Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff steer Australia to victory over India at SCG
Australia gave India a little taste of the torture they have been going through for the last nine months when they pulled off a stunning victory at the SCG on Saturday night.
- Cracks appear as Langer starting to show the strain
- Evergreen Siddle reveals secrets behind ODI recall
Australia gave India a little taste of the torture they’ve been going through for the last nine months when they pulled off a stunning victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday night.
Slammed relentlessly both on and off the field since the ball tampering scandal, the Australians showed how quickly fortunes change when the blowtorch is taken off them and turned on their opponents.
But before Australia gets too carried away, World Cup winners Shane Warne and Mark Waugh have called for Glenn Maxwell to be immediately promoted up the order after the Aussies almost blew the deal .
Australia pinched the series opener by 34 runs after an inspired bowling performance by rookie paceman Jhye Richardson (4-26) and debutant quick Jason Behrendorff (2-39) but almost threw it all away until Maxwell took a catch in the deep to remove the dangerous Rohit Sharma (133).
“We thought it was a competitive score and obviously 288 is a competitive score,” Richardson said. “Our preparation leading up to this game was absolutely phenomenal. Everyone was really excited to play this game and get into the retro kits.”
Maxwell faced just five deliveries himself after coming to the crease in the 48th over, batting at No. 7 and while he made a quick 11 not out, everyone was left guessing what he could have got if he’d only been given more time.
“Maxwell should have faced more than five balls in a one-day international. He’s so dangerous,” Warne told Fox Cricket.
Waugh, also commentating on Fox Cricket, agreed with his former teammate: “I don’t know about this batting order.”
Australia’s middle order all made runs but none went on to make the really big score that Sharma showed was possible when you take a few calculated risks.
Peter Handscomb (73), Usman Khawaja (59), Shaun Marsh (54) and Marcus Stoinis (47 not out) ensured their own survival for now at a time when self-preservation is the order of the day amid the constant chopping and changing of selections.
“I thought the partnership between Khawaja and Marsh set us up and Pete Handscomb played a gem,” Australian captain Aaron Finch said. “ I thought Jason handled his nerves brilliantly. And then the youngster Jhye is full of confidence and he's got a bright future ahead of him.”
Australia didn’t hit a six until the 44th over and finished with just four for the entire innings, while Sharma cleared the ropes for India six times himself after MS Dhoni made a pedestrian 51 off 96 balls to encapsulate India’s fall from race after the top order collapsed.
Just a week ago, Virat Kohli’s men were dancing a jig on the same hallowed turf, but are now embroiled in their own firestorm.
Two Indian players, allrounder Hardik Pandya and Lokesh Rahul, have already been suspended for making sexist remarks about women on a TV chat show that was aired at home and the dark clouds are still gathering.
The comments, which included boasts about having sex with multiple women, have been greeted with outrage in a country already dealing with massive protests about the way women are treated in India.
Indian cricket officials have been accused in the past of being too lenient towards star players who have stepped out of line but have acted swiftly this time by booting the pair out of the squad for the current series in Australia and the forthcoming ODI tour of New Zealand.
They’ve also ordered them to get on the first plane home to face charges of misconduct and indiscipline.
India’s combative skipper moved quickly to distance himself from his disgraced team mates, condemning their actions and insisting they were not reflective of the rest of the team.
Kohli didn’t think the controversy would affect his remaining players but not even he could lift their spirits as they struggled to rediscover their cocky swagger against a desperate Australian team that knows all too well how quickly things can fall apart.
"We're not very pleased with the way we played,” Kohli said. “I think we were fine with the ball. That wicket was 300 plus par. I think we did well with the ball.
“One more good partnership and we would have got close. But losing three wickets up front was the problem and Australia were professional enough not to let us back in."
Every Test, ODI & T20I live, ad-break free during play and in 4K. Only on Foxtel. SIGN UP NOW!
Originally published as Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff steer Australia to victory over India at SCG
Updates
Starc 2.0? Johnson’s hope for Champions Trophy
Spencer Johnson will step into Mitchell Starc’s shoes for the Champions Trophy and hopes to replicate the Australia champion’s impact.
Cricket Tasmania hits a six in pursuit of High Performance Centre
Elite sport in Tasmania is about to get a third High Performance Centre as Royal Hobart agreed to sell its land to Cricket Tasmania. See how much they paid.