Australia fire as big guns return but challenge in India awaits
Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon, from ABC News, look at the change in Australia’s form now that they have moved into one-day mode against the Kiwis
Two convincing victories against New Zealand seems to have Australia back where everyone expects them to be. But there’s more to come... Geoff Lemon: I thought that tales of Australia’s one-day cricket demise were premature after the second-stringers got zonked by South Africa. The full-strength lot have been just as ruthless against New Zealand the last few days. Adam Collins: Sure were. Steve Smith said this is about continuing to help ease the pain of the South Africa debacle and get the summer back on track.Worked out pretty nicely, various big dogs coming into some red hot form ahead of the marquee Tests. GL: Dave Warner hasn’t had a marquee year in Test cricket, but he’s been ridiculous in the one-day stuff. Not crazy attacking, but crazy consistent. AC: He had the Midas touch running the limited-overs teams in Sri Lanka as well. He said after his ton the other night that ODI cricket was his least-best format coming into the year. But he’s found this ability to actually shift down gears. Unexpected from the little mauler, but super effective. GL: Yeah, six tons this year, as opposed to four from 2009 to 2015. Then when Sniffer Smith comes out to bat, he just never looks like he’s going to get out. Everyone’s surprised when he finally cocks it up. And you don’t think of ODI being Smith’s format either, but he’s been so effective since late 2014. AC: Over 6,200 runs in all international formats since 2013: only Kohli and Williamson edge him out on that measure. It’s that absurd grip on the bat with the top hand rotated counter-clockwise – like standing the wrong way on a surfboard or something – which opens up so much more of the leg-side.Works very well in the final ten overs with all the men out. GL: And the wandering albatross thing!
Peregrinations across the crease, shuffling all over the joint, like a bloke trying to stay upright without holding onto the train handles. I was at that T20 in India when he whipped Wahab Riaz through square for four, standing at about short cover. Ridonkulous.Was that as funny as Jorge Bailey’s butt-first technique? AC: You know Matt Renshaw basically does that butt-first thing as well, right? I can’t believe we didn’t mention this last week. Oh good old, honest George. If they take him to India next year I’d just about swim there, if that’s what it took to see him play Test cricket again. GL: That’s all we’ve needed in Tests for so long. A whole team of butt-firsters.With you on George. Biggest dimples in world cricket. The smile to win over a million-mum march. The sun-safe hat. So much to love. Do you reckon he’s a secret lunatic when no one can see it? Terrible sledger, out into mischief all night, then back to the blameless act? I don’t trust any image that clean. AC: Reminds me of that Peep Show scene with Mark in the tunnel being harassed by those punk kids:“How’d you get that shirt so clean?” Then they mug him. GL: So it looks like young Keaton Jennings had the debut we were hoping Renshaw would get. Century at his first shot, and in India. Can’t do much better. AC: Where did he even come from? GL: Charlie Reynolds suggested he used to be a real-estate firm. AC: Hasn’t played in India, and yet can do that. Maybe that’s instructive for Australia’s tour there, send blokes without the ghosts of tours past? I want to see England win a Test there just to prove it’s possible. Their home ground advantage is akin to the Harlem Globetrotters at the moment. “Look at Ashwin, he’s spinning the ball on his finger!” GL: And then probably plonking a hundred against you as well. Butt-first. Just absurd. Even Jadeja turns into a bowler over there, and now he’s making runs too. Oh, man.We are going to be made to suffer in a couple of months, right? AC: And if Australia somehow wins, there’s a feature film in it.Win/win. I’ll write the screenplay, you play the lead role of Nathan Lyon.We’ll snag you an Oscar. GL: “They said it couldn’t be done. They said it couldn’t be imagined. This summer, only one man can spin the wheel of fate. Steve Smith said this is about continuing to help ease the pain of the South Africa debacle and get the summer back on track. Worked out pretty nicely Nathan Lyon: Flight to Victory.” They’ll have to rename the after-party ‘The Jeff Ball’. And I’ll need to shave my scone. Or get a different gene structure. Often when I’m jealous of other men’s achievements I can think: well, at least my head’s warm. AC: We’re all over the shop today. A bit like Pakistan. Like that segue? Well, they’ve maybe lost Yasir Shah. And the batting is struggling in the warm-up. If Yasir doesn’t play in Brisbane I will cry real tears. He makes you want to leap out of bed and watch cricket, play cricket, live cricket. GL: Makes me want to get a team of stuffed animals and arrange them in Test formation in the back yard. He’s pure excitement, and the Gabba can be good for leg-spin. Let alone at twilight against a pink ball you can’t see. Surely he’ll be out there? He still has a week to get over some back twinges. AC: He must. For everyone’s sake. If he doesn’t we’ll whip out a red card for the physio, if the ICC rush that though.What a howler of a thought-bubble that one is. Bless that cricket committee. GL: It’s not really for the pros though, is it? I mean, we haven’t seen anyone do anything red-cardable since maybe Lillee and Miandad. This is more about me and Dad. It’s for the knick-knucks in village cricket who think they’re scorned heroes and want to scream at umpires or knock out opponents. In which case, absolutely crack out the send-offs. Though I can’t deny some part of me badly wants to see the first one in Tests.