Cricket 2022: ODI cricket has become the weak link in packed cricket calendars
Is the international cricket calendar evolving before our eyes? Of the three formats, one sticks out as clearly being the weakest link.
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Is international cricket evolving before our eyes?
What was left of last year’s T20 World Championship team – three of 11 – won the only game against Pakistan over night with three wickets in hand and five balls left.
Man of the match Aaron Finch (55 from 45 balls) found his balance while one of the opportunists, Nathan Ellis, had his best day in Australian colours (4-28).
The skipper and Sean Abbott were both dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-21) with a handful of runs left to score in the penultimate over
Eight members of the Australian side which won the T20 World Cup in November were absent.
Two were injured, one was getting married and one axed, but more than a few are instead standing by to be permitted to play in the IPL as of Wednesday.
There was no Glenn Maxwell, no David Warner, no Mitchell Starc, no Steve Smith and no Josh Hazlewood.
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As a result Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green and Ben Dwarshuis all made their T20I debuts. Josh Inglis, who has been in Pakistan since February but ignored during the Tests and confined by Covid during the ODIs, also got a chance to compete.
Dwarshuis, a left arm pacer with the Sydney Sixers, like David Warner before him, made his Australia debut before playing a first class match.
Travis Head opened the bowling while Australia slept and the stars otherwise occupied themselves.
Ellis went for 14 in his first over, settled and then finished with 4-14 four from his next three.
Green (2-16 from 3 overs) took the first two wickets – opener Mohammad Rizwan (23) and first drop Fakhar Zahman (0) – in consecutive deliveries, changing up his pace cleverly first over to peg back a fast starting Pakistan.
Adam Zampa (1-29) was controlled and clever, picking up the brilliant Babar Azam (66) after Green’s wickets and Sean Abbott’s (1-28) economy frustrated the brilliant opener in the middle overs.
Pakistan were restricted to 8-162 after starting at 9rpo in the first seven overs.
In the Australian innings Usman Qadir, whose father’s name is on the Test trophy, displayed some wiles with his wrist spin despite the wet ball (dew).
The efforts of the untried or under utilised Australians indicate some depth but there is a wider context.
Beloved commentator and former player David Lloyd is the latest voice to join the chorus proclaiming Test cricket is dying.
He argues that with the proliferation of domestic leagues and the eagerness of players to skip national duties to be part of them there is no room for the traditional game.
Club and cash have conquered country while in some countries limited overs cricket’s popularity outstrips red ball cricket. Last night’s match, played in the cool of the night, was sold out while far fewer would endure the stadium which lacks shade for the Tests.
He may be right, but what if it plays out another way? What if it is white ball cricket that takes the back seat for much of the time?
Australia’s future path is suggested in the last three overseas series.
There were seven big names missing from the white ball games against Bangladesh and West Indies from June to August last year, the majority of them had their eyes on the second half of the IPL which was to recommence in September.
With a T20 World Cup in October and an Ashes series to follow their employees at Cricket Australia accepted that the players would be worn out if they played for their country in the two international series.
So, they were left behind and seven players were given a chance to taste international touring.
There was an acceptance too that playing the IPL was far better preparation than the low, slow games the international side played in their absence.
Cricket administrations know they would be foolish to stand in the way of players picking up millions in the IPL as it is a fight they are not sure they would win.
Equally, they know players must be rested or they will break. It is not fair this happen while they are being paid to work for their country, but there must be a way around that.
Tour matches have already become victim of the times and the crowded calendar. England had no real chance to tune up for the Ashes, but it is hard to imagine it would have made any difference to their performance.
Australia’s lack of a tour match didn’t matter in the Benaud Qadir trophy.
Players still measure themselves by Test match cricket. In Australia crowds are strong and have become stronger in recent times. The interest from broadcasters has never waned and both enjoyed spectacular ratings at times during the Ashes despite England’s lack of competitiveness.
The Test Match Championship imposes a requirement on sides to engage in international series, although admittedly series may not always be of a satisfactory length.
Provided England can right itself the Ashes is in no danger. Clashes with India are eagerly anticipated and lucrative for both boards. South African series muddle by but are rarely dull.
It’s administration has appeared intent on ruining the game for some time, but it sustains to some degree. With Pakistan at last welcoming sides to its shores there is another platform for the red ball game. New Zealand and Sri Lanka are strong at home, poor abroad.
Admittedly nations without the finances are more likely to be affected by domestic T20 cricket and there is an argument for socializing some of the returns made in the international game in order to shore up its weak spots.
The IPL, the PSL, the Hundred and other confections will not go away but only the richest will distract most of the big name players.
The BBL is a poor cousin and no longer a draw card to the big names, the IPL remains the brightest flame for all moths.
The weak link in world cricket at the moment are the international limited overs series and the result is what we’ve witnessed in recent Australian tours.
Were they to become B list events unless in the vicinity of World Cups it would be a loss, but one the game might learn to live with.
AUSSIE INTERIM COACH PLAYS HARDBALL WITH CA
Andrew McDonald revealed Monday that he has had discussions with Cricket Australia over the head coaching job since the Test series concluded, but said his interest in the role was dependent on its structure.
The interim coach also indicated selectors had complete faith in captain Aaron Finch despite his recent form.
McDonald was last week confirmed as head coach of Birmingham Phoenix for the English Hundred competition.
The Australian/News Corp revealed last week that the former all-rounder had not spoken to the external head hunting firm hired by CA to search for candidates.
The group had approached Ricky Ponting and others, but the acting coach said he was not interested in any discussions while focused on the Test series in Pakistan.
The players, led by captain Pat Cummins, have been glowing in their endorsement of the former all-rounder who stepped into the role when Justin Langer quit.
Langer had lost the support of the playing group and walked out when offered just a six-month extension to his contract after the side won the Ashes 4-0.
“I have spoken to people at Cricket Australia now, obviously the contested Test series didn’t allow that (before) but with a few more gaps among this one day series I have had the opportunity to speak to Cricket Australia,” McDonald said.
“Whether that becomes a follow-up conversation we will wait and see, it will be pretty much like the other people that have no doubt spoken to Cricket Australia as well.
“There was no great detail or clarity on what the role would look like, that’s probably something that will be built in the next few steps — how ever many steps there are to the process.”
“Do I want the job? It depends on what it looks like, how Cricket Australia see the job unfolding and I will probably get more detail and clarity moving forward.”
It is unclear how McDonald would juggle the head coaching role with the job with the job at The Hundred which would see him in England from late July to early September.
Australia has a white ball series against Zimbabwe in the Top End and a short limited overs series against India around that period but no dates have been confirmed.
“The Hundred is a tournament that’s generating interest across the globe and the opportunity to be part of it as head coach of the Birmingham team is something that I’m relishing,” McDonald said in a statement when appointed.
“From behind the scenes talking to players at the Renegades and from talk in the IPL, players around the world want to be a part of it,” he said.
“The players that have a clear schedule at that time of the year want to be nominating to be a part of it. It’s an exciting new format and they get to put their footprint on it.”
Cricket Australia chair Lachie Henderson indicated on SEN recently that they wanted one coach across all formats, but realised they had to be flexible.
“We’ve been clear that a single head coach is what we’re going to appoint. We need to work with who is appointed to work out how that might look down the track, so we’ll reflect on how things have gone in the past,” Henderson said.
“It is worth pointing out that it’s an incredibly congested schedule over the next 12 to 18 months and the appointed head coach will have a say if they’re not available for every aspect of that schedule.”
Finch meanwhile has failed to make double figures in eight of his last 11 international appearances, but McDonald appeared to guarantee his spot for this year’s T20 World Cup.
“His form can ebb and flow like most player’s can, his ability to work through these patches has been significant in his career, we had the same conversation about David Warner leading into the T20 World Cup last time,” he said
“All these conversations are going to happen, do we think he is still good enough to play at this level? One hundred per cent yes.
“We are building a team around him as a captain, so it is a pretty significant pillar to be discussing not being at the T20 World Cup.”
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