Watching Ashton Turner tee off against India at Mohali on Sunday night was a cameo of Marcus Stoinis’s master-blasting dig against the Kiwis at Eden Park a tick over two years ago.
There were so many common denominators.
Both were born in Perth four years apart, both were playing in their second ODI and both took their games by the scruff of the neck when all appeared lost.
The major difference was Stoinis’s unbeaten 146 off 117 with nine fours and 11 sixes fell an agonising six runs short when last man Josh Hazlewood was run out at the bowler’s end, backing up too far in one of the dumbest dismissals in cricket history.
But Turner’s unbeaten 84 off 43 with five fours and six sixes got the Australians home to level the series at two apiece, with Delhi the decider on Wednesday.
Both were magnificent innings of sheer raw power. And the irony of Mohali was Turner replaced Stoinis who fractured his right thumb in the third ODI.
Some replacement, but what if they ever teed off together? Now that would be something right off the top shelf, especially if Glenn Maxwell joined the party.
And with the World Cup looming, that possibility has legs and gives the Australians’ immense depth with Steve Smith and David Warner out of suspension.
By then Mitchell Starc should be fit again, ready to repeat his efforts of four years ago as the player of the last World Cup.
This team could retain the coveted trophy:
With no Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh or Alex Carey in the side, Handscomb to keep and captain the side with Cummins and Maxwell his vice-captains. Handscomb has captained Australia A and the Vics and is a very level-headed leader, while Cummins and Maxwell would be very lively deputies.
Just as importantly, the three front-line quicks will have Stoinis in support, while Zampa will have Maxwell and Turner’s offies ready to lend a hand – having seven bowlers certainly lessens the pressure.
If the squad is to be 15, add Travis Head, D’Arcy Short, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood.
Sam N' Eric
Roar Rookie
From a Nov 2018 article about Smith: “He said he’s in career-best bowling form. We might see him bowl a lot more in grade cricket and when he comes back in a few months’ time as well.”
Sam N' Eric
Roar Rookie
Why isn't Smith bowling these days? If he does, theat would be a surprise package and an added feather to the Australian bowling cap!
graham
Guest
A captain only needs to tick 2 boxes for me 1. Is willing to bowl a decent amount of spin 2. Is good with the DRS
Graham
Guest
that's my team too except I'd be tempted to replace a quick with lyon
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
To say someone who was head and shoulders above the rest of the batsmen in the team over three consecutive series against the three best teams in the world was responsible for those losses is beyond laughable. The others all perform badly and he is responsible? Or the fact that we played most of those games with second string bowlers and missing Warner and Smith ? Khawaja is responsible for the win in Mohali with an inadequate run rate, rather than Handscomb and Turner? Richard Hadlee was arguably the world’s best bowler in the 1980s, but his team lost more than it won. So it was his fault, by your logic? Yes Warner has a better ODI record than Marsh, and Smith. I was pointing out that Marsh has the best record in the team in English conditions in 50 over cricket, including less than a year ago. England is where the World Cup will be played. That seems pretty valuable to me. Most of the rest, apart from Maxwell, have minimal experience or a poor track record in English conditions. But topping the runs and averages by a mile in three series against the best three teams by itself means he has to have very long bad trot before you talk about dropping him.
jose
Roar Rookie
It is unfair to compare Turner to Stoinis i feel, Turner just played 2 ODIs. Stoinis is a choker from what i have seen so far, plays a lot of dot balls, then build pressure and get out at a crucial stage. Even if he is playing well, gets out at a wrong stage. First match @ Perth stadium – got out at crucial stage, same thing in Sydney in that series. Same vs South Africa last year @ Hobart. And choked again against India in this series – at Nagpur.
anon
Roar Pro
Davey will sing like a canary if he's ostracised.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
That's how I feel about the boy too Kirko, but they will pick him, make no mistake. The Poms (and others) loath him - omg will he be under some pressure ?
Kirko
Roar Rookie
Anyone thinking Warner should be going to England is deluded. Think back to game before sandpaper saga at yet another example of him not being able to control his emotions. He baited de Kock all day to no avail, then when he copped a bit going back he lost his rag. The English hate him more than any other player in world cricket and the press & fans will be ripping into him at every turn....how do you think this proven boofhead will cope. He won’t and his cricket will be average as a result....it’s never been that strong in UK anyway. The team has showed some real humility over these last 12 months, even earned back a bit of global respect. Bringing Warner back in will shred all that.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Only because of a lack of opportunity. He is a very good batsman, as we've seen when he has had a chance to play a long innings. He is more than just a good tailender. A very solid technique, all the shots and a strong defence. Averaging 30 in 6 Shield innings this season. Averages 26 in ODI. Where is the 20 coming from?
Rob
Guest
You must be cherry picking some figures to support those comments. Shaun’s 4 hundreds have resulted in heavy defeats on home soil. Khawaja hundred resulted in a record run chase victory over India away? Warner’s average is far superior to Marsh in all forms of Cricket. Marsh averages 33 away and Warner averages 41 in ODI’s? Smithy and Marsh have a similar average in ODI’s away. Lead the averages in a winning series is great. Lead the averages in a 5-0 losing series sort of indicates you are the best loser.
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
I don’t really rate Carey’s wicket keeping not just some missed opportunities but just dropping the ball in general. The thing is Handscomb isn’t the best either so maybe go with Wade. Wade certainly has alot more fire power he had a strike rate of 126 in the JLT cup this year.
jameswm
Roar Guru
He averages 20. All in good time.
I no
Guest
Are you kidding mate only khawaja and handscomb have more runs this series so how is everyone one else significantly contributing????
peter chrisp
Guest
Looks quite interesting with Finch out for good? Looks that way, are Warner & Smith when their time is up, which is just around the corner, are they automatic selections? Once the Indian tour is complete is this the end of the Marsh brothers?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Thanks Barney, I totally missed both. Well that kind of kills the argument of those proposing to keep him because of Handscomb's 'potential' errors.
anon
Roar Pro
Pretty much my side. Pat Cummins as our captain. He can lean on Smith and Maxi for fielding placements. Time to back the young guys in. Finch has one good innings in 5 months. Turner has one outstanding innings in two starts. The best thing that happened to us the other night was Finch getting out second ball. Otherwise he would have lumbered to a 17 off 30 balls leaving us in a bigger hole chasing 360. It would be criminal to leave someone like Turner, Stoinis, Smith, Warner out to placate Finch and to a lesser extent Shauny Marsh (who is a decent ODI cricketer). They've both had their time.
Barney
Roar Rookie
Well he’s not going to make Maxi captain after bagging him all summer
Barney
Roar Rookie
Off Maxwell...and he dropped a catch off Maxwell in the same match, I think Virat
mickey of mo$man
Guest
Yer im not quite sure what the concern is about the lower order, personally id have starc and cummins switching between the 8/9 posittion, depending on whether we need someone to stay with a recognised batsmen (cummins) or accelerate the run rate. Richardson is a very handy batsmen aswell.