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| Glenn Maxwell whacks another boundary |
GLENN Maxwell’s amazing century on Tuesday night has knocked the enthusiasm out of Sri Lanka’s previously upbeat bowling attack, coach Graham Ford says.
Following the home side’s three-nil win in the Test series against Australia, Sri Lanka has gone downhill with four consecutive losses including three one-day internationals and one Twenty20 clash.
The second and final T20 game is tonight in Colombo, where the home side fears another display from Maxwell like his 145 not out off 65 balls in the first game at Pallekele Stadium near Kandy.
“The energy levels and stuff aren’t there. Towards the end of the Test series, it was a tight-knit group,” Ford said.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers sent down 13 full tosses to Maxwell and his teammates on Tuesday as Australia posted a world-record score of 3-263.
“I was surprised by the lack of ability to stay out of trouble on a good batting wicket which is the art of T20 bowling,” Ford said.
“Some of our bowlers are very inexperienced. We unfortunately don’t get exposed to high-pressure T20 games that much.”
Ford said Australia’s experience in the Indian Premier League and the Big Bash League had proved telling.
“The occasion gets to young and experienced bowlers,” Ford said.
It doesn’t help either when Maxwell is in top gear.
Former South African domestic player Ford was asked to compare Maxwell with South African power hitter Lance Klusener.
“He (Maxwell) hit harder in all directions,” Ford said.
“Lance Klusener was a fantastic striker of the ball but he probably had a couple of areas that he targeted and wasn’t a player who scored 360 degrees like ‘Maxi’ which created huge pressure for the bowlers and the captain for a guy who is hitting all over the place.
“There were lot of balls that were in the areas that he wanted them to be. We didn’t execute properly.
“We didn’t have a superstar like Lasith Malinga in our attack and some experience in our attack.
“I am very sad and I have mentioned it before that the Sri Lanka Premier League (staged in 2012) … unfortunately couldn’t continue.
“That was an opportunity for players to play games on high intensity and learn from guys from overseas.
“It’s that kind of tournament that will benefit our cricket and Australia have certainly benefited from that.”
LEADERSHIP STYLES
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| Australian captain Steven Smith (R) speaks with coach Darren Lehmann
MEANWHILE, coach Darren Lehmann played down a suggestion that David Warner was a different style of leader to Steve Smith.
Lehmann said he couldn’t distinguish a massive difference between Warner’s aggressive captaincy in recent weeks compared to Smith’s efforts during the Test series which Sri Lanka won three-nil.
“No. Steve Smith and David Warner are very aggressive players and captains anyway,” Lehmann said.
“For me, there’s no difference there. We didn’t play well enough in the Test series.
“We got beaten by a better side and we’ve got to be better at playing in these conditions.”
Warner has been fortunate to have an in-form batting line-up at his disposal, which is a luxury Smith didn’t have in the Test series.
One of those players is wicketkeeper/batsman Matthew Wade, who scored 155 runs at 38.75 in the one-day series.
Wade was originally left out of the squad for the T20 series. The left-hander was called up when Aaron Finch and Chris Lynn pulled out because of injuries on Sunday night.
Lehmann said Victoria’s Wade will be named in the side for the second T20 clash.
Australia has a squad of 13, although Finch’s broken finger means he’ll be restricted to drinks-waiter duties.
“We’ve only got 12 fit. George Bailey has gone home so Matthew Wade will play,” Lehmann said.
“But the bowling attack, we’ll just have a look at the wicket and sum that up.”
Lehmann said the form Bailey displayed on turning pitches, scoring 270 runs at 67.50 in the one-day series, could help the Tasmanian win a place in the squad for Australia’s next Test tour of the subcontinent in February in India.
“We’ve certainly done that before where George Bailey played really well in India and got picked in the Ashes home series (2013/14),” coach/selector Lehmann said.
“All performances for Australia count and that’s really important.
“Those one-day guys have come in and they’ve performed really well for us and that’s impressive.
“That’s all you can do, put your name in lights.”
Lehmann said it was very important to sweep the T20 series following Tuesday night’s “spectacular batting” from Glenn Maxwell, who hit 145 not out off 65 balls.
“When it’s a two-match series, you’ve got to win both of them,” Lehmann said.
“So it’s important for us to finish the tour well.”
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