Australia eyeing NZ white wash
Tim Paine’s side is riding high on confidence after winning the series and is aiming for another win in Sydney
MELBOURNE: Australia will look to use the disappointment of their late Ashes fade-out in England to push for a series whitewash of New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Tim Paine’s men took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series against the Black Caps on Sunday with a 247run win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Australia have now notched four successive test wins in a perfect home summer but still hold rueful memories of their last match in England.
Having retained the urn with victory in the fourth test at Old Trafford, Australia lost at The Oval to head home with a 2-2 draw and some regrets.
“We’ve probably got to learn a little bit from what happened in the Ashes,” Paine told reporters.
“I thought when we won the fourth test it was such an emotional high.
“With the fast turnaround, guys were just a little bit flat mentally, I guess, a bit drained from having such a big high.
“So we’ll try to keep it nice and level over the next few days. Rest up and hit that fifth test of the summer with as much energy as we hit the first test at the Gabba,” Paine said, referring to the Brisbane Cricket Ground.
In contrast to New Zealand, Australia head to Sydney with the kind of headaches that selectors like to have.
Selectors have brought in legspinner Mitchell Swepson into the squad to provide another slow bowling option in addition to incumbent Nathan Lyon for the nation’s most spin-friendly pitch.
Finding a player to make way for Swepson could be a challenge.
Australia’s fast bowlers were outstanding at the MCG, with James Pattinson slotting in with aplomb to deliver six wickets, including a fiery three-wicket burst in nine deliveries to hasten the Black Caps’ defeat on Sunday morning.
With no pace bowling allrounder in the squad, Australia may be reluctant to break up the trio of Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins to allow for dual spinners.
SHORT REPLACES INJURED ABBOTT
Australia on Monday called up explosive opening all-rounder D’Arcy Short in place of injured pacer Sean Abbott in their ODI squad for the upcoming tour of India.
The tour begins on January 14 with the first One-day International in Mumbai.
The second and third ODIs will be held in Rajkot and Bengaluru on January 14 and January 19, respectively.
Short has been included in the squad after a side strain during a Big Bash League game ruled out Abbott for four weeks.
With fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Kane Richardson already in Australia’s ODI squad, selectors have called in Short, a top-order batter who also bowls wrist spin, to replace pacer Abbott.
“It is extremely unfortunate for Sean, who is very much a part of our white-ball squad plans leading into the ICC T20 World Cup and the World Cup,” selection convener Trevor Hohns was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia.
“D’Arcy offers the squad another spinning all-rounder option along with Ashton Agar, which, along with the four world-class fast bowlers and Adam Zampa, balances the squad out nicely.
His proven record and ability to bat anywhere in the order will also be a great asset to the squad.”
Short has played four ODIs for Australia, hitting 83 runs at an average of 26.66. Unless there’s an injury, he will likely bat in the middle order given Warner and Finch are going to open.
The last time Australia toured India for an ODI series was before the 2019 ICC World Cup when they shocked the hosts 3-2 after being 0-2 behind in the series.
David Warner and Steve Smith will also be touring India for the first time with the Australian team since the ball-tampering scandal, both expectedly figuring in the squad.
Cricket Australia banned them for one year for their role in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (capt), D’Arcy Short, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, Adam Zampa.