Tweet
AUSTRALIA has landed in the soft World Twenty20 semi-final against West Indies tomorrow night.
By playing the West Indies Australia avoids another trial by spin, with Sri Lanka taking on Pakistan in the other semi-final tonight.
While former West Indian captain Chris Gayle is the most damaging short form player in the game there is not much behind him.
And their bowling is paper thin. No matter how many runs West Indies make, Australia would be confident of running them down.
This was the case when the West Indies got away in an early group game to make 8-191 and yet Australia won easily under the Duckworth-Lewis method, reaching 1-100 in just 9.1 overs before the match was washed out.
Most surprising has been the lack of impact by mystery spinner Sunil Narine, who has claimed just four wickets in five matches at an average of 28.
While he troubled Australia in the West Indies earlier this year, he went for 16 from two over their group match.
Shane Watson has been the tournament standout as the leading run scorer (242 at 61) with Mike Hussey scoring 137 runs for just once out and Dave Warner 130 at 33.
For the West Indies Gayle has made 144 runs at 36, Marlon Samuels 126 at 32 and Johnson Charles 120 runs at 30.
While the West Indian batsmen are big hitters they are not particularly good at rotating the strike and Charles is a stand and deliver man.
Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis claimed 2-12 from his four overs when the West Indies struggled to 5-129 against Sri Lanka last Saturday.
Coach Mickey Arthur believes Australia can make a similar impact against the West Indies with its spinners bowling half the overs now that Xavier Doherty has been successful called up to join Brad Hogg and Glenn Maxwell in the team.
Even is Maxwell is dropped for the semi-final his replacement, David Hussey, also bowls useful off-spin in the shorter forms of the game.
But it is Australia’s faster bowlers who provide the greatest contrast.
Watson is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 thanks to his clever and lively seamers while Mitchell Starc continues to improve at a rapid rate.
The tall left armer with the size 14 boots has claimed nine wickets at an average of 15 and has an economy rate of under seven, which is exceptional for this tournament.
While Australia has two of the competition’s leading bowlers, the best of the West Indians is modest seamer Ravi Rampaul, with five wickets at 28 and an economy rate above eight an over.
Australia should bat and bowl more deeply than the West Indies, but this may not matter if Gayle tees off.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cr...-1226487618449
By playing the West Indies Australia avoids another trial by spin, with Sri Lanka taking on Pakistan in the other semi-final tonight.
While former West Indian captain Chris Gayle is the most damaging short form player in the game there is not much behind him.
And their bowling is paper thin. No matter how many runs West Indies make, Australia would be confident of running them down.
This was the case when the West Indies got away in an early group game to make 8-191 and yet Australia won easily under the Duckworth-Lewis method, reaching 1-100 in just 9.1 overs before the match was washed out.
Most surprising has been the lack of impact by mystery spinner Sunil Narine, who has claimed just four wickets in five matches at an average of 28.
While he troubled Australia in the West Indies earlier this year, he went for 16 from two over their group match.
Shane Watson has been the tournament standout as the leading run scorer (242 at 61) with Mike Hussey scoring 137 runs for just once out and Dave Warner 130 at 33.
For the West Indies Gayle has made 144 runs at 36, Marlon Samuels 126 at 32 and Johnson Charles 120 runs at 30.
While the West Indian batsmen are big hitters they are not particularly good at rotating the strike and Charles is a stand and deliver man.
Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis claimed 2-12 from his four overs when the West Indies struggled to 5-129 against Sri Lanka last Saturday.
Coach Mickey Arthur believes Australia can make a similar impact against the West Indies with its spinners bowling half the overs now that Xavier Doherty has been successful called up to join Brad Hogg and Glenn Maxwell in the team.
Even is Maxwell is dropped for the semi-final his replacement, David Hussey, also bowls useful off-spin in the shorter forms of the game.
But it is Australia’s faster bowlers who provide the greatest contrast.
Watson is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 thanks to his clever and lively seamers while Mitchell Starc continues to improve at a rapid rate.
The tall left armer with the size 14 boots has claimed nine wickets at an average of 15 and has an economy rate of under seven, which is exceptional for this tournament.
While Australia has two of the competition’s leading bowlers, the best of the West Indians is modest seamer Ravi Rampaul, with five wickets at 28 and an economy rate above eight an over.
Australia should bat and bowl more deeply than the West Indies, but this may not matter if Gayle tees off.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cr...-1226487618449
Comment