Australia beat Pakistan last night to continue their hot form in T20Is but they do face some selection issues due to Kane Richardson, Ben McDermott and Ashton Turner failing to seize their opportunities to date.
Steve Smith last night played a stunning knock of 80* from 51 balls in Canberra to lead Australia to four victories from as many completed matches over the past fortnight.
The hosts had earlier restricted Pakistan to 6-150 thanks to disciplined bowling from Pat Cummins (1-19 from four overs), Ashton Agar (2-23 from four), and Mitchell Starc (0-25 from four).
Australia have the core of an elite T20I side – a fantastic top four in David Warner, Aaron Finch, Smith and Glenn Maxwell, and a quality attack of Starc, Cummins, Agar and Adam Zampa.
But with the T20 World Cup just 11 months away, Richardson, McDermott, Turner and Alex Carey have failed to impress in the shortest format so far.
Pressure would be mounting on all four of those players given the fine T20 cricketers waiting in the wings like Matthew Wade, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Chris Lynn, Mitch Marsh, James Faulkner and Andrew Tye (when he returns from injury).
Richardson is the clear weak link in Australia’s current five-man attack. Last night he was thrashed for 51 runs from four overs, going at 12.75 runs per over while the rest of the Aussie bowlers combined conceded just 6.12 an over.
Ben McDermott
After 14 matches for Australia, he has an average of 31 and an economy rate of 8.25.
Compare Richardson’s T20I record to those of Starc (average 18, economy 6.74), Cummins (average 20, economy 6.86), Stanlake (average 19, economy 7.95), Faulkner (average 19, economy 7.96) and Tye (average 22, economy 8.87).
Granted, Richardson was the leading wicket-taker in last year’s BBL, so he is not a random selection. He just hasn’t been able to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.
The same has been true so far for McDermott.
The 24-year-old Tasmanian has a terrific BBL record yet he has looked out of his depth for Australia. McDermott averages only 14 from his 11 international matches and has consistently got bogged down badly, stalling the momentum of Australian innings.
His scoring rate of just 5.6 runs per over in his T20I career is very poor. Last night he again played a scratchy knock of 21 from 22 balls that put pressure on his batting partner Smith to keep the required run rate from ballooning.
McDermott has looked nervous and unnatural at the crease so far in T20Is. We are yet to see him bat with the freedom and instinctiveness that has made him such an appealing BBL cricketer.
Unfortunately for the young batsman, time is running out for him to make a positive impression. There is just one more matching remaining in this series against Pakistan and, after that, Australia are not scheduled to play another T20I for more than three months.
Unless McDermott shines in the series decider it is hard to see him being retained in Australia’s T20 squad.
Turner may have a bit more leeway given he is a middle order specialist and has had fewer innings in T20Is than McDermott.
Kane Richardson. (AAP Image/Darren England)
But, after 10 matches, his batting average of 14 and glacial scoring rate of 6.0 runs per over do not reflect well on Turner.
Realistically, these are all minor selection issues. As stated above, Australia have the skeleton of an excellent T20I side, as well as a cluster of quality white ball cricketers outside of the current lineup. They are in better shape in T20Is than they have been for a long time.
Were it not for the rain that washed out the second T20I against Pakistan at the SCG, Australia likely would have a 5-0 record across these two recent series.
First and foremost, their key batsmen all are looking in great nick and their bowling attack, Richardson apart, is gelling nicely.
Australia are cruising.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Yep
JamesH
Roar Guru
Then maybe don't use such over the top language? How is anyone meant to know you're talking specifically about comparisons over an entire series when you say something as sweeping as "any international performance ever from Matthew Wade in any format or any incarnation"? Australia probably would have lost that match in the WI if not for Wade's ton, by the way. Saving your side from embarrassment on foreign soil in your first test series is nothing to sneeze at.
HR
Roar Rookie
If the man-bun means Richardson has to be exceptional, Zorb's mullet surely means he's got to be an all-timer to keep his spot in the team.
Brian
Guest
I'm not talking about one innings, a nice cover drive or a well directed sledge. In an international series Carey's World Cup was better then anything Wade has ever produced including some 100 against the West Indies who have not beaten Australian in a Test since Brian Lara.
JamesH
Roar Guru
When did I claim his Ashes series as a whole was special? I referred to two particular innings. One gave us an unassailable lead in the first test and the other was a fighting knock when the rest of his teammates went missing. The idea that those innings (and the WI hundred you conveniently ignored) aren't comparable to Carey's international achievements is laughable.
David
Guest
Yes. Explain yourself Trevor. I command you!
Christine
Guest
How did Alex Carey failed? He hasn’t even had a turn to be able to bat. Next year, if Jason Behrendorff will get better he could replace Richardson or Neser. Maxy will return in 4 and they could definitely move Alex a little bit higher in the order or if they want they could have someone like Lynn but unfortunately isn’t in good form at the moment.
Rugbyrah
Guest
Why is Short not in the team?
Paul
Roar Guru
You're right of course James, but it still begs the question, now Carey's in the team, I'm not sure what he's done to suggest he should be dropped?
Simon
Guest
Richardson has been pretty good really, has had four dropped catchea off his bowling that I can remember. Good figures apart from that over in Canberra and that can happen
Brian
Guest
His Ashes series average was 33.7 playing as a specialist batsman. Sorry that's not special its par at best.
JamesH
Roar Guru
EDIT: forgot to mention Handscomb, who was actually the incumbent T20I keeper coming into the summer.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Just on Carey - he was dropped from Australia's T20I side when they played India in India earlier this year, in favour of Handscomb as the keeper-batsman. That followed a poor run by Carey in the T20I side last summer. So Handscomb was actually the incumbent and I'm not really sure why he's been ditched.
DTM
Guest
Turner is a very smart cricketer who can adjust to suit the game situation. He will win matches for Aus off his own bat but so far this season has only been required to offer a support role. Can't believe the author has questioned Carey's position - considering he hasn't had a bat.
JayG
Guest
I thought Turner needs to learn to rotate the strike better at the start of his innings. He was getting stuck and playing too many dots. It was okay yesterday cause Smith was going great and the target was not too big but could cost us in bigger chases.
JamesH
Roar Guru
That's really what I'm getting at, though. We don't have many of those 'slog specialists' - especially not ones who are also good between the wickets. Maxwell is virtually the only one and he doesn't bat lower than 3-4 in T20s. With a couple of exceptions, most of Carey's good knocks in the world cup were the type of innings you've just said we don't need in T20Is - working the ball around early before accelerating later. He's not a noted 'slog specialist', as you put it. By the way, early in his test career Wade scored a match-winning hundred in the West Indies, coming in at 5/157 in the first innings. Throw in his two Ashes tons and it's a bit rich to say Carey's WC effort "was better then any international performance ever from Matthew Wade in any format or any incarnation".
Gee
Roar Rookie
Lynn and Short would of done worse the McDermott last night.
U
Roar Rookie
McDermott is like Henriques. Good domestic record but can’t back it up at the top level. Kane Richardson should be dropped permanently. He just can’t make it in the Aussie colors
Brian
Guest
But there is no middle order to bat in T20. Your either a top order batsman or a slog specialist like Maxwell. The middle order is Smith batting at No 3. T20 has killed the Bevan, Hussey type. I'd back Carey for now his perofrmace at the World Cup was better then any international perforamnce ever from Matthew Wade in any formant or any incarnation.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Explain your doubts on Turner. He was not dismissed, scored quickly 2 games ago, great set of hands and a fantastic leader. You compare him with Stoinis...why? Because you don't like him?