by Rex Clementine
There’s much to like about Australian cricket. Steve Smith would walk into most international sides without any trouble, but the Australian selectors have left him out of the T-20 side believing that his best days in the shortest format of the game are over. Pat Cummins just won you a World Cup but six months later he is made to step aside from captaincy duties in the T-20 format as the role is handed to Mitchell Marsh.
Cummins wasn’t even in the playing eleven for Australia’s first game against Oman in Barbados. Instead, he was happy to carry water for his mates.
Australia secured a comfortable 39 run win, but there were concerns when Mitchell Starc walked off the field. His first delivery of the fourth over was a wide and then the left-arm quick hobbled off. It could be just cramps and the Aussies would be hoping that it’s nothing more serious.
Starc is extremely vital for Australia having done so well in the IPL last month.
David Warner played bit of an anchor role compiling 56 in 51 balls. It was Marcus Stoinis who provided impetus to the Australian innings smashing 67 from 36 balls. The all-rounder hit six sixes.
Australia would have wanted more than 165 for five that they eventually got. But Oman did well to hold things back. Their batters were not up there to handle the challenges posed by Australia’s quicks.
Stoinis was again the star picking up three wickets.
