Australia’s which-ball team has suddenly rediscovered its power. But can the return of veterans Mitchell Starc and Matt Short restore the edge over South Africa, or is it mere nostalgia ahead of a reshaped plan? With India’s stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on the horizon, this will be more than points at stake. Can experience outsmart form?
Reassembling a Star-Studded Lineup
After losing 2-1 to South Africa in the ODI series in South Africa, Australia’s squad for the home series against India, beginning October 19, has undergone another change. Mitchell Starc (left-handed fast bowler), Matt Short, Matthew Renshaw, and Mitchell Owen (batsmen) are key inclusions in the squad, together with regulars Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Adam Zampa. With Pat Cummins missing, the captaincy has been retained by Mitchell Marsh. The ODI series is seen as a challenge for immediate success in white ball cricket and a lead-up to next year’s T20 World Cup.
Experience Meets Opportunity
Starc’s recall is a first-class tactical coup in that his ability to swing the new ball and bowl murderous yorkers in the death overs will improve a bowling attack that has been weakened by the unavailability of Cummins. Teaming him with Josh Hazlewood gives a seam-bowling-heavy opening to the attack that can exploit Indian pitches, especially in Perth and Adelaide. Renshaw and Short will steady Australia at the top of the order and relieve Head and Green of some of the scoring burden. The mix in the T20 squad, including Tim David and Marcus Stoinis, shows a blend of power-hitting and death-over skills which will be vital against Kohli and Sharma in the middle overs.
Selection can be a double-edged sword. The experience of Starc and Owen brings calmness and leadership, but forcing them back into a stagnating side needs clever man-management. There will be extra scrutiny on Marsh’s captaincy, as he will need to juggle ensuring the returnees settle into the environment while also looking after the youthful core. There is confidence to be gained from the success of the past, but how easily they can forget the fear of being upset by South Africa reinforces the view that form is fleeting.
Gaps in Australia’s powerplay economy and penetration through the middle overs were exposed by South Africa in the ODI defeat. Hazlewood’s average of 27.5 in ODIs over the past 12 months, combined with Starc’s historically ruthless strike rate (per wicket) of 28.5 obtained over his last 50 ODIs, suggests the potential for Australia to recover early breakthroughs. Batting-wise, Short’s domestic strike rate of 88.4 in List A cricket is a promising foil for Head’s 89.7, offering Australia a somewhat aggressive start combined with a measure of caution. In T20s, Ellis should return, along with Inglis, thus providing depth; Ellis’s career T20 economy under 7.5 is vital to restricting the plentiful scoring potential of India during their explosive middle overs.
Lessons from Past Recall Scenarios
When seasoned players return with purpose, Australia prospers. There is Lee in 2007 or Warner in 2015, and the presence of each did something for the side and the statistics beyond individual enhancement. George Bailey’s careful reintroduction supports that same argument. India’s home record in ODI is noted for its susceptibility to early pace, which could be a blessing to Starc and Hazlewood. But history tells us it is dangerous to rely on one-on-one success when building on the past. Any potent attack can be ransacked should results be unkind, as was that of India in 2018.
Abhishek’s explosive strike rate of 200 and the remarkable economy rate of 6.27, and timely wickets taken by Kuldeep in the middle overs introduced bowling innovations. This duo gives a new deal to T20 cricket: hitting big runs early and taking wickets later, making runs and momentum difficult to come by for teams.
Key Takeaway: Australia’s returnees could tip the scales if tactical execution matches historical potential.
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