Quantcast

One-day spin battle heats up

Maxwell, Holland and Agar impressed in Matador Cup action yesterday as each player pressed his claim for the ODI top spot

An intriguing contest between three men with strong claims on being Australia's No.1 spinner in 50-over cricket – Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar and Jon Holland – ended in an entertaining draw at Blacktown International Sports Park on Monday.

Victorian duo Maxwell and Holland played a starring role in the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers’ 36-run win over Western Australia, for whom Agar performed strongly with two key middle-order wickets and a late cameo with the bat.

Maxwell was Australia's sole spinner in all but one of their matches during their successful World Cup campaign this year – Xavier Doherty was included to take on Sri Lanka at the SCG – and the allrounder performed strongly throughout, taking six wickets in eight matches including the vital scalp of New Zealand's Martin Guptill in the final. 

Highlights: Bushrangers down Warriors to move in to second place

A man selected for his powerful hitting as much as his bowling, Maxwell carried the majority of the spin burden in Australia's ODI side throughout 2014 and was his country's second-highest wicket-taker last year.

But Agar's elevation to the squad for the five-match series against England last month indicates that selectors are keen to trial other long-term options for their World Cup title defence in 2019.

The left-armer played just two games on tour, but it was enough for coach Darren Lehmann to sing his praises on Perth radio this week.

And Agar did his chances of retention in the squad for Australia's next ODI assignment, against India in January, no harm on Monday with the wickets of Maxwell and Matthew Wade and an eye-catching innings of 33 batting at No.7.

But the 21-year-old played down the suggestion that his selection for the England tour makes him the front-runner for upcoming series.

"I think once you start feeling comfortable your spot starts slipping away," Agar said. "I don't feel comfortable at all or feel like that spot's mine.

"I've just got to keep playing well. That's what I'm thinking about right now and the rest will take care of itself.

"I was happy with the way I bowled (today). I've been working on the lengths I've been trying to bowl and I felt like I adjusted that quite well. I've been working on that in the nets with Adam Griffith and the ball came out nicely today."

As impressive as Agar was, the spin performance of the day was that of fellow left-armer Holland.

The 28-year-old bowled unchanged in the middle overs and picked up the key wickets of Michael Klinger, Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Bancroft as the Bushrangers choked the Warriors in the run chase.

The highlight of Holland's figures of 3-36 from 10 overs was the wicket of Bancroft, bowled around his legs attempting a sweep shot when on 64. 

Watch: Holland classic bowls Bancroft

Holland's performance added credence to Victoria's decision to pick him ahead of leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed for this Matador Cup, a show of faith the left-armer says has given him a boost.

Quick Single: Fawad's emphatic message to Vics

"It's good to know that the selectors and the coaching staff are backing you," he said.

"The last few years I've bowled quite well in the one-day stuff so I feel comfortable with where I'm at.

"It's quite a slow wicket (at Blacktown). I don't think it turned massively but there was just enough there and just held in the wicket a little bit so they couldn't play their shots.

"It was good to bowl on and three wickets is pretty good."

Holland earned a shock elevation to Australia's ODI squad way back in 2009 but is still yet to represent his country at the highest level.

He came close on that 2009 tour of India; he was told by Ricky Ponting that he would play in the final game of the series in Mumbai, only for monsoonal rains that began just moments later to wash away the match and Holland's chance to debut.

He produced magnificent figures of 6-29 in a domestic 50-over game in Adelaide in early 2012, leading then selector John Inverarity to describe him as the second-best spinner in the country behind Nathan Lyon.

But just eight days after Inverarity's comments at the start of the 2012-13 summer, Holland's season was over, a freak accident in club cricket wrecking his spinning shoulder.

Holland been no stranger to the injury ward in the years since, but he's been able to enter this 2015-16 season without a concern surrounding his fitness.

"Everyone who plays at state level is aiming to play for Australia," he said.

"Obviously it's in the back of your mind. But Maxi did a great job in the World Cup and continues to do a great job for us. We'll see what happens.

"It's the first real pre-season I've had in a while so I've done a lot more bowling in the winter and we just adjusted a few things that we identified and it feels like it's coming out really well.

"I just tried to stay up a bit taller and a bit higher with my front arm and (keep) my head up straight.

"I was falling away a little bit and I've just tried to work on that with a couple of coaches back home and it feels good." 

Extended highlights: Victoria v Western Australia 

As soon as the Holland show was over on Monday, Maxwell entered the stage.

The 26-year-old replaced his fellow spinner and picked up three late wickets to go with a composed half-century with the bat, a performance that earned him man of the match honours and provided a reminder that there's plenty of substance behind the reverse sweeps and electric fielding.

It underlined Maxwell's value to Australia's one-day side and why the allrounder is eyeing off a Test recall this summer.

"Maxi's great to have in your team. He's a real match winner," Holland said. "He can flick the switch whenever he wants and can change the game.

"To have Maxi in the team is a real confidence booster for everyone out there."