Match 10: Sublime Smith Guides Australia to Victory

It may not have been all about one man, but there is little doubt that if Australia did not have Steve Smith back in its one day team last night, they would have fallen to a heavy defeat against a resurgent West Indies XI. There were various peripheral performances that drove the victory for Australia last night, but without Smith’s calm guiding hand with the bat at number four it would all have come to nought. It emphasised just how much Australia has missed his batting and leadership in the game, and will also have rung alarm bells for England for the upcoming Ashes series as well.

• The West Indies executed their battle plans perfectly in the first half of this match. They had made no secret that they would be targeting Australia with the short ball, and while only one actually took a wicket, they all contributed to the early dismissals. Thomas’ peach to get Finch caught behind was a beauty. Warner’s prod to gully as his desire to get bat to every ball defeated him. The barrage that rattled Khawaja so much that he ended up in such a muddled mindset that he threw his wicket away (albeit to a great catch by Hope). Maxwell’s brain explosion second ball in trying to hook. Stoinis seeing a paddock of space but pulling straight to the only man at mid-wicket. All of it was planned strategy, and despite the wides that came along with this plan it was more than worth it with Australia at 4/38 and then 5/79. They should not have made more than 150.
• Alex Carey and Nathan Coulter-Nile were both exceptional. Carey was criticised by the commentators for being just 3 off 25 deliveries, but like Smith he took the time to get his eye in and have a look at the bowlers and the wicket. He then proceeded to put every loose ball away, and was only defeated by the drinks break, immediately after which he was dismissed. His 45 from 55 balls was exceptional. Coulter-Nile has had a good time with the bat in recent games, and with 16 overs to bat he used it all to his advantage. With the fire having receded from the bowling attack and the pitch, he blasted away at precisely the right time, making his highest score of 92 from just 60 balls on the same ground that Ashton Agar had made 98 in his debut Test six years earlier. 
• What to do about the no ball rule? Chris Gayle fell LBW to Mitch Starc which hurt the Windies chase. However, after the event the ball before the dismissal was shown to be a no ball – by a lengthy margin. Indeed you can only wonder how Chris Gaffney missed it. If it had been called, then the delivery that dismissed Gayle would in fact have been a free hit. More to this, if that previous delivery had taken a wicket, it would have gotten the usual look at by the third umpire and would have been overturned because it WAS a no ball. Yet because it didn’t take a wicket, it wasn’t looked at. You can understand how the Windies would have been aggrieved at this, and there’s no doubt that the current rule in regards to reviewing no balls has to be looked at. It can’t be good enough to only look at possible no balls when a possible wicket is at stake. In short form cricket where the ‘free hit’ rule applies, every no ball has to be actioned or a batting team is then disadvantaged. 
• The Windies fought hard with the bat, and were probably in the position to win it at 4/190 needing just over a run a ball. The dismissal of Hope by Cummins stalled the chase, and the return of Starc at the end was a key. Firstly he picked up Andre Russell to remove that danger, and the dismissal of Brathwaite and Holder both in the 46th over was the crucial final play. In the 2015 World Cup Starc was the talisman. He is not as feared this time around but for Australia he is just as important if they are to challenge later in the tournament. He took the last four wickets to fall and finished with 5/46 from his ten overs. It was a statement. 
• But it all comes back to Steve Smith. Coming to the crease at 2/26, he calmly took dot balls and singles to build into his innings, even as wickets fell at the other end. He didn’t bother with his strike rate, he just play the ball on its merits and moved along at his own pace, almost oblivious as to what else was happening. When Carey and Coulter-Nile got into their swing, he calmly gave them the strike and stayed in his headspace. As the innings reached its conclusion he began to break out, and it was only a freaking catch by Cottrall on the boundary – one of the best you’ll see – that halted him just as he was about the take over. He left at 7/249 having scored 73 from 107 deliveries, and through his calm and commanding batting he was able to guide his team to a defendable total. Carey, Coulter-Nile, Starc and Cummins were all tremendous. But without Steve Smith, Australia would stand today at one win and one loss in this World Cup, and not two wins. 

What has Australia learned from this match as they prepare to take on India in two days’ time? Hopefully that it is okay to build an innings at the start and increase the pace after that. Smith and Carey showed what could be done in the middle order, and if our top order showed that patience perhaps it will work just as well. The Windies lost their way with their bowling in the last 20 overs, whereas Australia seemed to improve. It was an important difference. Everyone will need to contribute if Australia is to beat India on Sunday.