Australia v India: All the action from the first ODI at the SCG
A game with no rain delays which should have finished at 10.10pm went an embarrassing 59 minutes over. Now both teams risk serious punishments.
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All-round prodigy Cameron Green is in the frame for his international debut on Sunday, after Australia’s big guns inspired a convincing – but painfully drawn-out – victory to open the summer.
The normally measured Steve Smith smashed the third fastest century ever in Australian ODI cricket and Aaron Finch, one of Phillip Hughes’ pallbearers six years ago, honoured his mate’s tragic anniversary with a brilliant captain’s ton.
Australia were rocketing towards a tone-setting knock-out over India after posting a mammoth chase of 375 to win, but a string of dropped catches allowed the visitors to land a couple of their own punches even in a 66-run defeat which spanned a ridiculously long 8.5 hours.
A game with no rain that should have finished at 10.10pm went an embarrassing 59 minutes over and fans voted with their feet – the stands emptied by the close and both teams at risk of punishment.
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I’m often asked my thoughts on over rates in international cricket. They simply are not good enough imo and the only way to address it is run penalties.
— Jason Gillespie 🌱 (@dizzy259) November 27, 2020
Very simple- 2 run per ball not bowled in allotted time (after allowances for drinks, reviews)
A unique finish to the match tonight!
— Jarrod Walsh (@jarrodwalsh) November 27, 2020
Due to SCG curfew at 11:00pm we had to stop sending anything through the PA so apart from the brilliant fans, we finished the match in silence.
All I can say is... 2020!!
Brilliant from the Aussies. See you Sunday 💚💛 #AUSvIND
Slow over rates still poisoning international cricket in multiple formats. Please sort it @ICC and stop being gutless on key, easily fixed issues. #AUSvIND @FoxCricket
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) November 27, 2020
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Marcus Stoinis hobbled off with pain in his left side midway through his seventh over, opening the door for Green – the man Greg Chappell dubbed the best Australian talent since Ricky Ponting – to get a first taste of international cricket and a chance to lay his claim for a baptism of fire in the upcoming Tests.
After Mitchell Starc was slaughtered for 20 runs off the first over and Adam Zampa dropped a sitter when danger man Virat Kohli was on 1, Australia’s biggest ever total against India suddenly didn’t seem so big.
And even after Josh Hazlewood ripped the heart out of India by taking three top order wickets including Kohli for 21, Shikhar Dhawan (74) and Hardik Pandya (90) kept Australia on edge right up until Zampa made amends by removing both of them before the 40th over in a clutch spinner’s performance of 4-54.
Cricket’s annual remembrance of Hughes is quiet and reserved out of respect for the family, but to the players like Finch (114), Smith (105), David Warner (69) and Glenn Maxwell (45 off 19) who knew him best, the inspiration remains as powerful as ever.
Hughes may be gone but he is not forgotten.
Smith’s incredible knock in the first Test played following the Test batsman’s tragic passing back in late 2014 is etched in cricketing folklore, and on Friday the batting genius produced again with the most-stunning hundred of his limited-overs career – brought up off just 62 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.
He might have built a reputation as arguably the world’s best batsman as a steady accumulator, but only Maxwell (51 balls) and James Faulkner (57 balls) have scored faster ODI centuries for Australia following the former captain’s latest exhibition of his extraordinary abilities.
Smith rejoiced during the week at finally “finding his hands” after months of feeling out of sorts, and the batting genius’ instincts again proved correct in an innings which will strike fear into India.
As a 20-year-old, Finch roomed with Hughes at a Cricket Australia camp in Brisbane and on Friday he marked a 17th ODI hundred by raising his bat sky high in tribute to his late teammate who tragically died six years ago to the day.
Finch and Warner burst out of their COVID bubble and continued their relentless march towards one of Australia’s most coveted ODI records, putting on 156 for the first wicket.
Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden are Australia’s greatest all-time opening partnership with 16 century stands, but Finch and Warner – another student who was at the CA academy with Hughes – are ramping up their pursuit and now have 11 hundred-run partnerships together at the top of the order.
Both men looked to the heavens at 4.08pm when Hughes’ image was displayed on the big screen to a round of applause from the hearty SCG crowd, to honour his Test number for Australia.
Finch and Smith both endured below-par IPL campaigns, as did Maxwell – but all three came out of two-weeks of strict quarantine to instantly turn on the fireworks.
Maxwell – who made a hundred in his last start – has well and truly settled into a role as Australia’s new x-factor finisher in the ODI format and dazzled with an explosive cameo.
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FINCH TON SETS UP MONSTER TARGET FOR INDIA
Aaron Finch has posted the first century of the international summer – before falling shortly after while trying to supercharge Australia’s total in the opening ODI.
Finch looked skyward for his little mate Phillip Hughes after bringing up three figures and immediately attempted to lift the tempo as Australia look to set a monster target against India.
But Finch bit off a bit more than he could chew when on 114, from 124 balls, trying to guide a Jasprit Bumrah bouncer over the top of the wicketkeeper – but only succeeding in sending it high into the air for KL Rahul to snaffle.
Marcus Stoinis departed shortly after for a golden duck, leaving Australia 3-271 with the bulk of 10 overs remaining.
But Steve Smith is unbeaten on a rapid-fire 70 and declaring plenty of fireworks in the remaining overs.
“Finchy has laid the platform… 370 would be good, from here,” he said.
WARNER OUT: INDIA FINALLY BREAKS THROUGH
David Warner has become the first casualty of the Australian summer, dismissed for a brisk half-century after falling victim to a successful DRS call by India’s Virat Kohli.
Australia is 1-158 after 29 overs, with Aaron Finch on 74 and Steve Smith the new man at the crease on one not out.
Warner was on 69 when Mohammad Shami appeared to have the opener caught behind – though his appeal was turned down by umpire Rod Tucker.
Virat Kohli immediately reviewed and early replays appeared to show a deviation as the ball passed the bat, although hotspot was inconclusive before snicko confirmed a slight spike prior to Warner’s bat hitting the ground.
The decision was overturned by third umpire Paul Reiffel – with Warner making moves to start his walk to the dressing room before Tucker had time to correct his decision.
“And just looking at David Warner’s body language, I don’t think he’s too surprised by that decision,” said Adam Gilchrist in commentary.
FINCH, WARNER START INDIAN SUMMER IN STYLE
Aaron Finch has delivered a touching tribute to former teammate Phillip Hughes as he and David Warner kickstarted Australia’s international summer on an unusual afternoon at the SCG.
The spectre of COVID-19 reduced the crowd capacity to roughly half – but for Finch and Warner it’s been business as usual as the star opening duo took the sting out of the Indian attack.
After 20 overs, Australia were 0-103 with Finch on 53 and Warner 41.
For the most part, the SCG seemed like a safe haven from the COVID dramas engulfing the world as Finch and Warner put on the 11th century partnership of their career.
“I like the way Australia’s jumped out of the blocks here. This is a formidable opening partnership in one-day international cricket,” said Fox Cricket’s Kerry O’Keeffe.
Finch brought up his half century off 69 balls before raising his bat and looking skyward in a salute to former teammate Hughes on the six-year anniversary of his death at the SCG.
At 4.08pm the crowd took part in a moment’s applause as Hughes’ picture was flashed up on the big screens in a tribute to Australia’s 408th Test cricketer.
Finch offered a chance on 36 when he miscued Yuzvendra Chahal with a skied shot that send Shikhar Dhawan racing back from point – but the ball evaded the opener’s outstretched hands.
Not long after reaching his half-century he took on the rocket arm of Ravindra Jadeja when pushing for a quick single down the ground and lived to tell the tale, as Jadeja’s throw was fired wide with Finch barely three-quarters of the way down the pitch.
SECURITY STAFF ASLEEP ON THE JOB
SCG security staff took more than 90 seconds to remove environmental protesters, and appeared to practice social distancing when they eventually did escort them from the field, in extraordinary scenes to start the Australian cricket summer.
Two men wearing face masks and holding up signs which read “NO $1B ADANI LOAN”, made it out to the centre of the SCG and were able to parade in and around the players for what seemed an eternity before ground security became aware.
Even when they did, most of the guards appeared to be walking or cautiously strolling out to the middle, and when they reached the men they seemed reluctant to physically touch them.
It seems COVID-19 has also stopped the practice of pitch invaders and streakers being crash tackled to the turf or frog-marched from the field.
Instead, it was a bizarre introduction to the age of socially distanced security, with fans and players bemused at the length of the delay and the apparent lack of urgency being shown.
With some limited physical guidance and restraint from officials, the protesters were eventually guided off the field.
The men were protesting against the State Bank of India loaning Indian conglomerate Adani $1 billion for its Carmichael coal mine in central Queensland.
Environmentalists fear the coal mine could have an irreversible impact on the Australian environment, including the Great Barrier Reef.
Adani is a massive Indian company that looks set to enter cricket as the owners of a new IPL franchise.
Fox Cricket commentators Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist were stunned at the scenes going on in the middle, with Gilchrist likening it to an ODI he once played in Dunedin, where a man streaked onto the field, took off the bails and was able to roam around as he pleased with no intervention from security.
“He got bored of running around because no one came out and he went back and sat down and got back into his gear,” Gilchrist said on Fox.
KOHLI FRUSTRATED AFTER STAR GOES AWOL
Cracks have appeared in the Indian camp on the morning of the first ODI, with captain Virat Kohli revealing his frustration at superstar Rohit Sharma going AWOL.
Kohli broke his silence on the “special” reason why he’s departing Australia early this summer in a belated press conference to open the tour, but the big talking point is the breakdown in communication between India and one of the world’s leading batsmen.
Rohit, one of the most damaging opening batsmen in cricket, did not travel with the Indian side to Australia to complete his prescribed rest and rehab period, despite the fact he finished the IPL season.
The latest advice is Rohit will have a final assessment on December 11 to determine if he can fly to Australia and relieve Kohli when he returns home for the birth of his first child – but the Indian skipper has not held back in his disappointment over the “lack of clarity” on Rohit’s absence.
It remains to be seen how much the drama has rocked the tourists, but it suggests a major division between the biggest personalities in Indian cricket.
“Well, before we had the selection meeting in Dubai, we got mail before that saying he was unavailable for selection having picked up an injury during the IPL which would require a two week rest and rehab period and it said the pros and cons and the explanations of the injury had been explained to him and he understood that,” Kohli said.
“That was the information before the selection meeting. He then played in the IPL so we all thought he’d be on that flight to Australia, which he wasn’t travelling with us.
“And we all received no information whatsoever … the only other information we’ve received officially is he’s at the NCN (in India) and he’s being assessed and further assessed December 11.
“So from the time the selection meeting happened, the IPL finishing and now there’s been no information. A lack of clarity.
“We’ve been playing the waiting game on this issue which is not ideal at all. It’s very confusing and a lot of uncertainty and lack of clarity around the situation.”
Kohli also took aim at the ICC for changing the rules on the run for the ICC Test Championship which is leading up to a scheduled final midway through next year.
India was leading Australia on points, but the ICC has now decided to go on percentage, which means Australia has leapfrogged them on the ladder.
“It’s very confusing, very difficult to understand why. And if these things were explained from day one would be easy to understand,” said Kohli.
“It’s happened out of nowhere. And further questions should be asked to the ICC why it’s been done and what are reasons behind it.”
Kohli said the reason why he’s heading home after just one Test match was he couldn’t risk missing the birth of his first child due to the constraints of COVID-19 travelling restrictions.
“The decision was made before we had the selection meeting and I explained the same for the selectors,” Kohli said.
“That I’d be flying back after the first test and that’s based on the fact we’ve got a quarantine period both ways. I explained the same to the selectors.
“I wanted to be back home to be with my wife for the birth of our first child. A very, very special and a very, very beautiful moment in our lives and something I truly want to experience. That was the reason behind my decision, which was communicated to the selectors during the selection meeting.”
AUSSIES URGED NOT TO SLEDGE KOHLI
Adam Zampa has urged Australia to adopt a no sledging policy around Virat Kohli, warning: “You don’t want to wake up the beast.”
Kohli relishes verbal confrontations on the field, and while Australian captain Tim Paine might have come out trumps in his lively stoush with the Indian master two summers ago, there is a feeling that silence is golden.
Pat Cummins said recently the Australians hadn’t discussed a ban on sledging Kohli, but wouldn’t rule it out either.
Zampa has an uncanny record of claiming Kohli’s wicket in white ball cricket, but insists he won’t be poking the bear with trash talk in the series opener on Friday night at the SCG.
“It’s not really spoken about to be honest. But I just think you don’t want to wake up the beast.
“There’s been times in Test cricket obviously, watching from afar, where we’ve engaged that and it’s brought out the best in Virat.
“Virat is one of those guys where I feel if you work him up and give him any reason to be better than he already is, it’s probably a bad idea.”
Australian captain Aaron Finch on Thursday labelled Kohli “the best one-day player of all time”, and indicated the only talk about the batting genius on the field will be about bowling plans.
“We have to look to get him out,” said Finch.
Cummins wrote in a recent column for News Corp that the Australians are aware that Kohli enjoys trying to bait opponents into a confrontation to get himself into the fight.
“Virat will be trying to pick fights with whoever will listen,” Cummins wrote. “So will we implement a no-sledging policy against Virat again?
“It’s not been discussed, but it might be something we speak about closer to the matches.”
Test great Steve Waugh said Australia would be wasting its breath trying to get under Kohli’s skin.
“Sledging is not going to worry Virat Kohli. It doesn’t work against the great players and you’re better off leaving those guys alone,” Waugh told ESPN Cricinfo.
Zampa has got Kohli’s number more than just about any other bowler in world cricket in recent years, but while he’s proud of his record, he’s not taking anything for granted heading into the summer opener at the SCG.
“It’s something I’m proud of, but it’s also pretty important to recognise that’s in the past,” said Zampa.
“I think it’s important to forget about that, because Virat is one of those guys who is so determined and always trying to get better and take his game to the next level.”
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