Australia v Ireland, one-off ODI, Benoni – Preview
A revamped Australian pace attack will welcome the opportunity to test itself at the highest level when Steve Smith’s men take on Ireland in a one-off One-Day International at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Tuesday (September 27).
With Mitchell Starc – who subsequently picked up a horrific training injury – and Josh Hazlewood rested for the limited-overs tour of South Africa, the uncapped trio of Chris Tremain, Joe Mennie and Daniel Worrall will link up John Hastings and Scott Boland to form the pace bowling component for the Ireland game, as well as for the five ODIs to follow against South Africa.
Tremain, Mennie and Worrall broke through on the back of impressive performances in the quadrangular ‘A’ series one-day tournament earlier this month in Brisbane, which was won by India ‘A’. They will benefit from the experience of playing alongside Hastings and Boland as Australia tries to stack up a solid reserve fast-bowling group. Hastings himself has only 33 ODI wickets and Boland nine, making this one of Australia’s least experienced pace attacks to play international cricket. James Faulkner, originally named in the 15-man squad, is injured, as is Nathan Coulter-Nile, while Pat Cummins and James Pattinson are both recovering from long-term injuries.
Australia is coming off a strong limited-overs campaign in Sri Lanka. Having been swept 3-0 in the preceding Test series, it raced away with the ODIs 4-1 on the back of aggressive batting and impressive captaincy from David Warner, who took over after Smith left for home following the second ODI with the series level 1-1.
The core batting unit remains unchanged, with Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh back in the fray after both sustaining finger fractures in Sri Lanka, and George Bailey looking to extend his wonderful run in the Emerald Isles.
Despite missing big names in the bowling attack, Australia appears far too strong for an Ireland unit that was overwhelmed by South Africa in Saturday’s ODI, also at the same venue. After Temba Bavuma, the debutant, set up South Africa’s commanding 354 for 5, Ireland was shot out for 148 in the 31st over, undone primarily by the left-arm spin of Aaron Phangiso and the offspin of JP Duminy (4 for 16), to go down by 206 runs.
Ireland will look for an improved all-round display, starting with its new-ball attack of Craig Young and Peter Chase. While Young did pick up three wickets against South Africa, he went for 81 runs in his 10 overs while Chase conceded 86 in his full complement. Australia’s powerful top order will again test them, and how well they respond remains to be seen.
Ireland has been hampered by the absence of Ed Joyce and Boyd Ranking, two of its most experienced players, but for those that are in South Africa, Tuesday offers another opportunity to test themselves against another top side. Australia, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 champion, has won three of four previous ODIs against the Irish – the other match ended in a no-result – and will look to add to that record. For Ireland to entertain hopes of a maiden win, it will need to pull up its socks and come up with a far better showing than the one against South Africa.
Teams (from):
Australia: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Aaron Finch, George Bailey, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wk), Travis Head, John Hastings, Chris Tremain, Scott Boland, Adam Zampa, Joe Mennie, Daniel Worrall, Shaun Marsh.
**Ireland:**William Porterfield (capt), John Anderson, Peter Chase, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, Stuart Poynter (wk), Paul Stirling, Sean Terry, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.