Langer hopes Australia’s one-day win not a T20 mirage
Australia’s one-day series victory against the West Indies is an oasis of joy in a Twenty20 desert.
Australian coach Justin Langer was understandably upbeat about Australia’s 2-1 result on slow, turning pitches in Barbados, but they return to face a familiar issue when they fly to Bangladesh on Wednesday for five T20 matches in little more than a week.
The one-day achievement will add some much-needed confidence to an undermanned, underdone and under-performing T20 unit that lost 4-1 in the West Indies and faces another stern examination in unfamiliar conditions.
“I thought it was great to finish with the result we did last night, that was really positive,” Langer said of Australia’s six-wicket victory on Tuesday (AEST).
“I had a really good perspective after the T20 series, it was a tough series. The result was tough but we came in off – for some of the guys – two or three months’ cold from not playing and we met the West Indies who are a very, very good T20 side.
“And we also came knowing that a number of our first-choice players weren’t playing for us so it was an awesome experience for the boys.
Alex Carey was Australia’s best batsman in the one-day series victory.Credit:Getty
“You don’t play against power like that very often, and the boys will be better for it. I felt that going into the one-day series we’d been a bit battle-hardened and we’re up and running.
“I thought we played more consistent cricket and on tough wickets, so it was nice to win the series.”
Unfortunately the 50-over World Cup is two years and two T20 World Cups away, with Australia preparing to play the next T20 World Cup in India during October and November. Australia have never won a T20 World Cup.
Alex Carey was Australia’s best batsman in the one-day series victory and did a fine job as captain in place of the injured Aaron Finch, yet he is unlikely to be in Australia’s best T20 team.
Matthew Wade is Australia’s T20 keeper and T20 vice-captain on this tour so is expected to lead in Bangladesh in place of the absent Finch.
Langer was understandably excited about Carey’s performance. He played important innings during both of Australia’s victories and was the only player in either team during the series to top 100 runs, with 112 at 37.33.
The “but” is that Langer will be talking to fellow selectors, chairman Trevor Hohns and George Bailey, about the leadership and make-up of the T20 side in Bangladesh.
“But we want to be consistent with those decisions,” Langer said. “Hopefully we’ve shown over a period now, we’re very consistent with how we’re selecting teams, selecting leaders, and no doubt that’ll be be shown again when we get to the T20s in Bangladesh.”
Carey may play in the T20 series as a batsman, as he did in the West Indies without success, averaging just 7.33 in three games.
His presence would be to reinforce the dearth of Australia’s batting depth rather than any suggestion he is the answer to Australia’s recent T20 shortcomings.
The one-day series reinforced what the T20 series had already highlighted when Australia’s Big Bash stars failed to step up to international level.
Even the one real success story of the T20 series, Mitch Marsh, a standout with bat and ball, appears to have a challenge retaining his place in Australia’s full-strength T20 team.
“Certainly Mitch Marsh has put his hand up,” Langer said. “I think that No.3 position is really interesting, depending on how Steve Smith comes up with his elbow injury.”
The one-day series reinforced the quality of their bowlers. Of the quicks, Mitchell Starc was a standout with 11 wickets at 10.63 and Josh Hazlewood took five wickets at 5.80 in two matches.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa continued his consistency and Ashton Agar made a strong return from a hamstring injury in the last one-day game to be player of the match after good performances with ball and bat.
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