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Australia’s bowling attack is looking dangerous and well balanced as they enter the World Cup, having limited Sri Lanka to 239 last night in their final warm-up match in England.
While there has been heavy focus on the makeup of Australia’s top six, and the returns of batting stars David Warner and Steve Smith, their attack has quietly built some fine momentum.
Australia’s bowlers have been a driving force during their remarkable run of 13 wins from their past 14 one day matches.
So it was again last night as Adam Zampa (2-39 from nine overs), Pat Cummins (1-23 from eight overs), Mitchell Starc (1-38 from nine overs) and Glenn Maxwell (1-14 from five overs) all bowled well before a classy and measured knock from Usman Khawaja finished the job.
Maxwell’s continued good form with the ball is giving Australia greater flexibility in their line-up, opening up the option of playing a fifth specialist batsman instead of struggling all-rounder Marcus Stoinis.
In his last ten one day matches for Australia, including four recent practice matches, Maxwell has taken six wickets at 48.
While that average is not terrific what is extremely impressive is his miserly economy rate of just 4.98 runs per over in that time. Australia have enough wicket taking prowess among their four frontline bowlers that they do not need their fifth bowler to be threatening.
Instead they need them only be frugal, and Maxwell is proving to be just that.
Glenn Maxwell of Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Again yesterday he did a fine job of drying up the runs with his off spin. Maxwell was brought into the attack after just ten overs, perhaps because of his ability to trouble left handers, two of whom were at the crease.
He had a big LBW shout in his first over and then had Kusal Perera trapped in front in his fourth over.
Throughout his five over spell of 1-14 Maxwell bowled with precision, patience and guile. He found a nice in-between length and continually made subtle changes to his pace, release points and seam position to keep the batsmen honest.
Skipper Finch clearly trusts Maxwell with the ball far more than did his predecessor Smith.
The previous time Maxwell had an ODI captain who backed his bowling he played as Australia’s sole spinner in the 2015 World Cup and won a place in the Team of the Tournament. Reprising that role in the 2019 edition is now a distinct possibility for Maxwell.
While yesterday’s match helped to press Maxwell’s case to be Australia’s fifth bowler, it worked against seamer Kane Richardson.
In giving up 52 runs from six overs against a weak Sri Lankan batting line-up he surely placed himself firmly at the bottom of Australia’s pace pecking order.
Nathan Lyon also had his hopes of breaking into Australia’s starting XI dented. As Australia’s other three spinners – Maxwell, Adam Zampa and Steve Smith – collectively took 4-62 at just 3.9 runs per over, Lyon was expensive returning 1-48 from eight overs.
Lyon remains a good defensive option should Australia wish to play two spinners, but he has not done enough to usurp Zampa as the first choice tweaker.
Meanwhile, Australia’s pace duo of Starc and Cummins looked fantastic. Cummins barely bowled a bad delivery as he took 1-23 from eight overs. The young right armer is in the form of his life in this format, having taken 27 wickets at 13 in his last ten one dayers.
The Australian cricket team. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Starc is still fresh back from a long injury layoff but is showing good signs.
The left armer’s pace is up – he nudged 150kmh yesterday – and he looks to have found a nice, easy rhythm to his bowling. In an indication that Starc’s body may be holding up well, he completed four separate spells yesterday as he finished with 1-38 from nine overs.
Australia then made light work of a straightforward chase. Shaun Marsh (34 from 46 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (36 from 36 balls) both made handy contributions, despite looking short of their best.
The chase, however, was built around a calm knock from Khawaja, who continued his sensational form as an opener. Australia’s batting line-up would be at its strongest with Khawaja and Aaron Finch opening, followed by David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh and Glenn Maxwell.
Australia’s selectors now have the tough choice of picking two out of Khawaja, Marsh and Stoinis to complete the top six for their World Cup opener against Afghanistan on Saturday.
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