where constantly there was the feeling that they needed to get more of a move on in the middle overs, and lead to something like 280 where they needed more like 320. So he gets his hundred and his stats look good, but the team doesn't score enough runs to win the game. And that's my big concern with a lot of Marsh's innings during this last 12 months where he's scored a lot of hundreds in losing causes.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I get the "hasn't let anyone down" argument. But I think if Australia is really to threaten in this world cup, we probably need to take a few risks and "won't let anyone down" players might have to make way for "can be a human wrecking ball" players.
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
Carey was in form at the right time, Paine was going to miss out on the Twenty20 tri series last year because he had to prepare for the South African test series, Carey was the inform keeper in the big bash so he got picked. Then when Paine was dropped from the ODI team Carey was picked because he was the incumbent Twenty20 keeper.
Spinosum
Roar Rookie
Hi jameswm, your top three look doggy. I'm unconvinced about Warner opening but possibly batting at first drop. I wouldn't include Smith in the team as his batting is much better suited to the long form. Quite happy about the other placement suggestions. Just need a capable opener to pair with Khawaja. Maybe the final Shield rounds might confirm Bancroft or Burns.
Spinosum
Roar Rookie
Well said Mario Lia. There is also another factor concerning Warner's return and that is paternity leave. We have S. Marsh just back after his child's birth and Coulter-Nile home earlier than expected. Warner's family appear to be the glue that keeps him together currently and that is far different from our team in the change room in India and that team has gelled!
13th Man
Guest
I've got no problem with Carey, Don but I just think that for team balance once Warner and Smith come back, someone has to be squeezed out and on current output with the bat i'd say Finch and Carey are the two that have to go. Handscomb is proving to be very reliable in the middle order (much to my surprise I must admit) and He does add the flexibility to allow Australia to play both Stoinis and Turner, something I think they will need to compete with the likes of India, England and the West Indies.
Brian
Guest
Haydos had a good point. What he didn't factor was the dew on the ball and Pant's poor keeping. None of those will help you if you need 175 off the last 19 overs come the World Cup
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Marsh scored 131 off 123 against India in January. Was that the reason Australia lost or perhaps because India chased 299 against an attack made up of Richardson, Behrendorff, Siddle, Stoinis and Lyon?
13th Man
Guest
Great minds and all that....
13th Man
Guest
Thing is Handscomb isn't exactly a part timer he's far better than that. He would be on par with the likes of Bairstow, Pant and Latham who all are all picked for there batting and there keeping is a bit of a bonus. Carey is a better keeper than Handscomb but not by as much as you'd think, and for team balance I just think it makes sense. It allows us to have a middle order of Maxwell, Stoinis, Turner which I think anyone would agree looks absolutely frightening. So nothing against Carey but I'd be fully confident with Handscomb taking the gloves. As another point, I've been a big fan of Wade coming back into the side due to his batting but that seems unlikely as he's out of favour. I'd argue that Handscomb is actually a better pure keeper than Wade so if we are going down that road I wouldn't be too unhappy.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
But it's not going to happen most days because most teams will not tally 350 vs Aus with their attack. If they do then good luck to them plus it's likely a good wicket. In chasing, if it was as easy as scoring a bit quicker everyone would do it. It was vital the Aussies kept wickets in hand after being 2/12. In effect they Handscomb and Khawaja left a 20/20 target without the hindrance of fresh bowlers with a couple of seasoned 20/20 bats to come.
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
Why everyone here (comment section) seem to have landed in a great dilemma regarding who to open with in world cup, don't forget you have 9 matches to play so you will always have chance to come back if one starts badly and then you can always chop and change if initial strategy fails. I say everyone needs to be ready marsh, Finch, khawaja, Smith, Warner and prepared to give their best in whatever roles they are given. There are 9 league games and all of them need to be in good form and fitness.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
And you blame the most successful batsman because they lost. Interesting!
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Not if you’re chasing 350. With Khawaja scoring at that pace, the only way Australia could win was if a later batsmen pulled off a miracle innings at @ scoring rate of 100. It happened this time, it’s asking too much most days.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Bizarre comment. He has the best ODI record in the current team.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Seven ducks
AREH
Roar Guru
17 wickets dropping in a day up at the Gabba...scenes