Posted by Australia wrap 10 scheduled T20I’s leading into the T20 World Cup but stand unanswered. Australia toured West Indies and Bangladesh playing 5 T20I each.
IPL returnees opted out of selection from the West Indies and Bangladesh white ball tour as a result Australia miss out David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Sams, Kane Richardson, Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson. Steve Smith too opted out but with medical reasons. So, it was a string team touring both nations.
Australia first tour West Indies, Australia had a couple of intra-squad games on schedule before the opening T20I. The tracks were slow very unlike Australian conditions as a result Australia despite having spent enough time in the Caribbean failed to adjust to the conditions resulting in a 1-4 series defeat. Australia failed massively with the bat to start the tour with totals of 127, 140, 141, 189 (Aus won by 4 runs) and 183, bowlers late in the series couldn’t hold on to the Windies power hitters. Australia wrap up the ODI series 2-1 and fly to Bangladesh.
It was a quick turnaround this series, Australia play 5 T20I’s in span of 7 days. Australia fail to perform in Bangladesh resulting in a 1-4 series defeat. The same story unfolds as slow pitches don’t please Australia as they fail massively with the bat failing to adjust. Low totals were on display from both sides but Bangladesh did well to trap Australia often whereas Australia let Bangladesh to get in zone allowing them to win a passage of play that costed a lot to the Australians.
During the Bangladesh series, Australia’s highest total was 121 whereas Bangladesh’s highest total was 127, lowest for Australia was 62. Bangladesh did extremely well with the ball like the Windies especially with spinners. Australian spinner Adam Zampa did have a good series but in spin friendly conditions he failed to be at his best, looked off colour.
Positives for Australia
1) Mitchell Marsh : Marsh batting at number 3 outshined many big faces being the highest run getter both in West Indies and Bangladesh making a strong selection case, he’s been handy with the ball and athletic on field as always. With Steve Smith’s presence in doubt for the T20 World Cup Marsh at 3 is a sealed contender.
2) Nathan Ellis : Of all pacers given a game Nathan Ellis with a small sample size has been very impressive, he will fancy his chances for the T20 World Cup. He also had a hat-trick on debut.
Disappointments for Australia With many names in this list eyes were on a couple of youngsters to grab their spots for the T20 World Cup.
1) Josh Phillipe : Promising attacking opener, Josh Phillipe fails to leave a mark as he scores 14 runs in 3 games during the West Indies series, in Bangladesh he scored 19 runs in a couple of games he played and was dropped.
2) Ben Mcdermott : Another promising debutant Ben Mcdermott scored 9 runs in 2 games in the Caribbean. During the Bangladesh series he scored 57 runs in 3 games.
Australia don’t have more T20I on schedule ahead of the T20 world cup, few Australians will be part of the rescheduled IPL that will end days before the commencement of the T20 World Cup. Teams will expect slow tracks in UAE, Australia having played in Bangladesh and West Indies should have had a good idea of their bowling attack and with batting stars backing in action by then should look to have a camp in UAE and be prepared for the big tournament with bringing in former legends to work with Justin Langer and management as Australia did back in the 2019 50 over world cup.
Will be intresting to see if Australia opt for the rescheduled IPL or do they plan for a pre-tournament camp with a full strength Australia contingent with former greats joining JL and co. filling the loop holes and brining Australia back as an ever threat team, Australia are placed along with West Indies, England and South Africa in the group stage matches for the T20 WC that’s also termed group of death. So, it’s surely not going to be easy for the Aussies if there isn’t a lot of preparation going into the world cup as a unit.
Bureau of sports 