Cricket’s back.
After six months in COVID-induced hibernation, Australia’s cricketers will don the green and gold for the first time in six months in Saturday morning’s first T20 against England (3am AEST) at the Rose Bowl.
Six games — three T20s and three ODIs — will be crammed into just 13 days in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it white-ball tour.
The upheaval caused by the pandemic means the T20 element of the tour in particular won’t carry the same weight as originally touted.
At the start of 2020, the series was earmarked as an important marker leading into Australia’s first World Cup on home soil.
Despite an impressive run that saw them take the world number one ranking, questions hung over Justin Langer’s side in the shortest format.
Was Australia’s emergence as a T20 heavyweight real? Did they really deserve to be favourites for the World Cup? Which players would nail down a spot in the best XI?
The tour was supposed to answer those questions.
(Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Now, however, that contextual importance is gone. The next World Cup, in India, is over 12 months away and Australia will have to wait a full two years to host theirs.
But the upcoming series has taken on a different sort of significance.
After the longest layoff in living memory, Australia’s return to the field might represent a nice distraction and comfort for fans after what’s been a tough year.
For some, cricket is a deep, sometimes unexplainable passion. And without seeking to overstate its value, Australia’s return to the screen will be welcome for fans, particularly those under lockdown in Victoria.
The series is also an important distraction from the off-field turmoil currently taking place in Australian cricket.
It’s been a horrid winter for Cricket Australia, who have managed to anger almost every key stakeholder in the game: its staff, players, state-based administrators and now, free-to-air broadcast partner.
While the football codes have been mostly praised throughout the pandemic, cricket has by contrast received a barrage of criticism — much a result of its own doing.
CA’s first response to COVID-19 was to stand down 80 per cent of its staff in order to save a measly $3 million, a decision that angered many.
Then it proposed hefty cuts to both players’ pay and state funding, a move that was outright refused and re-sowed distrust.
Relationships were rendered untenable after that and the sacking of CEO Kevin Roberts followed.
Now, Channel Seven boss James Warburton has labelled CA’s current management a “train wreck” after it refused to give them a discount on this season’s TV rights, something both the AFL and NRL offered their broadcast partners.
So while the upcoming series against England won’t solve cricket’s issues, it might at least get its name back into the headlines for more positive reasons.
As usual, selection remains an intriguing topic of discussion, particularly in the upcoming T20 series.
By all reports players are champing at the bit after such a long layoff, and there’s little indication Langer won’t play his absolute full-strength XI tomorrow morning.
(Patrick Hamilton/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)
With that in mind, running the rule over Australia’s side would suggest there’s probably only two spots up for grabs when Langer and George Bailey (the two selectors in the UK) deliberate over the make-up of the side.
They are a middle-order batsman and the third seamer. The other nine appear to be locks in the strongest XI.
David Warner and Aaron Finch have been dubbed the best white-ball opening pair in the world by Langer, and are certainties to be listed at one and two.
While Marcus Stoinis has put together a strong body of work opening the batting in recent times, the coach was unequivocal when he said Stoinis “certainly won’t displace them at the moment”.
Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell are also near certainties at three and four.
Marnus Labuschagne was mightily impressive with a century off just 51 balls in Tuesday’s final warm-up clash, but it’s unlikely you could pick both Labuschagne and Smith in the same T20 line-up for concerns over a lack of firepower.
As for Maxwell, while his selection in the Test and even one-day sides has been a topic of hot discussion on these pages over the years, his spot in the T20 is not even up for discussion. Straight in.
(Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Number five (keeping in mind Australia’s T20 batting order can be fluid depending on game situation) is where things get interesting.
Stoinis is an option, although his trouble rotating the strike in the middle order is well known and might hold him back. Matthew Wade played in Australia’s last T20 series against South Africa in February but failed to take his chance. Langer and Bailey might then turn to the firepower of Mitch Marsh.
At six is keeper Alex Carey, who continues to impress.
Onto the bowlers, four of whom seemingly pick themselves: Ashton Agar, Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa.
The third seamer position is the second Australian position up for grabs.
Given the raw pace of Starc and Cummins, it’s likely the selectors would opt for a variation-heavy bowler. Kane Richardson, who has played Australia’s last T20s, is the front-runner for that spot.
But Andrew Tye’s reintroduction to the Australian squad makes him a smoky for that position, too.
England’s squad also oozes class, and skipper Eoin Morgan looks in damaging touch.
Tom Banton’s first outing against the Aussies will also be one to watch.
My predicted Australian XI for the first T20 versus England
1. David Warner
2. Aaron Finch
3. Steve Smith
4. Glenn Maxwell
5. Mitch Marsh
6. Alex Carey
7. Ashton Agar
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Pat Cummins
10. Adam Zampa
11. Kane Richardson
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
My point exactly Jeff. Until an issue arises for the season proper, 7’s call for a discount is an arrogant attempt to claw back reduction of revenue due to called off AFL games. Channel 7 showed no interest in international short form and those were the games cancelled during March. Foxtel is the broadcaster to lose a revenue stream by the known cancellation so far.
BarmyFarmer
Roar Rookie
It will be interesting to see how we approach it Cari. No stokes or roy certainly changes the dynamic but Banton and Billings look more than equal replacements on current form. I'm not sure there is much tinkering to be done in the ODI side as it looks pretty set. But agree there may be a bit more playing around in the t20 team ahead of India next year, as the bowling doesn't look as set with question marks over Jordan and Curran.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
recently I was reading a lot about the Indian tour to Eng in the summer of 1946. While the cricket in the middle mattered; everyone was mostly happy just to see cricket back in the field. I find Eng 2020 summer and the early autumn time somewhat similar.
Cari
Roar Rookie
Yes its great to see the Australia over here but I wouldn’t take these matches too seriously, especially two Twenty Twenty games. England have their eyes set firmly on India next year and will use these games to hopefully strengthen their team for next year. So expect a few names playing that are not known to Australian viewers. The preparation to allow these games to be played is pretty impressive, for example, when a six lands in the empty seats only a player is allowed retrieve it, support staff are not allowed to touch the ball, players safety is paramount. Of course we all like to see our team win but these are not normal times. Finally, have Australia got a good swing bowler? You’re going to need one.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Yep. Cooperation, not confrontation seems the way to go. I can see Warburtons point about the stars missing from the BBL but there isn't much CA can do about it really. The schedule is just too full and if they try to make international players available for the whole BBL they'll end up annoying the other nations. .. I really think the chaotic schedule has weakened crickets profile a bit. There used used to be a gentle rhythm to the summer of cricket but it's a dogs breakfast these days.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
We are top heavy. I guess Wade might be in the running at 5 but even he does better up a bit higher iirc.
Josso
Guest
Paul, DB good comments. I think the draw of cricket is it's truly national (unlike the winter codes, soccer an exception). Summer needs a sport. The footy codes can't fill it. O/S sport can't fill it. That leaves cricket. So whilst 7 might bemoan tough economic conditions, they still have a product which will engage the wider public and thus advertising revenue. CA, may need to offer a discount (particularly if there is strong evidence of advertising revenue falling), but they have to work together. Cricket needs eyeballs. Seven needs eyeballs.
Tom
The problem is that Marnus made that 100 opening the batting. He batted 3 or 4 times at 5 and 6 for the Heat at the back end of the big bash and didn’t look suited to that role at all. Looks a top 3 bat in T20’s and he’s obviously not going to displace Finch, Warner and Smith. I think we need to persist with Marsh in that role for now and hope he comes good because we just don’t have any other obvious options. Wells, Webster and Renshaw were the 3 guys out of the squad that looked capable at times batting down the order during the big bash so will be interested to see how they go come big bash time.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
ooh. Great to see the baggy greens back. eagerly looking forward to the match.
Paul
Roar Guru
I tell ya what, the batsmen didn't look too rusty. All had at least one good knock and Stoinis had a couple. I think the bowlers could do with a few more game time overs under their belts but they seem to be in fair nick, all the same. Hopefully they don't take a game or two to really get stuck in. Should be a great few weeks cricket.
Marty
Roar Rookie
I’m interested to see how Sams goes and whether Big Bash form transfers onto the international stage, or doesn’t. At this stage I’m in the ‘doesn’t’ camp but am more than happy to be proven wrong.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
I'd be giving Marnus first crack at 5. Strike while the iron is hot and if 100 off 50 balls is anything to go by then that particular iron is still scorching hot. As David pointed out there's nothing much to lose anyway. The next World Cup is a ways off now. I think there's far more to lose by not giving him a shot at it.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I've been a bit quiet lately. It's an unexpected symptom of the pandemic that I call FCF. Fantasy Cricket (team) Fatigue :) Unfortunately I don't think the criticism and scrutiny of the value of cricket is limited to 7. The fact that 9 dropped it was a huge warning bell imo. Right up until the moment I heard the news, 9 WAS cricket in my mind. For them to drop it was almost unthinkable, yet they did. All the machinations since only reinforce my opinion that cricket is slowly but surely becoming the ugly girl at the dance. (Am I still allowed to make an analogy like that? I'm not sure anymore.) Anyway, I'm really looking forward to some live cricket. I'll be happy if we can keep England honest in the first few games. The boys must be rusty as hell and the England players have some solid match time under their belts. I'm going to cut our fella's some slack for a game or two but then I want to see them utterly destroy those poms !! Don't want much do I.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Ch9 had the broadcast rights to the T20WC - the Australia matches and finals anyway. Foxtel had rights to show all matches. The rest of the season is progressing as planned re content (at this stage), so not sure where the Ch7 CEO is coming from - unless 7 had the rights to the T20 warm-up matches?
Paul
Roar Guru
g'day Bob, good to hear from you again. I'm not sure about cricket needing 7 more than 7 needs cricket. Aussie's have become used to watching sport year round and it hurts when there's a weekend without any footy or decent cricket being played. That's obviously a big part of the reason why 7 wanted to broadcast the cricket so badly. I don't live in the southern states but I'd imagine viewing on Channel 9 in summer must be pretty boring. I also gather from some online reading that 7 tried to offload the BBL in March to Channel 10? If that's the case and CA knows about it, that makes their stance completely understandable and makes these comments from Warburton even more nonsensical.
Paul
Roar Guru
I take your point about 7 wanting to cut costs, but abusing the management of someone you've partnered with is not the way to get it done, I'd have thought. These comments have backed Nick Hockley into a corner. If they do offer a discount, the perception is they've rolled over because Warburton abused them and forced them to cave in. By all means, ask the public to help decide, but this concern about the short term ignores what might happen further down the track. The elephants at Cricket Australia have mighty long memories. If I was in charge of any of the other sports Channel 7 broadcasts, I'd be noting their CEO's behaviour which is not a good look at that level.
Patrick
Roar Pro
I'd say your predicted XI is pretty accurate. The final middle order spot is probably between Wade and Marsh, based on a variety of comments made by Larger/Finch. Personally, I'm really hoping that Carey and whoever gets the number 5 spot make runs this series- number 5-6 are probably the missing pieces in the Australian batting lineup at the moment. On the bowling front, I'd probably stick with Richardson, as the incumbent whose done pretty well. There are probably a few people competing for the third seamer spot, but I'd place him at the front of the queue. It will be interesting to see if Behrendorff pushes for a spot this summer- the delayed World Cup probably helps him, and I reckon he's a very good T20 bowler.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Hi Paul. This is my 2 cents worth on the Warburton outburst. I strongly believe you are far more likely to see that sort of thing when there is an imbalance in power between the various 'partners'. It doesn't seem to matter if the imbalance is only perceived or known to be actual. Just the idea that one of the partners holds all the aces is enough to set off a round of megaphone diplomacy. I am willing to bet that Warburton feels that cricket needs TV far more than TV needs cricket and, unfortunately, he may very well be right. .. That reference Warburton made about the BBL running with all our best players on tour somewhere seems a bit disingenuous and/or uninformed to me. He said something along the lines of 'can you imagine the AFL putting on a showcase event with all its best players missing'. Surely he must realise that AFL is not an international sport split into 3 formats. The AFL doesn't have the international commitments and schedule that cricket has. Chalk and cheese really. I found that one a bit hard to swallow.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Great to see the green and gold back on the park. As for a discount for Ch7, losing broadcast of a T20 world cup would constitute a discount, but if the rest of the summer goes ahead pretty much as scheduled, then they still have a product. If crowds are reduced or banned, then they have a more highly desirable product. How big a discount has Fox offered?
David Schout
Expert
Thanks for the note Paul, always value your input! Yeah as I referenced, I think Langer sees number 3-6 as very much fluid. In the last T20 the Aussies played (against South Africa), Warner and Finch put on 120 for the first wicket so they bumped Wade and Marsh up and pushed Smith down. Conversely, if there's a relatively early wicket Smith will always be 3. But yeah, the last 5-6 overs is ideal for Marsh. Re: the broadcast rights, I think Seven are desperate to cut costs and seemingly have little to lose by going public. They're not a long-term partner like Nine was and probably don't feel the need to protect the relationship if they've already decided they won't bid again come next rights negotiations. I'd be surprised if CA don't offer a discount on rights like other codes have.