Khawaja's languid ease, and the struggles of the late arrivals
Plays of the day from the Super 10 match between Australia and Bangladesh in Bangalore
Daniel Brettig
21-Mar-2016
The spin
Before the start of the tournament, plenty had been made of the fact that Australia's lead spinner Adam Zampa had not taken a T20I wicket, and a solitary over in Dharamsala had not given him much chance to change that. But in Bangalore Zampa was given a full spell, and responded by claiming three wickets in a crafty display. Mohammad Mithun was somewhat generous in picking out Shane Watson at deep midwicket, but Mitchell Marsh was less so when he dropped Shuvagata Hom's top-edged sweep. Nevertheless Zampa remained threatening throughout, opening questions about why Australia have only the seldom used Ashton Agar for a spin offsider at the tournament.
Before the start of the tournament, plenty had been made of the fact that Australia's lead spinner Adam Zampa had not taken a T20I wicket, and a solitary over in Dharamsala had not given him much chance to change that. But in Bangalore Zampa was given a full spell, and responded by claiming three wickets in a crafty display. Mohammad Mithun was somewhat generous in picking out Shane Watson at deep midwicket, but Mitchell Marsh was less so when he dropped Shuvagata Hom's top-edged sweep. Nevertheless Zampa remained threatening throughout, opening questions about why Australia have only the seldom used Ashton Agar for a spin offsider at the tournament.
The late arrivals
Called into the Bangladesh squad on Saturday and only arriving late on Sunday night, Shuvagata Hom and Saqlain Sajib were always facing a steep task to contribute to the side. Hom's brief stay featured a dropped catch, a six so towering it might have brought down rain and an lbw dismissal all within the space of 10 balls. Saqlain had the misfortune of running into Usman Khawaja and later Steven Smith as they motored towards the target. One cat-and-mouse game with Khawaja, when the bowler and then the batsman pulled away from a delivery suggested a feisty attitude, and both Saqlain and Shuvagata will hope for better given the opportunity to train before the next game.
Called into the Bangladesh squad on Saturday and only arriving late on Sunday night, Shuvagata Hom and Saqlain Sajib were always facing a steep task to contribute to the side. Hom's brief stay featured a dropped catch, a six so towering it might have brought down rain and an lbw dismissal all within the space of 10 balls. Saqlain had the misfortune of running into Usman Khawaja and later Steven Smith as they motored towards the target. One cat-and-mouse game with Khawaja, when the bowler and then the batsman pulled away from a delivery suggested a feisty attitude, and both Saqlain and Shuvagata will hope for better given the opportunity to train before the next game.
The gap behind point
Apart from Nathan Coulter-Nile, Australia's seam bowlers tried to keep the ball around off stump, and were largely successful in limiting Bangladesh this way. However the in-form Mahmudullah presented Steven Smith and his bowlers with a new challenge by angling the ball artfully through and behind square on the off side. Four times Mahmudullah found this gap, inspiring Mushfiqur Rahim to do the same. This invention helped Bangladesh pile up 44 runs from the final three overs of the innings and set Australia a bigger target than they would have expected when Zampa was in control.
Apart from Nathan Coulter-Nile, Australia's seam bowlers tried to keep the ball around off stump, and were largely successful in limiting Bangladesh this way. However the in-form Mahmudullah presented Steven Smith and his bowlers with a new challenge by angling the ball artfully through and behind square on the off side. Four times Mahmudullah found this gap, inspiring Mushfiqur Rahim to do the same. This invention helped Bangladesh pile up 44 runs from the final three overs of the innings and set Australia a bigger target than they would have expected when Zampa was in control.
The languid loft
Nothing about Australia's T20 campaign has looked easy so far - a change of captain, hotly debated selections and then a collision with conditions few in the team expected. However, Usman Khawaja's recent graduation from a handy batsman to one of global threat has shown little sign of abating, and only a run-out had stopped him against New Zealand. In Bangalore he was frustrated as he cut and then glanced his first two balls straight to fielders, but the fourth brought a wondrous stroke as he drove Mashrafe Mortaza into the stands beyond long-on with what was little more than a lofted push. Nothing about Australia's campaign has looked easy so far - apart from that shot.
Nothing about Australia's T20 campaign has looked easy so far - a change of captain, hotly debated selections and then a collision with conditions few in the team expected. However, Usman Khawaja's recent graduation from a handy batsman to one of global threat has shown little sign of abating, and only a run-out had stopped him against New Zealand. In Bangalore he was frustrated as he cut and then glanced his first two balls straight to fielders, but the fourth brought a wondrous stroke as he drove Mashrafe Mortaza into the stands beyond long-on with what was little more than a lofted push. Nothing about Australia's campaign has looked easy so far - apart from that shot.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig