Aaron Finch and Bernard Foley are two very successful Australian sportsmen, but both were in danger of the flick after a string of poor performances.
Until this weekend.
Captain Finch cracked 116 off 135 with eight fours and four sixes to lead the Australians to a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Sharjah.
It was his first three figures since the neat 100 last June against England at Chester-Le-Street – 14 digs ago.
In the interim ten were less than 40, and seven of those were less than 20.
Yet Finch has cracked a dozen centuries in his 105 ODI appearances with 19 fifties to average 37.17.
The Sharjah century was timely with four more ODIs to be played against Pakistan leading into the World Cup in England to start on May 30.
Even more so with Steve Smith and David Warner soon to complete their year-long suspensions for ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute just in time for the World Cup.
The thought of Finch opening the batting with Warner with Smith to follow is a mouth-watering prospect to defend the title.
There’s a lot more Super Rugby to be played before the World Cup that kicks off on September 20 in Japan, but no more important rugby for the Waratahs than last night’s 20-12 defeat of the all-conquering Crusaders at the SCG, ending the visitor’s 19-match winning streak.
It was churlish of some commentators last night to suggest the Crusaders were badly affected by the horror shooting massacre last Friday week at Christchurch, the Crusaders’ home town.
Of course they were affected, we all were, but last night the Crusaders won just about every department of the game, with the exception of the scoreboard – they are the ultimate Super Rugby professionals.
The Crusaders ran 484 metres to the Waratahs’ 359, made 141 runs to 91, threw 182 passes to 128 and had 58 per cent possession, forcing the Waratahs to make 139 tackles to 96.
That both sides missed 21 tackles apiece says volumes for the Waratahs’ dedication and diligence to defence.
They thoroughly deserved to win on their merits alone, and Foley played a major role in the success.
He now sits on 997 Super Rugby career points from 110 appearances, with only Dan Carter (1708), Morne Steyn (1431), Beauden Barrett (1165), Stirling Mortlock (1036) and Elton Jantjies (1023) ahead of him, having passed Andrew Mehrtens (990) and Matt Burke’s 959 on the way.
One of his many highlights was a kick-pass to Israel Folau on the right flank to touch down for his 59th Super Rugby career try to stand alone with Kiwi Doug Howlett as the greatest of all time.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
When Foley fires, the Waratahs fire, but he must have Jake Gordon as his halfback, Kurtley Beale and Karmichael Hunt as his centres, with the back three of Cameron Clark, Alex Newsome and Folau.
That necessitates benching halfback Nick Phipps for his wrong options, and outside centre Adam Ashley-Cooper, whose speed has disappeared, as they constantly jolt the backline – their use by dates have expired.
But there’s far more in store for Aaron Finch and Bernard Foley in this double World Cup year.
It seems franchise cricket has forgotten about the great battle between bat and ball. In fact, this season in the IPL there is no battle at all.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
Marcus Stoinis produced his first IPL century and it was a beauty. He went 6, 4, 4, 4 to finish off the Lucknow Super…
Test great Steve Smith is to play for Washington Freedom in the second season of Major League Cricket as the Australian influence in the…
Nathan Lyon has revealed his disappointment that Australia's cricket chiefs have prevented him from playing his first full season of county cricket in England…
Some of you may have watched the recent Fox Sports Series 'A Brief History of Australian Cricket: the Eighties'. If not, I’d definitely recommend…
