It was a day where two matches brought forth a variety of ex-Test batsmen and a couple on their way to becoming Test batsmen, each of them showing selectors what they can do with the willow in hand. And while for some it may be that their time has passed, and for other that their time is closing in soon, each made their own case in their own way.
In the match between Tasmania and the Cricket Australia XI, it was the two ex-Test batsmen who showed the youngsters how to pace a one day innings after solid start, and turn that into a total that forces itself out of reach. With somewhat of a foundation from the openers Dunk and McDermott, the innings was laid in place, with George Bailey once again the key to the batting. Bailey has been a beacon over the past six to seven years. having fought his way into reckoning in the national one day squad, he even became captain with the cycle of injuries then captain Michael Clarke was facing. His leadership of the team was fearless, yet calm. His batting was straight forward, building in serenity to ending in bombastic fury. He has never complained about his own lot. He barely raised a ripple after being stood down in World Cup of 2015 having led the team in the first match and fashioned a victory, not the least from his own innings that held the middle order together, and yet found himself on the outer for the rest of the tournament. he was then eventually phased out from ODI team altogether, and it is no surprise that the team still seems to miss his presence in the middle order. His innings today, alongside fellow Australian castoff Alex Doolan who has his own tale of woe when it comes to being discarded with little recourse, once again proved that while he may not be the biggest name or flashiest player, he can still do the job required, and with that casual lopsided grin always in place. While Doolan fell for 83 to end their partnership, Bailey was not dismissed until the final ball of the innings for 126 off an even 100 deliveries. It had stretched the total to 7/334, and probable safety. Bailey's record for Australia will always be underrated, and perhaps that is something that should be looked at. Today he proved once again what he is capable of.
Once again the CAXI showed promise, but without the experience in either cricket terms or in age they again found it difficult to put pressure on the first class opposition. This is perhaps as it should be. Every one of these players is gaining valuable game time and knowledge in each of these games, and although winning would be something the team and individuals would prefer, it is not a necessity. The exposure to top level cricket is the reward and winning in itself. The progression of their own cricketing career is getting a kick along that previous generations have not received. The individual performances have been impressive viewing, and for at least some of these players will be the key to their further growth in skills.
Down the road, four left-handed batsmen - two who have played for Australia and two who are destined to do so - dominated a match that locked in Usman Khawaja for the 1st Test in Brisbane and proved that the New South Wales top order has a lot to offer the future of Australian cricket.
Khawaja was calmness personified. Against a hostile attack on what in fairness was a road, he saw off the early loss of his partners to combine with Marnus Labuschagne in an innings-rescuing partnership. He held his ground, waited for the loose ball, and rode the wave like the class international batsman he is. Even when Nevill intelligently opened the bowling with Nathan Lyon against Queensland batsmen who have a known weakness against spin bowling, he saw off the threat and pounced on the middle order bowling in style. After a 2017 that has been littered with little opportunity and disappointment in what he has been given, he has the chance to rectify that in the upcoming summer, where surely he will be given every opportunity to dominate.
Nic Maddinson's 2017 hasn't been much better than Khawaja's. Given his Test chance, he was dropped after three games, and he sat out most of the rest of the summer in an effort to deal with it. The most pleasing part of all of this was he was duly given the time by Cricket Australia, Cricket NSW, his teammates and the fans to collect himself, and he is now repaying all of them with his run making in this series. He made 86 here again, and it was decorated with the kind of stroke play everyone knows he can achieve. Though he fell with another century in sight, the fact that he has put aside his disappointment and now started laying the beginnings of the case to give him another chance at the highest level is the most pleasing thing of all about the start to this summer.
Dan Hughes continues to build his reputation alongside Maddinson. Although he missed the chance to represent the Australia A team when the tour to South Africa was called off in the pay dispute, he has continued on his course from last season. His 122 here was the perfect example, where he found gaps all around the ground and kept the run rate ticking over at the precise rate required, without appearing in any trouble. His ascent has been swift, and hopefully there is more to come this season. Kurtis Patterson as well continues to show the form that has people mentioning his name for the future. many thought he was unfortunate not to get the call up for the Adelaide Test last season when his teammate was selected, but his tall stance and powerful driving has him primed to get a chance at some stage. Though run out here for 43 in the final chase, his innings reeked with class.
While New South Wales won in comfort, the left hand combination of batting in the match was the talking point, and the is plenty of conversation going on about just how much influence each of them will have on the different levels of the 2017/18 season.
No comments:
Post a Comment