The PlanetCricket View: Australian performances at the 2012 IPL

[PlanetCricket]

Article by baggy_blogger -

The Indian Premier League has been concluded.

Admittedly I am rather annoyed that the Chennai Super Kings lost the final but well done the Kolkata Knight Riders for chasing down a mammoth total. Certainly made for an entertaining final which was vital given a few controversies that were sparked during the event.

I still maintain that as a domestic league with a few International stars, the tournament is WAY too long.

Most importantly for our sake, here’s a look at how the top Australian players went:

Batting:

Cameron White: 13 innings, 479 runs, HS 78, Average 43.54, x5 fifties, x20 sixes
David Hussey: 15 innings, 396 runs, HS 68*, Average 33.00, x2 fifties, x17 sixes
Steven Smith: 14 innings, 362 runs, HS 47*, Average 40.22, x14 sixes
Shaun Marsh: 13 innings, 336 runs, HS 68*, Average 30.54, x2 fifties, x7 sixes
Michael Hussey: 8 innings, 261 runs, HS 56, Average 32.62, x2 fifties, x8 sixes
David Warner: 8 innings, 256 runs, HS 109*, Average 36.57, x1 century, x1 fifty, x14 sixes
Shane Watson: 11 innings, 255 runs, HS 90*, Average 42.50, x2 fifties, x14 sixes
Brad Hodge: 12 innings, 245 runs, HS 48*, Average 30.62, x9 sixes

Bowling:

Ben Hilfenhaus: 9 games, 14 wickets at 16.64.
Brad Hogg: 9 games, 10 wickets at 25.30.
Ryan Harris: 5 games, 8 wickets at 16.25.
Doug Bollinger: 6 games, 8 wickets at 19.62.
Dan Christian: 7 games, 8 wickets at 29.12.

The performances alongside the Big Bash League certainly gives the National Selection Panel the perfect situation to decide upon the players they wish to select for the 2012 ICC World T20.

It was very good to see Shaun Marsh and Cameron White regain their confidence and it was even better to see them play their natural games, despite it being Twenty20 cricket. Their natural temperaments came to the forefront and they looked focused, in control and seemed to really enjoy themselves. Sometimes that is all it takes! Well done boys.

The Hussey brothers delivered the goods for their respective teams and our big hitters Shane Watson and David Warner were able to provide a few firework displays during the tournament. The NSP definitely have a few tough decisions to make on the batting front!

The Big Bash boasted some excellent bowling performances, especially for Brad Hogg. He is eying a comeback into the Australian side for a major ICC event. Since the Big Bash League he has played a T20i against India in Australia and his performances in the IPL – from what I saw on the tele – were good enough to suggest we should give the bloke a go out there. He still has the enthusiasm and no shortage of energy!

Ben Hilfenhaus made a wonderful impact and it’s amazing to think that the Big Bash League played a relatively significant role to put him back on the Australian fanatics radar just before getting the recall to the Test side. He will be well aware that he needs to work on his death bowling but the subtle variations to his bowling have FINALLY arrived for the T20 format.

Otherwise Ryan Harris would be my pick but in Ryano’s case a lot depends on his fitness. Was also good to see Douggie Bollinger getting some game time.

The bowling will be a tough one for the NSP but they have enough to bring in a good variation of players, especially taking note of the most important Twenty20 event of the season being the Big Bash League.

What’s your ideal 14 man squad for the ICC World T20?

Hope you’re all surviving the cricket drought!

This article is from the The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
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[sifter132]

Nit picking first... Strike rates and economy rates would have been more useful than averages - particularly for bowlers. And where are Brett Lee and Shaun Tait?

Seemed like the Aussies did pretty well overall, and luckily it was mostly the guys who will be in the World Cup squad (apart from our feared leader Mr George Bailey...). As for the World Cup squad, I really don't care about who's where in the pecking order, it should be based on who did the most in the Big Bash and the IPL - regardless of reputation.

I know people bag the IPL, but it's a great learning curve for players who want to succeed at T20. You get to face up to the best players occasionally, but can still feast on the lesser Indian players. You get to play a LOT of games, so it's good practice. And you get to play in front of big crowds with a lot riding on each game, so it's great for players to learn how to handle pressure situations.

 

[harishankar]

Was a bit sad about Ben Hilfenhaus getting bashed around in the end overs. Maybe Dhoni hasn't used him well in the IPL. He should always bowl his overs up front in T20 games on flat pitches.

And yes, Australian players always add professionalism and fighting spirit into any team they play for. Glad that the IPL has allowed young Indian players to mix with the best in the business and learn from them.

 

[War]

Won't it be a 15-man squad that will go the T20 world cup?

Anyway the squad i've had in my mind has been:

Warner
Watson (c)
M Hussey
White
D Hussey
M Marsh
Wade
Christian
Lee
Hogg
Doherty

Finch/Birt -

These are the best two back-up batsmen at this stage. Finch probably has a slight edge since he has impressed in the few chances he got for AUS.

Birt is an interesting player based on his big bash performances this year, disappointed that he hasn't got enough chances/won't get enough chances b4 the world cup to show off his worth on the international stage.

Smith

Harris/Pattinson/Cummins -

All three are battling for one spot. It will depend a lot on if the selectors feel they want to preserve the two young guns for tests and odi's for the time being - then Harris could be preferred.

But if its visa-versa and Harris is kept away because they want to still preserve him as a test option given his injury past, then i'd probably pick Cummins.

Nannes/Bollinger/Johnson -

One left arm quick should be picked for variety. Nannes and Bollinger are the front runners - but Johnson shows improvement during the England tour - his extra batting ability could get him the nod.

 

[sifter132]

Probably not too far off Except we've gotta find a spot for George Bailey... Yeah I think the 2 spinners are almost a lock, it's just a matter of finding the pace attack. If Johnson comes back well I think he takes Christian's spot in the XI - needs someone faster I feel.

 

[War]

Ye sadly i know Bailey will be picked. He is AUS version of Darren Sammy, he is good player - but he is likely to be keeping out a better T20 batsman and he likely to fail like Michael Clarke.

It was always a fairly knee-jerk choice by the selectors to make him T20 captain, especially with Watson always likely to come back.

 

[aussie1st]

White at 3, Dussey 4 and Hussey 5 would be the way I go with the batting lineup. Mike is the most effective finisher of the lot, White did his best work at 3 in the IPL and Dussey is better with more time.

 

[War]

White at 3, Dussey 4 and Hussey 5 would be the way I go with the batting lineup. Mike is the most effective finisher of the lot, White did his best work at 3 in the IPL and Dussey is better with more time.

Yes this would be fine, just once we don't have Bailey in the middle-order, potentially messing up a side that once picked on merit could win the competition.

Only a full-strength west indies if they get all their players back, would be as good or better than oz's t20 side.

 

[sifter132]

West Indies?? Gayle, Narine, Pollard are all pretty good-to-awesome. Who else have WI got?? Dwayne Bravo is good on his day, but you never know when that'll be. Ditto Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach. Actually WI looks like a very hit and miss team to me. I guess EVERY team in T20 is hit and miss to some extent, but I just can't see WI putting together 3-4 good performances in a row which is what you'd need to win.

 

[War]

West Indies?? Gayle, Narine, Pollard are all pretty good-to-awesome. Who else have WI got?? Dwayne Bravo is good on his day, but you never know when that'll be. Ditto Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach. Actually WI looks like a very hit and miss team to me. I guess EVERY team in T20 is hit and miss to some extent, but I just can't see WI putting together 3-4 good performances in a row which is what you'd need to win.

I think they can, t20 cricket suits their style of cricket more than any team, given the short time span. Australia experienced that first hand during the tour their a couple months ago.

Someone like Dwayne Smith in that format becomes a very dangerous player for them and they have a plethora of players who are natural hitters which is vital in t20's since they can win a game in no time with quick individual brilliance.

The best windies T20 XI once all their players are picked would be:

Gayle
Dwayne Smith
Simmons
Samuels
DW Bravo
Pollard
Russell
Sammy
Ramdin
Narine
Rampaul

Roach/Taylor/Edwards, Cooper, Charles, Badree/Benn


Further thinking and maybe S Africa with this line-up is also good:

Levi
Kallis
Du Plessis
Dumminy
De Villiers
Miller
A Morkel
Botha
Peterson
Steyn
M Morkel

De Lange, Ingram, Vilas, Van Der Merwe

But given in subtle quota selections that still exist with the proteas i'd be surprised if so much white players who would merit a place will be selected and instead of coloured blokes like Tsotsobe, Ontong, Parnell and Behardien instead somewhere.