Australia sweep T20 series, next stop India, CWC 2023.
Australia secured a 3-0 T20 sweep against South Africa after a typically belligerent Travis Head assault guided them to a five-wicket win in the series finale at Kingsmead. The South Africans will be glad to exit Durban stage door left!
Replying to South Africa’s 8-190, Head crafted a career-best 91 from just 48 balls, with 68 coming in boundaries, courtesy of eight boundaries and six maximums. Australia cruised home with 13 balls to spare, an eternity in this format. Josh Inglis (42 from 22 balls) and Marcus Stoinis (37 not out from 21) were dependable contributors to the visitors second consecutive successful run-chase.
Earlier, after a stuttering start (2-12), Proteas captain Aiden Markram re-aligned his team’s innings with a clean-striking 41 from 23 balls. Opener Reeza Hendricks—the owner of the best name in world cricket—played anchor before getting out when he looked set to push on. Tristan Stubbs showed his power again, albeit briefly, with (25 from 16 balls), and Donovan Ferreira showed his worth with a fast-finishing (48 from 21), enabling the hosts to post a par-target of 191.
If you don’t subscribe, that’s OK, but why not? No, really; hit the button below to join. Or, if you do subscribe and feel like supporting me beyond a free subscription, do the same, and I will be forever grateful and in your debt.
Head’s innings was a welcome contribution in a format that has offered him limited opportunities of late.
"It’s nice to be back and contributing," Head said later.
Another Australian who should be happy with his recent work is newly-appointed captain Mitch Marsh.
Marsh was named man of the series after powering 186 runs from an even 100 balls across his three innings in an encouraging start to his tenure as captain.
"I’m really proud of a pretty young group coming over here and sweeping the series," Marsh said.
"It’s been a real team effort. We prepared well, and we took the game on whenever we had the opportunity. There was some luck at times, but as a collective, we maintained the mentality of always being positive in our decision-making."
I, for one, look back to the recent Ashes and his first-innings century at Headingley in the third Test as a catalyst for him now believing he has a place at the table in international cricket. It was a significant corner to turn. All the power to Mitch Marsh, I say.
It’s not difficult to find idioms in cricket vernacular; however, the catch-all has to be, "It’s just not cricket," whatever the hell that means.
Another that has constantly troubled me is "dead rubber. The meaning I get and the origin, though, with decent research, continues to elude me!
The third and final game at Kingsmead was indeed a dead rubber, still though, there was plenty to play for on the bowling side of the coin for the visitors, and there will be more on the line when they travel to Bloemfontein for the first three ODI’s.
This is all with two eyes firmly fixed on the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup in India (5 October to 19 November 2023).
Last night Sean Abbott took the bowling honours with career-best figures of (four for 31) helping restrict South Africa to a manageable total. This is T20 cricket though—24 balls, opposed to a possible 60 in 50-over cricket. Spencer Johnson bowled with the new ball, he was solid, an economy rate of 7.25 and double-digit dot-balls represents a good nights work.
Previously, Jason Behrendorff was also solid in game two, returning (two for 25) with a 6.25 economy rate and again a double-digit dot-ball count. Nathan Ellis went one better with (three for 25), but in game three he went the journey, conceding 50 runs from his four overs last night. Such is the nature of the T20 format, and there must be a modicum of temperance when evaluating bowlers capabilities across the two white ball formats.
Returning to the World Cup and which fast bowlers Australia will opt for from their preliminary 18 player squad, which is below. This will be eventually trimmed to the tournament 15.
Clearly, Pat Cummins is a lock. Mitchell Starc is also a lock—he’s a tournament specialist, he also gives left-hand bias with both ball and bat, and he possesses the innate ability to remove top-order batters with the new ball, which is imperative in India.
Josh Hazlewood is hard to deny; however, he will be the one who comes under the closest scrutiny if the selectors decide to break the old firm triumvirate. So, assuming Australia maintains its appetite for all-rounders in this format and picks four genuine quicks, it seems that two from Hazlewood, Abbott, and Ellis will make it.
These next five ODI’s loom large for a few.
The other interesting selection conundrum is in the spin bowling department. Tanveer Sangha, a newbie, has reaffirmed the selectors, and coaches, early belief with some measured performances to date. Adam Zampa remains the premier white ball tweaker, and then Ashton Agar provides the much-touted finger spin option, which appears to prosper on Indian pitches.
Australia's preliminary World Cup squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Feeling generous? Great. Why not gift a SpeakingNick subscription to someone who might enjoy the content.
We will continue to watch this space. It’s good to be back on the keyboard, and thank you for your patience; I appreciate it.
👏👏👏👏👏👏