Australia have nabbed top spot on the ODI rankings after spinners Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar came to the rescue in a series-deciding, 21-run victory over India in Chennai.
Veteran David Warner was surprisingly relegated down the order as Australia posted 269 off 49 overs in Wednesday’s third and final clash.
Makeshift opener Mitch Marsh again top scored with 47 off as many balls, while Warner made 23 off 31 balls batting at No.4.
In reply, India were in cruise control at 2-146 before Zampa (4-45) and Agar (2-41) turned the match Australia’s way.
Australia pose with the series trophy after winning 2-1 in Chennai. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
Agar snared Virat Kohli (54 off 72 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in consecutive balls in the 36th over to swing momentum.
Zampa was a force the whole way through as India lost 6-79 in a devastating period, with the home side eventually bowled out for 248 in 49.1 overs.
The result gave Australia a 2-1 series victory and propelled them above India into top spot on the ODI rankings.
Zampa was named man of the match after claiming the scalps of Shubman Gill (37), KL Rahul (32), Hardik Pandya (40) and Ravindra Jadeja (18), while Marsh took the player of the series honours.
“It’s always fun bowling with Zamps,” Agar said after the match. “We’re great mates. We have a pretty good time out there.
“We usually have a whisky in his room most nights and discuss how we’re going to go about it. It paid off for us today.”
Kohli threatened to guide India safely to the win, but he holed out to Agar’s bowling in what proved to be a critical moment of the match. Agar clean bowled Yadav next delivery.
It was the third match in a row Yadav had been dismissed for a golden duck. “Ashton Agar, he changed the game,” Zampa said.
“I don’t feel like I deserve this (man of the match) to be honest with you. For me to be able to do what I did at the end, it’s kudos to the guys who bowled before me.”
Marsh continued his hot form as Australia reached 0-68 after electing to bat, but a collapse of 5-70 put the visitors on edge.
Alex Carey (38), Marcus Stoinis (25) and Sean Abbott (26) led the recovery effort to at least help Australia reach a respectable total.
There was a big shock in the batting order when the returning Warner, who had finally recovered from a hairline fracture in his elbow and a corked quad, was named to bat at No.4.
It marked just the second time in Warner’s decorated 142-game ODI career that he didn’t open, the other being against Scotland at the 2015 World Cup when he scored 21no off six balls while batting at No.5.
His relegation down the batting order – and another promising display from Marsh – has added huge intrigue as to who will open at this year’s World Cup in India.
Marsh’s latest knock lifted his tally to 194 runs at an average of 97 across this three-match series – all as an opener.
Travis Head was retained as Marsh’s opening partner for game three and made 33 off 31 balls, following on from his 51no off 30 balls in Sunday’s 10-wicket thrashing of India.
Paceman Hardik Pandya (3-44 off eight overs) and spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3-56 off 10) were the chief destroyers for India.
Allrounder Ravindra Jadeja (0-34 off 10 overs) was by far the most economical bowler.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
You are probably right,DTM,it's just that he keeps being a match winner in both T20 and ODI's.I understand the game is very different, as in the shorter forms batsmen don't have time to settle in like in tests,so he may not have the same success. I can't say I have really noticed his fielding,but you would think being a good fielder is probably more important in the short forms. I also take your point there is a pretty good crop of spinners around at present.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He either has to rescue the team or slog. When people quite his numbers, they never quote context or dates. Some contributions to those stats draw on games 8-10 years ago. He never gets to bat with opportunities commensurate with his skills. He even got shuffled down behind Abbott in that last game.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Just send Agar in earlier. Stop the rot and score runs.
matth
Roar Guru
That would make sense if his slugging produced a decent strike rate. But a strike rate of 85 is below par for a batter coming in at 7 or 8
matth
Roar Guru
Even more so when the World Cup is in India. I’m confident they will play most games, surely
matth
Roar Guru
To a point. Still have to get to the 30 over mark to allow the lower middle to score more freely. As it was we still got bowled out. Warner was fine. I thought Labs was a bit slow though
JamesH
Roar Guru
Much of that might be true but you still aren't picking a 29yo to bat at 6 for Australia unless they've got a reasonable body of work batting 6 or higher domestically. Besides, if he's at 6 it means Carey is at 7, which wouldn't make sense. They just don't need Agar to bat there
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
DTM has your number there. Why not do your "data set" thing with his bowling too. You absolutely, continually and at every opportunity decry him. Pay more attention to what Adam Zampa says about him.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Guess where the CA journalists come from.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Where do you get the impression I dislike Agar? I’ve made it pretty clear I think he’s a really good cricketer and deserves to be in the white ball teams when conditions warrant two spinners. I won’t, however, allow my admiration for a player to turn into blindness to his limitations. Much as Steve Smith is my favourite batsman, I don’t pretend he is an allrounder. Admitting that Ashton Agar is not an international quality Top 7 batsman is simply a statement of fact. Since a dataset of 4 completed innings is clearly not an adequate sample size, I looked across formats to challenge the assertion that Agar could be a brilliant top order bat if only he were picked in the top 6. An assertion which by the way was built on him scoring 72 in a Shield game earlier this season (cross format stat?).
Rellum
Roar Guru
Why does that not shock me. Check out the CA team of the Shield, no Cartwright but does contain one Matt Short
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Although Hilton Cartwright has had a better season.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Tempo, for the record, I think Agar should bat at 8 or maybe 7 in the ODI team but your numbers are not right. He has only batted at 7 or above 5 times in ODI cricket - averaging 37.25. It's only when he bats lower that his batting average drops. Don't use stats from other formats to justify your overall dislike of him.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I'm by no means an expert but Zampa has made a career as a short form specialist. As a leg spinner at first class level, he is not even assured of a spot in his state team's best eleven. Simply going on first class stats shows that Swepson is comfortably ahead of Zampa. Zampa's other problems are, he is poor in the field and a genuine number 11 with the bat. He maybe Australia's 2nd best leg spinner at the moment but there's at least Lyon, Murphy, Kuhunemann, Swepson and Agar ahead of him for any spinning roles in the test team.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I like this team although I'd leave out Carey and play both Stoinis and Turner. I agree, keep Green (and both Cummins and Carey) for test cricket. Also, Ellis is my 1st choice as number 10. Can't believe he only got to bowl 5 overs in this series. A fully fit J Richo is a good option (and would bat ahead of Starc) but his fitness seems to be an ongoing problem.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Don’t see how Inglis can’t be the next cab off the rank, brilliant season in both ODI and T20, made a ton in the one day cup final. Can bat anywhere in the top 6. Matt short is a good prospect but he is behind Inglis in the queue.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
My goodness! He doesn't get a game, let alone a bat. Read, think!!!
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Since his brilliant debut innings of 98 batting at No.11, he hasn't scored a 50 at international level in his next 51 innings, 48 of which were at No.8 or higher, with 27 in the top 7 and 10 innings in the top 6. He averages 11.5 batting in the top 6. You clearly have a very low bar for success if you believe he succeeds every time he bats up the order. He's a very good white ball bowler who is a very handy No.8. He certainly deserves to be Australia's clear choice for second spinner in the white ball teams. He absolutely is not a top order batsman though. I'm not aware of any successful top order international batsmen who average below 30 in first class cricket - perhaps you can provide some examples?
Rellum
Roar Guru
How does that matter. Selectors will do as they please
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Don’t see how he can jump ahead of Inglis? Bats in a different position.