Australian selection under the microscope after T20 series loss to India

After starting its tour with back-to-back losses, India has now won three matches in a row and will hit the first Test with some serious momentum.

Matthew Wade will captain Australia against India. Picture: Getty Images

Six-hitting machine Hardik Pandya seized back momentum for India heading into next week’s first Test, as Australia’s decision to rest Pat Cummins was put under a microscope at the SCG.

After getting dusted up by Australia in the first two ODIs, India has now won three straight matches including Sunday night’s dramatic six-wicket triumph which secured them the Twenty20 series.

Australian debutant Daniel Sams stepped up to claim the key wicket of Virat Kohli (40 off 24) in the 17th over to turn the match in the home side’s favour, only to be smashed for two sixes in the final over by finisher extraordinaire Pandya who finished with a stunning 42 not out from just 22 balls.

Matthew Wade produced a brilliant captain’s knock to justify his elevation as skipper, but in the end Australia paid the price for being heavily undermanned with six of their first-choice superstars unavailable, largely due to forces outside their control.

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Hardik Pandya celebrates after his late game heroics. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Josh Hazlewood (back soreness) and Aaron Finch (glute tear) joined a massive unavailable list for Australia which already included David Warner (groin), Ashton Agar (calf), Mitchell Starc (compassionate leave) and Cummins (rested).

However, Australia may now regret their decision to rest their best fast bowler Cummins following the run of personnel dramas they have been dealt – with the T20 series now over before the gates could even be thrown open for game three which can host the first 100 per cent capacity crowd in NSW since the start of the pandemic.

Australian coach Justin Langer said on Sunday night that Cummins needed the rest because he could have gone six months without seeing his family if not, but also selectors were powerless to call him back anyway at late notice.

Pandya and that wonder bat. What a beast. 🏏

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“It’s not as easy … some of the simplicity of our past lives (are) not quite there. There is (three days) of isolation involved, and we just can’t do that,” said Langer.

“The other thing is we’re always considering the big picture here. There is a big Test series coming up. There was a lot of talk about Pat not playing but we’ve known we’ve had to manage this throughout.

“If he didn’t spend a few days away he might not have gone home for six months.

“For any of the critics, imagine not going home for six months. One we couldn’t bring him back, and we didn’t consider it because we’re going to manage him to make sure we’re going to have him for the Test series.”

How the match was won.

Sams was working at an F45 gym two years ago, but on Sunday night he outmuscled Kohli for a memorable first wicket at international level.

But Twenty20 cricket is an unforgiving format, and Pandya picked off the 14 required in the final over as India seized on Australia’s inexperience.

Sams finished with figures of 1-41 and Andrew Tye 1-47, ramming home just how much Australia missed their all-star trio of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood.

There was nothing Australia could do about the last two, but Cummins could have played if not granted early leave from the squad to rest.

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Under strict biosecurity laws a player can’t be called back unless he isolates for three days, so Australia may well have been caught unawares after the late news with Starc and Hazlewood.

Australian coach Justin Langer has already stated fans and broadcasters may be unhappy by certain decisions this summer, as the national set-up makes no apology for prioritising the wellbeing of players dealing with the unusual circumstances of life in the bubble.

Wade produced a superb captain’s knock to give Australia a flying start, smashing 10 fours and a six in a display which proved his leadership credentials.

Matthew Wade celebrates his catch to dismiss Virat Kohli. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Some eyebrows were raised that Smith was overlooked with Aaron Finch injured, but Wade’s is a comeback story in its own right – skippering Australia 18 months after it looked like he’d never play for his country again.

Australia looked on track for a score of 200 plus until Wade was ultimately run out in a calamitous sequence of events also involving Smith.

Wade top edged a ball into the infield but it was dropped cold as a spud by Virat Kohli, who also put down a sitter in the last match in Canberra.

But at least Kohli was more alert to his error than the two Australian batsmen, and swooped on a comical run-out because neither Smith nor Wade had paid proper attention to what had happened.

Wade glanced back at his former skipper as he trudged off, but Smith made the best of it, knuckling down, and carving out an impressive 46 off 38 balls which set Australia up for a competitive total.

Marcus Stoinis’ best position might be at the top of the order, but Australia are still desperately looking for a finisher and the all-rounder is the latest to get a crack at the key role selectors need to get right if the side is to break its World Cup duck next year.

Stoinis struck a sweet six and hustled well between the wickets to finish with 16 off 7, as Australia managed to rack up 17 off the last over, with debutant Daniel Sams also at the crease.

Australia has now lost three games in a row. Picture: Phil Hillyard

SMITH OVERLOOKED IN MAJOR CAPTAINCY CALL

Steve Smith was snubbed from the Australian captaincy on Sunday night but reassured he’s still in the frame to one day get his old position back.

Matthew Wade was appointed Australia’s 11th Twenty20 captain as a replacement for the injured Aaron Finch, in perhaps the most telling sign yet that Smith may never lead his country again.

Australian coach Justin Langer said the decision to overlook Smith when Finch and Pat Cummins (rested) were unavailable was not a definitive call on the leadership future of the world’s best batsman, despite him being behind Wade – a year his senior – in the pecking order.

In fact, Langer was positive about Smith’s prospects of once again rising to captain but admits there will be a significant process still to work through.

“ … Steve Smith has done a brilliant job in the past. There’s a process to go through until he becomes captain again. We’ll go through that,” Langer told Fox Cricket.

“We know what a great player he is. We’ve seen that his whole career.

“When the English crowd gave him a standing ovation at The Oval last year, you talk about earning respect and earning back respect. That’s one of the fondest moments of my coaching career. He’s doing all the right things to show leadership without a title at the moment.”

Langer said Smith was discussed, but Wade was preferred.

“Yeah of course. We talked about a number. The exciting thing is as you say, there’s so many options,” said Langer.

“We talk about building a leadership culture and leaders within the group. Matthew Wade was the vice-captain (with Cummins rested).”

Ultimately, the decision over whether Smith will captain Australia again rests with the Cricket Australia board.

Selector Trevor Hohns previously nominated Shane Warne for the captaincy, only for the board to go with Steve Waugh.

Matthew Wade will captain Australia in the second T20. Picture: Getty Images

Australia’s decision to overlook Smith came on the same day the former captain was the fan’s vote for No. 1 on News Corp’s list of most influential people in sport.

Smith was voted No. 22 by journalists, but No. 1 by fans – in a significant sign that he still holds great favour with the Australian public despite the stain left by the ball tampering scandal in 2018.

Wade is an esteemed leader in his own right, and a worthy choice to replace Finch.

His comeback story is an inspiring one in its own right, given he looked like never playing for Australia again until he was called back for the 2019 Ashes.

Now Wade is part of Australia’s set-up in all three formats and has the honour of captaining his country.

Selectors ignored Wade’s push for a couple of seasons despite the mountain of runs he was scoring at domestic level, but he has won them over by proving them wrong.

They love the Tasmanian’s gritty determination and toughness.

Steve Smith was overlooked to captain the Aussies in the second T20. Picture: Getty Images

Wade has matured enormously since his previous times in the Australian team when he was often criticised as being a big sledger and part of the team’s in-your-face culture.

Langer said there is hope Finch will return for Tuesday’s final Twenty20 international after failing a fitness test on Sunday for a tear in his glute.

The Australian coach also spoke for the first time about his publish argument with David Boon last Friday night in Canberra – and admitted there was confusion over Ravi Jadeja’s concussion because he had already suffered a hamstring injury.

But Langer backed in the concussion protocols.

“The protocols are so strict now. It was a really strange situation. We saw Ravi go down with a hamstring and then hit and then all of a sudden we found out he was out with concussion.

“Boony and I had a really good conversation about his golf handicap and which footy team he plays for.”

Originally published as Australian selection under the microscope after T20 series loss to India