Steve Smith made his long-awaited return to top company overnight for the Rajasthan Royals against the Kings XI in their IPL clash at Jaipur.
His well-compiled 20 off 11 with a four and a six was cut short by what will probably turn out to be the catch of the tournament from the right-handed KL Rahul running 60 metres from mid off to end up diving to his left and with both hands snaring a magnificent take.
Smith needed a dismissal like that like a hole in the head, but he showed he’s back, and that’s the most important point.
He would have loved to match David Warner’s return to the big time for the Sunrisers Hyderabad with his 85 off 53 with nine fours and three sixes, but Smith will get more runs under his belt during the IPL in the lead-up to the World Cup.
They are both on $1.7 million contracts, right up there among the highest paid in the eight-team tournament.
That’s a far cry from a year ago when both were banned by the IPL for being involved in the ball-tampering saga in South Africa.
But thankfully their 12-month suspensions officially end on Friday, even though the IPL has given them both a very welcome early mark.
And it’s paying dividends for Australia.
The form of the top five of Warner, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Smith and Shaun Marsh will send shivers up the spines of their World Cup opponents. They are in awesome touch.
Finch has ended his virtual ten-month drought with back-to-back scores of 116 and 153*, an ODI career high; Khawaja has been the model of consistency with 104, 91, 100, 24 and 88; and Marsh has batted only twice for 91*, and 11*.
Interestingly, Peter Handscomb must play as keeper, so Marsh may yet be involved in a three-way battle with Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell for two batting spots. Time will tell, but it’s a strong position for selectors to call.
So far Warner and Finch have teed off with a combined 354 runs off 331 with 28 fours and 13 sixes.
Dave Warner and Steve Smith in happier times(AFP Photo/Greg Wood)
Khawaja has been more of a steadying influence, getting on with it in compiling 407 off 457 with 39 fours and just three sixes, but hes’ been more content to turn over the strike to heavy-hitter Finch.
We know Smith will be well ahead of the balls-faced rate, which would be right in the mayor’s office for three out of Handscomb, Marsh, Stoinis and Maxwell to follow.
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are no rabbits with the bat, nor is Jhye Richardson depending on how he recovers from his right shoulder dislocation.
Regular scores of 300 are now a distinct possibility rather than a forlorn hope.
Let’s not forget Australia are the defending World Cup champions. And the way things are shaping, it will take a mighty side to topple them off the perch.
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
His average over the last 12 months is 59 at a strike rate of 93. And he was brilliant in England. Remind me where this World Cup is being held again? You simply don’t leave a player like that out.
ForwardsWinMatches
Guest
Yes, the World Cups are too long, even 2015. Maybe glass half-empty Paul, or maybe just an objective view. Finch has put together 3 good innings - care to set out he previous 10 or so? I agree with the post above, Handscomb has earned his spot, as has UK. Maxwell is needed for his bowling and hitting. You can’t fit them all in. Is Starc as good as he was in 2015? Not lately.
Graham
Guest
Thats right you need multiple bruisers down the order to chase 350+ When we chased down 350 against india we had 2 lower order bruisers after a platform at the top was set. They scored around 110 between them at 12 an over. Normally you would expect only 70 odd so 2 bruise brothers is the absolute minimum We look the team least likely to be contained for under 300 but (unless we have more bruisers down the order) the least likely to chase 350
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Have to agree here, it's hard to see the selectors suddenly changing and giving Handscomb the gloves when they haven't given them to him in a single 50-over lead up match, T20's yes, but the moment the 50-over matches started it's been all Carey. Would be pretty shocked if they then went to Handscomb having not played him as ODI keeper at all prior to the world cup.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I have no doubt he's capable of it and I think the selectors should have given him the job a month ago. May/June is just the wrong time for him to be taking over. Generally speaking, you don't ask a player to start playing a new role on the eve of a tournament (unless your hand is forced).
Phillip
Roar Rookie
In a normal one day series having Marsh around is fine, you can afford the slow starts. But for a WC every batsmen can't waste a few dozen balls like Marsh tends to do. He would make a good enough backup but Handscomb now shows he's becoming a top teir white ball player, not to mention how great he plays spin. In any case the selecters will find a way to screw it up, its to be expected these days.
jameswm
Roar Guru
He's kept in state 50 over games, FC cricket and T20s. He can keep in ODIs. I do think the selectors will stick with Carey, but I think it's a mistake.
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
not 350+ though.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
Finch is a lottery Just scored back-to-back hundred plus a 93 against India Why would anyone expect Marsh to play consistently well? Because he was our best ODI batsmen in 2018, averaging over 59 with a S/R of 101. a stupidly long tournament. As mentioned, 1 game shorter than the previous WC
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
In those games Handscomb (100 something) and khawaja (100 & 90 odd) did the bulk of the damage. with some late ballistics from turner and Maxwell. Marsh didn't contribute anything. I'd have Handscomb in over Marsh any day of the week.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I don't disagree but it's simply too late to drop him now. I don't think Handscomb has ever kept in an ODI. That's not something you trial in the World Cup. The selectors have persisted with Carey as the keeper all summer. It's pretty clear they won't backtrack now. I'd have liked to see Handscomb given the gloves in India, which would have allowed Turner to stay at the number 7 spot (with Warner and Smith out), but it is what it is.
Paul
Roar Guru
The issue about Smith isn't about the score he made but how he looked at the crease and I thought he looked very good. Sure he was playing some unorthodox shots but his footwork seemed confident and even the shot he got out to showed some pretty good timing. Assuming he & Warner can carry forward their form to ODI cricket, which I'm confident they can, this lineup would clearly rate with the Englands and the Indians, both of which have been a tad shaky of late. No doubt, these teams will come good but our top 7 look in form. Whether we have the lower order strike power is our only concern.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Carey is a luxury we can't afford. Yes he's a better keeper than Handscomb, but we can't afford someone in our top 7 who doesn't perform a core batting role for that position. We have too many batsmen in form to leave them out.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I'm not sure a 20 off 11 will have other sides quaking in their boots but I can't see Smith missing the squad, as long as his elbow is fine. People need to wrap their heads around the fact that Handscomb will not keep. They can't give Carey the gloves for what will be 18 straight ODIs before the Cup starts and then ask Handscomb to take over. That would be highly irresponsible. If Handscomb was going to take the gloves then he needed at least this UAE series to settle into the role. Carey will keep. It's done. Assuming Warner takes Marsh's spot in the XI, Handscomb and Smith are probably fighting for the same position in the team. As for "we know Smith will be well ahead of the balls-faced rate"... Do we? Smith's ODI career strike is 86, which drops to 79 since 1 Jan 2017. He's never been one of our fastest scorers. For comparison, Handscomb's strike rate is 98.
Paul
Roar Guru
Really, Tim? This side scored over 300 in 2 of it's last 3 games in India and was very comfortable chasing down over 280 twice, which suggests it could have easily gone past 300 if the need was there to accelerate. Throw in Warner & Smith and this side is looking very good to make 300 every innings if required.
Paul
Roar Guru
I guess this is the view from the "glass is half empty" camp. This "stupidly long tournament" is a game shorter than the 2015 World Cup.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Finch sealed his place doubly with that bowling performance. The flipside is whats the point having Stoinis giving away over 6 runs on average. Marsh and Smith they would be better off getting rid of. Smith I can't see being fit enough to play one day cricket after the lay off. The secret in England will be to be prepared for every possible wicket eventuality. To compete against England's slog squadron on flat wickets, they needed to be able to score quickly not at average rates. If there is something in the wicket for the quicks they need four fast bowlers to take advantage of it. Similiar for spin they can have up to four spin bowlers if the wicket is helpful in that regard.
Graham
Guest
Smith's last world cup was pretty impressive. Really hope we play handscomb at wk. Any news on that?
ForwardsWinMatches
Guest
Not sure about that. We’ve had a good but very short run of late but in previous lead ups we’ve been undoubtedly the best and the clear favourite - not 1987 but that was a long time ago. I’d prefer consistent form over a period. Finch is a lottery and Warner/Smith have no form to back up their claims. Why would anyone expect Marsh to play consistently well? Richardson was looking good but must be in serious doubt. Starc has been poor this summer. Zampa is hot and cold. For the Aussies to do well, they’ll need everything to fall into place over a stupidly long tournament.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Smith’s recent strike rate in ODIs was tortoisessian