Australia vs India 2020-21 T20 Series: Australia Squad Performance Ratings

Australia might have lost the T20I series; however, they have avoided a whitewash by winning the third T20I by 12 runs. Australia had plenty of injury concerns ahead of the T20I series which was partly responsible for their defeat. At the same time, there were crucial points, which they failed to seize in the first and second game.

Nevertheless, in the third T20 international, the hosts put up a much more improved performance. While there were a few dropped catches and sloppiness, including that of Virat Kohli; however, the Australians managed to hold their nerve and eke out a victory. By avoiding the whitewash, Australia will go into the four-match Test series with considerable confidence.

We take a look at Australia’s performance ratings for the T20I series:

Matthew Wade – 9.5/10:

Matthew Wade had been outstanding with the bat at the top-order, a position in which in the last two games. Matthew Wade struck 58 and 80 in a couple of games and at excellent strike rates to get Australia through to a solid start. It was indeed a surprise since the Tasmanian did not open the innings in the first T20I too. While as a captain in the second T20I, his decisions were questionable, the keeper-batsman earns a rating of 9.5 for his outing with the bat.

Steve Smith – 5/10:

As much as Steve Smith looked in an ominous form in the ODIs, the former Australian captain looked off-colour in the T20Is. Steve Smith’s highest score in the three-match series was of 46, which came in the second T20I off 38 deliveries and had some glorious shots. The 31-year old, who also displayed fabulous fielding skills, receives a rating of five out of ten.

Aaron Finch – 4/10:

Aaron Finch, who was the leading run-getter in the three-game ODI series, could not get going in the T20I series. The Australian skipper scored 35 in the first T20I and gave the hosts a solid start, getting out at the wrong time. Finch missed the second game due to an injury and managed a duck in the third.

D’arcy Short – 1/10:

D’arcy Short had a forgettable series with the bat, opening in the first two T20Is, and not playing up to the required standards. Short managed only 34 runs in 38 deliveries in the first T20I that dented Australia’s chase, losing all the momentum in the middle-overs. The southpaw managed single-figure scores in the next two games to end a horrid series.

Glenn Maxwell – 7:

Glenn Maxwell also had a highly fulfilling ODI series against India but suffered a dip in the shortest format. Glenn Maxwell’s highest score of 54 came in the third T20I in which he enjoyed plenty of instances of luck. In the first two T20Is, Maxwell managed two and 21 runs respectively. He also bowled exceedingly well in the final T20I, earning a rating of seven.

Moises Henriques – 7.5:

All-rounder Moises Henriques has primarily played as a finisher for Australia in T20I cricket against India this series. Henriques played two handy knocks in the range of mid-20s in the first two T20Is. However, the all-rounder’s bowling has looked excellent and gone underutilized. He was the pick of the bowlers in the first match, bagging figures of 4-0-22-3.

Marcus Stoinis – 2/10:

Marcus Stoinis bowled impressively in the first ODI and while he could not pick up a wicket, the medium-pacer maintained an excellent economy rate. He sustained a hip injury, missing the last two ODIs and coming back for the second T20 international. The all-rounder finished the innings well for Australia with 16 off seven balls; however, he did not bowl and Aaron Finch replaced Stoinis for the final.

Mitchell Swepson – 8.5/10:

Mitchell Swepson had a highly productive series with the ball, taking six wickets in three games. Mitchell Swepson claimed the prized of Virat Kohli in the first T20I; however, he could not complete his quota. The leggie bounced back by bowling two economical spells in the next two games, including a spell of 4-0-23-3 in the third T20I.

Mitchell Starc – 5/10:

Mitchell Starc had a horrid ODI series where he leaked plenty of runs in the first two ODIs. However, he bowled a lot better in the first T20 international, bagging figures of 4-0-34-2 and missed the next two T20Is due to personal reasons. Nevertheless, Starc will be back with the Test series.

Daniel Sams – 3.5/10:

Daniel Sams made his T20I debut in the 2nd T20 international, replacing Mitchell Starc and took the prized scalp of Virat Kohli but conceded 47 runs in four overs, including 14 in the last over that won India the series. The left-arm seamer also went for 29 runs in two overs. He earns a rating of 3.5.

Sean Abbott – 2/10:

Sean Abbott did not have a series to savour as he has been expensive since the third ODI itself. The right-arm speedster took only one wicket from three games and as a strike bowler, he did not even bowl his full quota in the first two ODIs.

Adam Zampa – 7/10:

Adam Zampa has been the go-to spinner for Australia in limited-overs cricket and has bowled exceptionally well in the middle-overs along with Swepson in T20 cricket. The leggie picked up one wicket each in all three T20Is while also maintaining an excellent economy rate.

Josh Hazlewood – 5/10:

Josh Hazlewood played only in the first T20 international in Canberra and had to be rested for the rest two for the Test matches. Josh Hazlewood managed to bowl exceptionally well with the new ball; however, hie death over went for 23 runs, proving costly for the hosts.

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