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Cricket: Australian bowlers the heroes in series-sealing one-day win in the West Indies

An Australian line-up unlikely to ever be seen again got the job done and continued a 25-year winning run in the West Indies.

Russell GouldRussell Gould
@gouldynews
2 min read
July 27, 2021 - 10:59AM
NCA NewsWire

Mitchell Starc continued his one-day demolition job of the West Indies and he to needed to as a cobbled-together batting line-up reeled in a meagre total for Australia to continue a 25-year winning streak.

The victory was one to savour for stand-in skipper Alex Carey after the tourists were humbled 4-1 in the T20 series that preceded it and with a conga line of first-choice players not available to selectors.

Instead, Moises Henriques opened the batting and 38-year-old Dan Christian played his first ODI since 2014 in a sign it truly has been a bizarro world tour for the Australians.

Tour absences and then injuries to captain Aaron Finch and batsman Ben McDermott forced coach Justin Langer to go with a line-up unlikely to ever be replicated again at international level for Australia.

Christian, who returned to national colours in the T20 series, didn’t bat or bowl in Barbados, hadn’t played an ODI for Australia in seven years and his only recent 50-over games came in Sydney grade cricket last November.

Throw in a Covid-scare, which sent the Australians into hotel isolation for 36 hours over the weekend, and the first international cricket for Langer and his team since last summer has proven to be eventful.

It was also the first cricket for Starc since the domestic season ended and his second three-wicket haul in game three to end the series with 11 wickets at an overpowering average of just 10.

Starc, who snared 3-48, only took one wicket in four appearances during the T20 series but warmed to his task sensationally, and his form bodes well going into a T20 World Cup in October.

Two wickets each from spinners Adam Zampa (2-29) and Ashton Agar (2-31) helped Starc roll the home team for just 152 in the series finale.

The makeshift opening duo of Henriques (1) and Josh Philippe (10) didn’t get the Aussies off to a flyer before Carey (35) and Mitch March (29), arguably the best batter on the tour, steadied the ship.

Finally, Matthew Wade, who could replace Carey as captain for the upcoming T20 tour of Bangladesh, carved out an unbeaten 51 to guide Australia to the six-wicket win.

The last time Australia lost an ODI series in the West Indies was on the 1995 tour, better known for their drought-breaking Test series victory that followed.

Mitchell Starc celebrates the dismissal of Kieron Pollard in Barbados. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP
Mitchell Starc celebrates the dismissal of Kieron Pollard in Barbados. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP

But amid the good vibes for the victory, there remain questions about a host of the players picked.

Henriques, 34, batted eight times across the two series for a return of 107 runs. He made just 12 in three ODI innings.

Philippe, although young in his international career, made 83 runs in six innings across the two series, only once passing 20.

Marsh, however, was the tour standout, smashing 219 runs in the T20 series, easily Australia’s best, then adding 57 in three ODI digs as he made a strong claim to be a key part of the limited overs teams once again.

McDermott hurt himself while fielding in game two and remains in a moon boot after injuring his right ankle. He’s yet to get a scan, putting his place in the touring party for Bangladesh in some doubt.

His injury has left Australia without two opening batters after captain Finch flew home on Sunday due to a knee injury.

Australia will leave for Dhaka on Wednesday.

Originally published as Cricket: Australian bowlers the heroes in series-sealing one-day win in the West Indies

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-australian-bowlers-the-heroes-in-seriessealing-oneday-win-in-the-west-indies/news-story/004db728e437dbb1d71d00fe18748971