‘Big issue’ crippling Australia despite retention of number one T20 ranking

Shane Warne says a major problem has been exposed despite Australia retaining the number one T20 world ranking with a win in England.

Mitch Marsh saw Australia home in the run chase. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / POOL / AFP)

Australia has won the final game of its three-match T20 series against England to retain the world number one ranking.

The two nations entered the match equal on points in the ICC rankings but after restricting the Poms to 6/145, Australia chased down the score in the final over.

Both teams rested players for the dead rubber match after England won the first two games of the series.

Josh Hazlewood (1/23 from four overs) and Mitchell Starc (1/20 from four overs) set the tone for the visitors with the ball while Adam Zampa (2/34 from four) snagged a couple of wickets.

Aaron Finch (39 from 26) again made a bright start in the power play before the mid-order wobbles hit again.

Finch, Glenn Maxwell (six) and Steve Smith (three) all fell to Adil Rashid, continuing Australia’s poor play of spin.

“It’s become an issue in these three games, it’s become a big issue,” Warne said.

There was an element of danger as Australia fell from 1/70 to 5/100 but Mitch Marsh (39 from 36) and Ashton Agar (16 from 13) steadied the ship and saw the Aussies home.

It was Marsh’s highest score in his 15th T20 international, bettering the 36 he made on his debut in the format back in 2011.

Rashid also took the wickets of Maxwell and Smith in game one of the series, when Australia was cruising at 0/98 in pursuit of 163, but limped to the finish line at 6/160.

ICC WORLD T20 RANKINGS

Steve Smith failed again, scoring just three runs. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images for ECB)

1. Australia — 275 points, 2. England — 271 points, 3. India — 266 points, 4. Pakistan — 261 points, 5. South Africa — 258 points, 6. New Zealand — 242 points, 7. Sri Lanka — 230 points, 8. Bangladesh — 229 points, 9. West Indies — 229 points, 10. Afghanistan — 228 points, 11. Zimbabwe — 191 points, 12. Ireland — 190 points.