Cameron Green initiates a selection dilemma for Australian selectors with a strong performance against India: Player Ratings for the visitors  

Australia has gone down 2-1 in its three-match T20 cricket series against India after a final-over thriller in Hyderabad on Sunday. Nonetheless, the series has provided some important takeaways for Australia heading into the World Cup, with Tim David proving his value, and Cameron Green emerging as an obvious first reserve.

There are some concerns too, however, with Glenn Maxwell enduring a nightmare series, while there will still be discussion around Steve Smith’s spot in the side. Here, we rate how every Australian player’s performance in the three-match T20I series against India –

Batters

Aaron Finch – 6/10

A return to form of sorts for Finch. By no means did the Australian put up big numbers, but scores of 22 and 31 in the first two matches will allay some fears heading into the World Cup.

Josh Inglis – 4/10

Inglis played two matches in the series and while he didn’t make the most of his chances, he didn’t do his credentials much harm either. Provided some important quick runs in the first T20 with his 17 off 10 balls, but didn’t kick on in his final appearance with 24 runs off 22.

Steve Smith – 4/10

Not much joy for the right-hander who started the series well with 35 runs off 24 balls. He was down the order in game two and was run out after just five balls, while he missed out in the final match with just nine runs off 10 balls. There will no doubt be considerations about how Tim David could fit into Australia’s XI, and Smith might not be safe.

Tim David – 7/10

He showed his class late, but David did convince in the last T20 why he had generated so much hype despite having never played for Australia before the series. After a slow start with scores of 18 and 2, David ignited in the decider with 54 runs off just 27 balls. 

He came to the crease with Australia stuttering at 5-115 after 13.1 overs and took the visitors to a total that so nearly won it all. He’s certainly a strong contender to retain his spot for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Matthew Wade – 8/10

Wade is the answer to Australia’s long wish for having a finisher. Wade’s value in the middle-lower order is immense, as he showed once more in the first two matches. He made 45 off 21 in the first T20, followed by 43 off 20 in the second. Missed out in the final match to end on a low note, but a strong performance from the veteran, nonetheless.

All-rounders

Cameron Green – 9/10

An outstanding series from the young all-rounder, opening the batting for the first time in his international career. The position fits him like a glove with two blistering half-centuries in three innings. 

He was expensive with the ball in game one but turned it around for game three when he was hit for just 4.66 runs an over. No other Australian was hit for less than eight an over in the match. Australia’s player of the series — and it’s not too late for him to be added to the World Cup squad.

Glenn Maxwell – 2/10

Looked out of touch in the entirety of the series. Copped an unlucky runout in the final match just to add the salt to the wounds. He faced just 15 balls across three matches which says it all. Only bowled the two overs. A two feels harsh, but it’s hard to find where more points can come from. A series to forget for the dynamic player.

Bowlers

Nathan Ellis – 7/10

Ellis played just one match but delivered arguably the best bowling performance of the series, taking 3-30 in the first match, which Australia won. In a game, where all the bowlers were returning a rate of a minimum of 9 runs per over, the left-handed pacer kept things quiet and gave away only 7.5 runs per over. From his four T20Is, Ellis now has 12 wickets at just 9.

Pat Cummins – 2/10

The series was a tough grind for the bowlers, and that was no exception for Cummins. He was hit for 11 runs an over — but he had plenty of company.

Josh Hazlewood – 2/10

We’ve come to expect far better T20 numbers from Hazlewood, but this was a series geared towards the batters. Nonetheless, going for 20 runs off one over in the second T20 was awfully costly for Australia. He was expensive again in the final match, going for 1-40.

Adam Zampa – 3/10

Was brilliant in the second match trying to defend Australia’s 90 runs from eight overs. He had the visitors dreaming with his 3-16 which included the wicket of Virat Kohli again. Nonetheless, he went wicketless in the other two matches and was particularly expensive in the last, going for 0-44.

Daniel Sams – 4/10

Bowled just 5.1 overs across the series. He was blasted in the second T20 but was among Australia’s better bowlers in the finale, taking two wickets while being hit for 8.60 runs an over. Almost pulled off a miracle escape for Australia, too, while trying to defend 11 runs in the final over. Deserves some credit for his unbeaten 28 off 20 balls in the same match. Certainly, a player to keep an eye on in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Sean Abbott – 2/10

Abbott played a solitary game in a wet outfield curtailed game wherein he got only a single over to bowl. He gave away 11 runs in that over but in a game where batters were looking to send every ball at the park, the pacer had nothing more to do.