Australia briefly looked like title contenders and then they started batting

ELIZABETH BOTCHERBY: Australia, led by Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood, bowled superbly to restrict South Africa to 118 for 9. But when they started batting, it became clear why they’ve lost five series in a row

Before the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup had started, Australia had already been written off as possible title contenders.

Aaron Finch’s side have been in torrid form over the past 12 months or so, losing five series on the bounce against England, India, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh after previously winning four in a row. Of the 21 T20Is they played during that period, Australia won just six matches and in their two warm-up fixtures, they only narrowly defeated New Zealand before being comfortably overturned by India.

As a result, they arrived in the UAE with charitable tag of 'outsiders.'

However, halfway through the opening match of the Super 12s in Abu Dhabi, Australia briefly had the commentators questioning if their reputation as a tournament side might work in their favour again.

Winning the toss and opting to bowl, Finch constructing a superb fielding innings to restrict South Africa to just 118 for 9 from their 20-over allocation. The key to Australia’s success was backing form players Josh Hazlewood and Glenn Maxwell in the powerplay, both of whom arrived at the World Cup off the back of excellent Indian Premier League campaigns.

In the past, Hazlewood has been something of a bit player for Chennai Super Kings, making just three appearances for the franchise in 2020 and not travelling to India for the first half of the 2021 tournament. However, he returned for the UAE leg and made the conditions his own, taking 11 wickets in nine innings and recording an economy of 8.37.

^{Josh Hazlewood finsihed with figures of 2 for 19}

Maxwell, meanwhile, had a productive campaign for Royal Challengers Bangalore, scoring 513 runs (including six half-centuries) at a strike rate of 144.10 and chipping in with three wickets from 16 overs of part-time spin.

Granted, his most telling contributions were with the bat but his performances and confidence with the ball didn’t go unnoticed, with RCB’s assistance coach Adam Griffith telling ESPNcricinfo: "We actually had a bit of a joke that he bowled over the wicket to a right-hander for the first time in a couple of years this tournament. That just shows you the confidence he's got in his bowling at the moment. He's getting up and over and bowling proper offspinners instead of coming round-arm around the wicket and slinging that ball in a fast and flat. He's in a pretty good space."

Finch turned to Maxwell in the second over after watching Mitchell Starc get pummelled for 11 and the sixth-ranked T20I allrounder picked up a wicket with his third ball, bowling Temba Bavuma for 12. 

Hazlewood was introduced to the attack for the following over and ended the powerplay with two big wickets – Rassie van der Dussen (who scored a century in a warm-up fixture against Pakistan) and the dangerous Quinton de Kock – and impressive figures of 2 for 1. Maxwell, himself awarded two overs, posted figures of 1 for 11 and South Africa were rocking on 29 for 3, three of their most dangerous batters back in the shed and a lot of pressure on Aiden Markram.

The result? A routine day at the office for the rest of the bowling attack who could ease themselves into the tournament safe in the knowledge that, beyond David Miller, South Africa packed limited firepower with the bat. Adam Zampa picked up two wickets, Pat Cummins enjoyed a pressure-free death over and finished with 1 for 17, and Starc recovered from his earlier blip to take two wickets at the death.

All in all, a well crafted innings from the entire bowling attack to tee up a simple chase for Australia’s batters. Indeed, with the lowest total successfully defended in a T20 World Cup match standing at 119 (Sri Lanka versus New Zealand in 2014), South Africa would have needed to create a slice of history to secure the two points.

Then, Australia started batting, the illusion was shattered and it quickly became apparent why they failed to chase down three sub-135 targets against Bangladesh in August.

^{Marcus Stoinis hit the winning runs to spare Australia's blushes}

Openers Finch and David Warner looked a shadow of themselves, the former making a slow return from injury, the latter on a shocking run of form which has seen him demoted as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain and later dropped from the XI. Neither player settled into their innings, and both departed before the end of the powerplay, failing to capitalise on the work of their bowlers and conduct a calm and confidence-building chase.

Mitch Marsh followed shortly after for a laboured 17-ball 11, the Perth Scorchers boundary fiend looking a little out of his depth, and suddenly, Australia were in the same disarray that had befallen their opponents: eight overs gone, 39 for 3.

A 42-run fourth-wicket stand between Steve Smith and Maxwell was as solid as it was uninspiring. Smith batted nicely for his 35, nailing the anchorman gig if perhaps missing an opportunity to show some flair, while Maxwell, labouring to 18 off 21 before missing a reverse sweep to depart with his side still 39 runs short of victory, had a rare off day. 

Thankfully, the low target meant their victory was never truly in doubt – the required rate never exceeded 10 and with batters of the calibre of Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade in the middle, the necessary boundaries were never too far away.

However, after producing a clinical first innings to rip the heart out of South Africa’s batting and set such an achievable target to win, Australia’s batters missed a perfect opportunity to play with freedom, rediscover their form and flash their credentials as something more than outsiders.

Instead, they’ve shown their hand as a strong bowling outfit hampered by a brittle top order. And no matter how low of a total they restrict a team to, there’s absolutely no guarantee Australia will chase it.

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