Australians at the IPL: Warner’s dumping, Stoinis’ one-over spells, and Maxwell left stunned

The major story of the week for the Australians came off the field rather than on it

What now for Warner?

There’s only one place to start. All is not well at Sunrisers Hyderabad, especially for David Warner. Last week he questioned team selection, then he produced his slowest T20 half-century (which he held his hand up about) and now in a dramatic twist he has lost the captaincy and been left out of the side. His overall IPL record reads: 5447 runs at 42.22 and a strike-rate of 140.13. For Sunrisers those numbers are: 4012 runs at 50.78 and a strike-rate 142.82. Both the average and strike-rate are significantly down this season, but it’s a rapid fall from grace. The decision has been explained around the Sunrisers’ poor start to the season and the need to rejig the balance of overseas players (perhaps highlighting the challenge when there is an overseas captain). The hints were that there may not be a quick return for Warner, either, although the Sunrisers were on the end of a Jos Buttler special and went down by 55 runs. Interesting times.

For more analysis on the Warner decision, you can read Nagraj Gollapudi’s piece here.

Stoinis’ one-over outings

As a bowler you need to be adaptable in T20 and ready to take the ball in a variety of situations. That’s certainly been the case for Marcus Stoinis – although not for more than a single over. Things didn’t start especially well when, having not been used for the entire innings, he was asked to bowl the final over against the not inconsiderable talents of AB de Villiers. The end result? 23 runs conceded in a game Delhi Capitals would lose by one run. Perhaps shelve that idea. It went better against Kolkata Knight Riders when he was brought on in the 10th over and claimed the key wicket of Chris Gayle while conceding just seven then against Punjab Kings he was handed the new ball and went for six runs. Has he done enough to earn a second over?

Meredith’s mixed return

Riley Meredith has been preferred over fellow Australia quick Jhye Richardson by Punjab Kings after both were dropped last week having conceded more than 10 an over. Meredith returned against Royal Challengers Bangalore on what was a mixed evening for him. He made a mess of Devdutt Padikkal’s off stump but was then unable to complete his (and the game’s) final over after Kyle Jamieson crunched a drive into his knee. All was okay, though, and he was back in the middle against the Capitals but unable to prevent the Kings slipping to their fifth defeat. However, he did claim the wicket of Steven Smith which has the potential to be mentioned if the pair share a dressing room for Australia.

Cummins in the wickets

A profitable couple of games for Pat Cummins‘ wicket column as he took five in two matches although KKR remain languishing towards the foot of the table. He took 2 for 31 against the Kings but was comfortably the most expensive bowler in a low total of 123 and did not complete his four overs. Against the Capitals he was held back until the fifth option used by Eoin Morgan and though claimed 3 for 24 his impact was too late following an opening stand of 132 between Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan.

Good game to miss?

Nathan Coulter-Nile made his first appearance of the season for Mumbai Indians against Rajasthan Royals. He bowled his four overs for 35 and was able to sit back and watch the top order knock off the target with nine balls to spare. Then he was left out for the next game against Chennai Super Kings with Jimmy Neesham brought in. That may have been a blessing as it certainly wasn’t a game for the bowlers: 437 runs scored in 40 overs, capped off by Kieron Pollard’s breathtaking 87 off 34 balls.

Maxwell left dumbfounded

Glenn Maxwell had a significant impact for RCB in the early stages of the competition but could do little about the delivery he received from left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar against the Kings. It pitched around middle, spun and clipped off stump. Maxwell stood there, uncertain what had happened, and it was a rare occasion of a bowled dismissal needing to be checked by the third umpire. It was the eighth first-ball duck in Maxwell’s 313-match T20 career and curiously three of them have come this year.