Australia v Zimbabwe: Aaron Finch struggles again in second ODI rout
Captain Aaron Finch’s form woes continued as Australia blasted past Zimbabwe in a lopsided second ODI which was over by lunchtime. Have your say on Finch’s future.
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Among the greats no bowler in the one day game is more efficient than Mitchell Starc, so it was no surprise that it was he who broke the crust on the Zimbabwe innings as Australia cantered to victory in Townsville on Tuesday.
The visitors fell apart so quickly on a spicy early morning wicket that word had to be sent to the catering staff to get the lunch ready early.
The first innings was done and dusted for 96 runs before mid-day and both sides back in town by mid afternoon.
The Australian batsmen, cognisant that T20 World Cup is coming and the tail is long, set about the chase with as much haste as the bowlers set upon opposition _ the he task was accomplished inside the 15th over.
Warner was caught skillfully in the deep by Brad Evans after belting 13 from nine balls, Aaron Finch went cheaply and Steve Smith was, comically, stranded within one shot of a half century for the second successive match.
Smith took an inverted shot at what turned out to be the last delivery, missed it completely and watched the ball run through for four byes to bring up the required total. Alex Carey was 26no from 33 balls.
Smith’s 47no from 41 balls was inventive and another endorsement of his suitability to the role at first drop.
“His footwork is not going to cut the mustard at any level at cricket.†- Kim Hughes on @abcsport re Aaron Finch.
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) August 31, 2022
Aaron Finch has averaged 15.90 in ODI cricket since the start of 2021.#AUSvZIM
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) August 31, 2022
Lowest ODI batting average for openers in 2022 (minimum 10 innings):
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) August 31, 2022
15.90 - Aaron Finch 🇦🇺
17.22 - Muhammad Waseem 🇦🇪
18.53 - Kushal Bhurtel 🇳🇵
18.81 - Matthew Cross ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ³ó £ó ´ó ¿
26.33 - Max O'Dowd 🇳🇱#AUSvZIM
Australia had got there with 212 balls to spare and the spectators headed for the carpark just after 1.30pm.
On what was a beautiful sunny day in tropical Townsville, In his 101st game Starc almost became the fastest ever to 200 wickets in the game. Had Glenn Maxwell held a sharp chance at point …
The lanky left armer who set Australia on its winning way with the first few balls of the 2015 World Cup final strikes every 26 deliveries.
Ain’t no one ever been so efficient in Australian or world cricket.
Maybe a little rusty after a quick dash from watching his wife win herself a gold medal in Manchester and display her skills in the Hundred, he sprayed his first ball well wide of off stump and two more down the leg side in a wayward first over.
Maybe it was the 9.40am start. Maybe it was that he’d been back in the country for just eight days.
In his second over Starc got control of line and movement and Innocent Kaia proved as naïve as suggested to a ball that was always going to come back after five had not.
In his third he threw two across young Wessly Madhevere who had been so impressive in the first game was trapped in front by that one that comes back.
In his fourth it was the first delivery that Tadiwanashe Marumani clipped to Marnus Labuschagne the sub at square leg.
Zimbabwe had lost 3-1 before the thousand odd fans could blow the froth from their cappuccinos and cold cans.
Starc finished the day with 3-24 from eight overs.
Wicket keeper Alex Carey gave him a consoling pat on the back, maybe he told him “at least you’re the fastest to 199”.
The 200th, however, can’t be too far away. Those 199 came in 101 games and when you compare that rate to the rest there is no one holding a candle to them.
Asked by Fox Cricket if he was aware of the situation after the innings he replied “I know” and so did Aaron Finch who’d given him three spells.
“Finchy gave me plenty of chances,” he admitted later.
Zimbabwe were completely out of their depth in the second match. They lost 3-1 at the top of the order and 5-13 at the bottom.
Finch held Cameron Green (2-7) out of the attack for as long as was decent given the 22-year-old had snared five the game before and he had immediate success when introduced.
Adam Zampa, who is in town with his wife Harriet and their two month old son, Eugene, fooled veteran Sean Williams (29) with a wrongun and then did the same to the bowler Brad Evans in 3.5 overs that snared him 3-21.
The visitors flashed bright in brief bursts. Sikander Raza pulled Josh Hazlewood off a length for a four and then struck the sweetest of sixes over mid off the following delivery.
Hazlewood, who had no success in the first game, got his man two balls later and had a few words to say to the batsman when he was caught on the boundary by Marcus Stoinis.
The recently married Australian bowled much better than the 1-16 that was recorded in the scorecard.
Australia lead 2-0. The last game of the series is Saturday. 9.40am start.
SMITH LASHES LACK OF CASH FOR LOCALS IN BBL
Steve Smith says local players are not happy with the money thrown at mid-ranking international cricketers in the BBL and says that while he has been offered a contract by the Sixers, he is considering other “options”.
Still smarting over being blocked from last year’s BBL by the opposition teams, Smith said those options did not include playing in competing tournaments overseas.
The former captain called on Cricket Australia to look after local players who remain on a basic contract with their teams.
CA offered 12 contracts worth $340,000 to players through a draft system even though they would not necessarily be available for the whole tournament, when local players payments are restricted by the salary cap.
The BBL had hoped its international draft would attract the big names but it backfired when the biggest stars, including Faf du Plessis and Andre Russell, were snubbed for lesser players who were available for more of the tournament.
The BBL is competing with the UAE and South African leagues for players in the January window which is clear of international cricket this year and is under pressure from broadcaster Channel 7 who cited its poor performance in a legal case against Cricket Australia.
David Warner, who has barely played any BBL in the past, was to able to secure a big deal after he received a lucrative offer to play in the competing UAE league, but it appears that deal was a one off.
Smith said he did not know how to fix the recruiting process, but said Sunday’s international draft had upset people loyal to the BBL over the years.
“In terms of tournaments around the world, you have to look after your local players most importantly,” the former captain said.
“Seeing some of the players who are coming out for big cash, I know a few of the local players that are big players are a little bit disappointed in terms of remuneration for the tournament and I think there’s going to have to be a way around that to keep your local players happy.
“I’m sure it is something that is going to look at.”
Smith said he watched the inaugural draft which was televised live by Fox Cricket on Sunday.
“There’s some interesting outcomes there,” he said. “I have read a few things since, obviously teams are looking for the longevity - guys that are available for bulk parts of the tournament as opposed to some of the big names, which is an interesting one.
“In terms of me, I’m not sure. I’ve been offered a contract by the Sixers, but I’m just keeping my options open at the moment, there’s a few things I could possibly do. I’ll see what happens.
“Not playing in another tournament, but there’s a few options we will wait and see.”
Smith made a name for himself as a teenager in the original BBL and has been an irregular contributor to the Sixers in recent years as international duties kept him from the tournament.
He asked to play last year for the franchise after a series against New Zealand was cancelled, but was blocked when Cricket Australia asked the other teams if they would approve his appearance.
“Honestly, last year the most disappointing aspect was the series got cancelled and there was a window there for me to play some white ball cricket in the lead up to the Sri Lanka T20s,” Smith said.
The star emphasised his frustration at not being able to play in a home competition.
“I wanted to play some domestic cricket in our domestic tournament to get some work in for that,” Smith said.
“My T20 cricket hasn’t been as good as I would like it to be, so I wanted to get some work in and to not be allowed to play in my ‘domestic’ tournament was the most disappointing thing for me.
“We’ll wait and see where things land but as I said I have some options for me in that time.”
In further fall out from the draft, there were red faces when it was revealed on Monday Colin de Grandhomme, who was picked up by the Adelaide Strikers for $260,000, had not been cleared by New Zealand cricket to compete in the league.
Trent Boult walked away from his Kiwi contract earlier this month before picking up $340,000 as one of 12 players in the auction, but NZC said de Grandhomme was still under contract and “has not requested a release”.
NZ Players Association chief Heath Mills said the player may have to choose between contract and the BBL.
“I think it would be fair to say he was pleasantly surprised that he was picked up, and wasn’t expecting it,” Mills said on Monday afternoon.
”It’s important to point out that Colin is a NZC contracted player – no player can unilaterally decide to terminate their playing agreement and he’s certainly not saying that at the moment.”
Australia play Zimbabwe in the second ODI of the series in Townsville Wednesday without Mitch Marsh who has gone home to seek treatment on an ankle injury. Josh Inglis will replace him in the squad and a place opens up for someone like Marnus Labuschagne in the side. Marsh is expected to be fit for next month’s T20 series in India.
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