Australia managed to crawl across the line against the West Indies in the opening T20, but there was still a lot to come out of the match on the Gold Coast.
Here are our talking points from the series opener.
MAXI’S FORM A CONCERN
He might be fit, but Glenn Maxwell is in a bit of a rot.
You never want to give too much weight to a random series, but Maxwell’s shot selection was as bad as it gets against the West Indies on Wednesday.
Watch Australia v West Indies. Every T20 Live & Exclusive to Fox Sports on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Finch’s 58 guides Aussies to Windies win | 04:17
With Australia in a spot of bother, the right-hander attempted to manipulate a ball onto the leg side against a spinner who was ripping it.
Instead, Maxwell got a thick leading edge and was well caught.
It meant Maxi was removed for a duck.
“It’s a poor shot,” Waugh said.
“There’s no doubt about it, Glenn Maxwell’s form for Australia in the last 12-15 months is not where it should be.
“He’s been short on runs and that’s a loose shot – there’s no other way to describe it.
Brad Haddin added: “It’s an interesting shot when you’ve seen two balls spin and bounce past the outside edge of the bat. That one there he’s tried to go through mid-wicket, it was a traditional leg-spin ball, it’s just a poor decision there by Maxwell.”
His recent form is just as bad, with Maxwell making 6, 0 and 1 on the recent tour of India.
SHOT THAT SHOWED FINCH CAN PLAY
The decision by Aaron Finch to shuffle down the order left everyone gobsmacked.
It was weird. With the World Cup weeks away, you would think the man most likely to open alongside David Warner would do so. Instead, a player not even in the World Cup squad was asked to open up while Finch, whose form was still being questioned, shuffled down to number four.
Those questions still exist despite Finch scoring a half-century at second-drop.
But one shot in particular showed the long-serving skipper was nearing some of his best touch.
It came when Finch was on 51 off 49, Jason Holder pitched a slower ball up and the right-hander managed to maintain his balance and hit through the line and over the top. It was clean, crisp batting.
“I’ll tell you what’s a good sign for Aaron Finch is, he hasn’t tried to over hit that ball,” former opener and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin said.
“He’s picked the slower ball, gave himself a bit of room and when he’s not trying to over hit the ball Aaron Finch, we know the power that he has, and that’s a really good example that one over mid-off.
“He’s watching the ball nice and closely.”
Mark Waugh, who was left confused by the decision for Finch to come in at four, said it was “smart batting”.
WICKET-KEEPER WADE AUSTRALIA’S GLUE
As Brad Haddin astutely pointed out, Matthew Wade was Australia’s “unsung hero” during Australia’s World Cup win in the UAE last year.
He has become Australia’s Mr. Fit-it, with no situation too great for the left-handed wicket-keeper.
Wade, together with Marcus Stoinis, managed to see Australia to a crucial victory over South Africa last year and then belted Pakistan in the semi-final to see them progress.
Once again, Wade got Australia out of trouble against the West Indies.
The key to his batting is his ability to bat in two paces.
He manipulates the field early, sweeping brilliantly and using his crease well against the spin bowlers.
But his ability to play right around the ground, using his lap-sweep, to put off bowlers has meant no area is safe from Wade.
Cottrell is fuming! Dropped chances | 00:58
DAVID BLOWS A CHANCE
Tim David is the name on the tongues of a number of people in world cricket.
He is someone who can clear the ropes and looks like doing so every time he swings the bat.
But when it fails to come off, like it did on Wednesday, when he fell cheaply and departed for a soft dismissal, it looks silly.
David is an X-factor player and his batting feats won’t always come off.
Given, however, he has just come into the side, he will want one more innings of substance to be assured a chance in the World Cup.
If he doesn’t succeed, he will leave the door open for Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis to take his spot.
Waugh quite rightly slammed Australia’s batting against the Windies, with five soft dismissals before Wade and Finch steadied the ship.
“It’s five down and five poor dismissals,” he said.
“You look at the way they’ve got out the Australians, and I don’t think they’ve shown enough respect to the West Indian bowlers.”
READ MORE
Report: Under-siege Finch roars back to life in shock new role as Wade stars in comical T20 ending
‘Can’t remember a better shot in the history of the game’: Cricket stunned by ‘freakish’ six
’Makes no sense’: Greats baffled by Finch call as Aussies ‘caught on the hop’ by rising star
AUSTRALIA’S QUICKS MAKE A POINT
West Indian opener Kyle Mayers left the world in awe with his stunning six over cover.
His onslaught left Australia on the back foot.
HUGE six ‘Calypso cricket at its best’ | 00:46
But then Australia tightened the screws.
Josh Hazlewood took three wickets while Pat Cummins grabbed two.
Both men were influential in managing to peg the tourists back.
Now the duo, as well as Mitchell Starc, will have a breather from the opener against England on Friday, with the trio being wrapped in cotton wool before the start of the World Cup.
