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Analysis | Australia dictating the terms to spinners


Written By: Jeet Vachharajani
Date: 22-12-2022

Picture Courtesy: Cricket Australia

India dished out a spin-heavy attack in the 5-match T20I series as Australia dished out a pace-heavy attack. The problem with this was that Australia can demolish spin, but India cannot demolish pace. The series panned out exactly that way as the Australians came down heavy on the spinners, but the Indians couldn't. Similarly, Australia only lost 5 wickets to the pacers after every 50 balls, but the Indians lost 20 wickets after every 20 balls. India's weakness is a weakness - But what is thought to be Australia's weakness is not quite their weakness!



There has been a pattern that I have observed with Australia for a few years. Whether it's a pre-planned plot or just an Aussie way of dictating the terms, it sure works with teams unable to figure out ways to counter what they do. Australian batters always come down heavy on the lead spinner of the team - And if the pitch does not have much assistance, then they will come down heavy on every spinner that bowls to them. The numbers below paint a rather incredible picture. Most of the spinners to have rolled their arm over in T20Is since 2018 have conceded 8.6 or more runs per over. The corresponding wickets and the average are not a coincidence. The few who have kept it tight, have also been the ones to have succeeded in picking wickets.



This was a similar trend observed in the CWC 2022 as well where Australia came down heavily on each team's lead spinner and it's something they have been doing for years. One of the key differences between Australia's dominance is the frequency and the number of their batters who use their feet to launch the ball down the ground. If they stay put, then they will SWAT it away to the leg side like how Ashleigh Gardner & Grace Harris did. International teams are lucky to have not bowled to Laura Harris yet! 




Analysis | Australia dictating the terms to spinners


Written By: Jeet Vachharajani
Date: 22-12-2022

Picture Courtesy: Cricket Australia

India dished out a spin-heavy attack in the 5-match T20I series as Australia dished out a pace-heavy attack. The problem with this was that Australia can demolish spin, but India cannot demolish pace. The series panned out exactly that way as the Australians came down heavy on the spinners, but the Indians couldn't. Similarly, Australia only lost 5 wickets to the pacers after every 50 balls, but the Indians lost 20 wickets after every 20 balls. India's weakness is a weakness - But what is thought to be Australia's weakness is not quite their weakness!



There has been a pattern that I have observed with Australia for a few years. Whether it's a pre-planned plot or just an Aussie way of dictating the terms, it sure works with teams unable to figure out ways to counter what they do. Australian batters always come down heavy on the lead spinner of the team - And if the pitch does not have much assistance, then they will come down heavy on every spinner that bowls to them. The numbers below paint a rather incredible picture. Most of the spinners to have rolled their arm over in T20Is since 2018 have conceded 8.6 or more runs per over. The corresponding wickets and the average are not a coincidence. The few who have kept it tight, have also been the ones to have succeeded in picking wickets.



This was a similar trend observed in the CWC 2022 as well where Australia came down heavily on each team's lead spinner and it's something they have been doing for years. One of the key differences between Australia's dominance is the frequency and the number of their batters who use their feet to launch the ball down the ground. If they stay put, then they will SWAT it away to the leg side like how Ashleigh Gardner & Grace Harris did. International teams are lucky to have not bowled to Laura Harris yet!