Australia last night shocked the cricket world by inflicting India’s first home ODI series loss since 2015 thanks to a sublime Usman Khawaja century and a disciplined bowling effort.
Australia incredibly rebounded from 0-2 down in the series to win their next three matches against India, who long have been dominant in home ODIs, losing only two of the previous 20 series they had hosted.
The Aussies just one week ago were in arguably their deepest-ever ODI form trough, having won just three of their previous 20 matches, and not having claimed an ODI series for more than two years.
It has been a jaw-dropping turnaround engineered by Khawaja, pace spearhead Pat Cummins, batsman Peter Handscomb and leg spinner Adam Zampa.
Those four players were again key last night as Australia batted first and made an above-par score of 9-272 on a tricky Delhi pitch before defending that total impressively.
Cummins took 2-38 to finish with 14 wickets at 15 for the series, in what was the standout performance of his ODI career to date.
Zampa, meanwhile, reignited his flagging ODI career by not just picking up 11 wickets at 25 for the series but also consistently taking big wickets.
Australia’s Adam Zampa in action. (AAP Image/SNPA, John Cowpland)
Last night he snared 3-46 and all but killed off the match by grabbing three wickets in as many overs just as India were beginning to threaten.
Earlier, Khawaja scored an imperious ton, capping a phenomenal series for the 32-year-old, who churned out 383 runs at 77, including scores of 104, 91 and 100 in their three victories.
The left hander timed the ball wonderfully well from the first over last night, with his assertive start forcing India’s bowlers to make a series of strategic alterations. Then when spin came into play he went after that too, lofting Kuldeep for a six over long on in his first over.
At the other end Aaron Finch played a sedate knock of 27 from 43 balls during which he again struggled for timing and placement. He was lucky to survive that long after playing and missing to his first ball and then almost chopping on second ball.
Eventually he was undone by a lovely piece of flight from left arm spinner Ravi Jadeja, who castled him with a delivery that gripped.
That brought to the crease the in-form Peter Handscomb, promoted to number three due to the axing of Shaun Marsh.
Handscomb was his usual busy self, piercing the gaps expertly and running well to ensure Khawaja was not placed under any pressure to up the ante.
Once more Handscomb played India’s star spinners brilliantly as he cruised to 52 from 60 balls before falling victim to the vagaries of a difficult pitch, caught behind off a Mohammed Shami delivery that exploded.
Replays showed that the previous delivery from Shami on that very same length had bounced almost 50cm lower, highlighting the major natural variation on offer.
With Khawaja (100) and Glenn Maxwell (0) having fallen just before Handscomb, Australia had suddenly suffered a collapse of 3-7.
What looked like a potential 320-plus score became a far more modest one. Australia only managed to pass 250 thanks to an industrious late stand from quicks Jhye Richardson (29 from 21 balls) and Pat Cummins (15 from nine balls).
While Khawaja was Australia’s topscorer for the series, Handscomb was also fantastic, with 236 runs at 47.
Leading into this series, none of Khawaja, Handscomb, Cummins or Zampa were cemented in the ODI side. Now this quartet have led Australia to the most unlikely of series wins, their first such ODI victory in India for almost a decade.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
I did check. Marsh’s run rate over last 12 months was 95. Others - Handscomb 95, Khawaja 85, Stoinis 83, Finch 77. You’re logic reminds me of the witch trial in Monty Python and the Holy Grail - throw her in the water tied to a rock - if she floats she’s a witch, if she sinks she’s not. They didn’t play Bangladesh and Scotland in the last 12 months- just England, South Africa and India. You don’t think having a second string bowling attack getting flogged for 350-400 might have had something to do with those losses?
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Uncle Ernie I did not realise that Philippe was a keeper. That means that WA had 4 keepers in the team, Bancroft, Whiteman, Philippe and Inglis. Any batsmen not making their state 11 should head west methinks.
Magic
Guest
So you mean Adam Gilchrist wasn't a legendary wk, Gilchrist was my actually not mine but world best favorite player and there were 80 percent chances of AUS winning because of only Adam Gilchrist yes only
Magic
Guest
So it means if AUS choosen the bat first 15 years ago than AUS affected the batting of great Adam Gilchrist
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
David, how many world cups has mother nation won! No mate, don’t try answering that, that’s not a question.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He had multiple contradictions.
Rob
Guest
LOL what heavy rate? The more he scores the bigger the defeat. Check your stats it’s interesting what effect he has on the result. The logic is winning games over the personal numbers of a bloke that has been given far more opportunity than anyone else in the history of Australian cricket. Take out his numbers against Bangladesh and Scotland and compare him to Stoinis and you would be embarrassed about beating the Shaun Marsh drum.
jeznez
Roar Guru
There is no tangent here Don, you said: "you just want to sack Langer for the sake of sacking someone" But you ignore that anon had multiple conditions that entailed Finch failing to find form, Langer persisting with him and that costing Australia at the WC I found this amusing but it isn't funny anymore (am sure we lost everyone else a long time ago). Am sure you will post a response that doesn't match the single point of discussion we've had so you can have the last word. Please pat yourself on the back after you do and enjoy your weekend.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
We weren't in disagreement about your tangent. I didn't buy into that because it was not the conversation I was having.
jeznez
Roar Guru
:D Mate, I fully agree that his "young guys" call was silly - that isn't what you and I are in disagreement about. I'll pop up there and like that part of your comment too. Have a good weekend.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Just look at the folk who liked my comments and compare them with you and anon. The case rests.
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
Haha
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
And Matty Wade another 134 on the 4th day against WA (batting at #4). 38 in the first, and a pretty decent first 2 overs (2-6, before Short belted a couple of sixes off his 3rd over). Wade for the all-rounder slot??
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
DungerBob, was it really a brave move? I don't think J.Langer has any problem dropping one West Aussie for another. Let's see how he goes when he has to drop a WAussie for someone from Queensland or NSW. He is already talking up how "indispensable" is J.Richardson as the shadow of M.Starc looms. As for all the talk of dropping A.Finch, do people realise that Finch was the 3rd highest Aussie and 7th overall highest run scorer in the series? He had 2 failures, 2x30-odd digs and a 93 and this was against a very very good Indian good fast-medium attack of JJ.Bumrah, B.Kumar and M.Shami and some pretty good spinners. Pommy David above says India were coasting, well that is pure bunkum but I thought a couple of their bowlers did look tired, especially Bumrah and K.Yadav. As for the WC in England, Oz could have DK.Lillie, J.Thommo, M.Starc and M.Johnson and they would still get belted on those English roads. My prediction is the team with the best spinners and deep batting will likely win the chocolates.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Your comments have misunderstood anon’s, I suspect wilfully. The counter argument, which I note you haven’t tried to make while you build straw men and obfuscate, is that: Langer should be allowed to continue to select Finch, without consequences. Even if Finch never finds form and it costs the team at the world cup. If that is your position then it is you playing the silly games. Thanks for the entertainment, over and out.
anon
Roar Pro
I've always said he's a decent ODI, he just doesn't have the bottle for Tests. Never has, never will. I said we have 5 batsman who are locked in. The last place is between Smith and Shaun Marsh. Finch on the pine.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
So scoring a pile more runs than anyone else on the team at a heavy rate caused his team to lose, not the rest of the team? Great logic.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It was the gist of my comment to anon that you chose to intrude upon, misunderstand and play silly games. I'm not interested in your thoughts about Finch. If I was, I'd be on a Finch thread. Thankfully, there were those who did understand, not just go looking for a fight to while away the time. If you want to go on a tangent, start your own thread in response to the article and I can choose to join the comments or not.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Scoring the most runs over the last 12 months across 15 ODIs, easily topping the averages and aggregates in three series against the three best teams in the world, including on grounds where the World Cup will be played? That’s the worst run for 120 years?
Paul
Roar Guru
DJ, I look at guys like de Kock, Dhoni, Buttler & Bairstow to name a few. All can either knock it around like Carey does, or go next level and really pepper the boundaries. At the same time, they're all very useful keepers. I think Gilly set a very high benchmark, but these guys do things a little differently and that's where I think Carey could go, if he has the skillset and the mental strength to adapt his batting to this style of play