The Aussies have struck first in the one-day international series against India with a rain-affected seven-wicket win on Sunday.
Despite the covers being required for the first time since Perth Stadium was opened seven years ago, the Aussies refused to let the repeated delays slow their charge.
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Josh Hazlewood starred with the ball before Mitch Marsh and Josh Phillipe got Australia home with 29 balls to spare.
Here are the game one Talking Points.
KING KOHLI COMES UNDONE
“At their age, they’re not getting any younger. They’ll want to make an impression.”
That was Ravi Shastri talking Indian great Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma who returned for the visitors in Perth.
But unfortunately for the veteran duo – who still have sights set on a possible 2027 World Cup berth – neither could get away from the Aussies.
It was billed as Indian superstar Kohli’s first game back in Perth since his brilliant Test century but his return fell flat when he went for an eight-ball duck.
Kohli was caught fishing to a Mitchell Starc in a ploy Aussie great Mike Hussey had warned of pre-game.
“You can’t afford to get too full to Virat Kohli,” Hussey had said.
“The plan is to bowl a good hard length just outside off stump and get Kohli trying to feel for the ball outside off-stump.
“If you don’t bowl there, he can absolutely destroy you. If you get too full and too straight, he will just pommel you through mid-wicket.”
Starc removes King Kohli for a DUCK! | 00:37
“He’s trying to hit a lot of balls to the leg side. We know how strong he is through mid-wicket. But he’s suspicious of balls that bounce above the stumps,” Brad Haddin added.
“When you’re talking about a hard length to Virat Kohli, you want to hit that hard length so that the bowl is above the stump.”
And that’s what Starc delivered – snaring Kohli’s wicket for just the second time in ODIs.
“We saw it a lot last year in the Test series as well – the Aussies got him out so many times getting that ball just outside off stump, getting Kohli to feel for the ball just outside off stump,” Hussey said.
“You’d think Kohli would come here and think, ‘OK I know what they’re going to do. They’ve been doing it to me for years’, but one day cricket is a little bit different.
“They want to get the scoreboard moving on and I think that’s why Kohli – he hadn’t scored a run yet, he’d already faced eight balls. The pressure was starting to build on him.
“I get the feeling he felt like, I’ve got to get one away here, and unfortunately he’s found himself back in the pavilion.”
Sharma didn’t fair any better as he was the first to fall for 8.
But Shastri still believes Kohli can kick on to 2027, off the back of his international Test and T20 retirements.
“They are not there to fill in the numbers – they want to perform, earn their place in the side,” he said.
“(Kohli) really raised the bar in the one day game.
“It’s a fabulous career – if he’s hungry, nothing can stop him from playing another World Cup in 2027.”
‘JUST SAYING’: ENGLAND GREAT’S BOLD ASHES OPENER CALL
Michael Vaughan knows who should partner Usman Khawaja at the top of Australia’s order to face England – Mitch Marsh.
The big West Aussie was at his blistering best in Sunday’s ODI against India as he whacked an unbeaten 46*, including 3 sixes and 2 fours.
“Mitch Marsh should open in the #Ashes .. Just saying ..” Vaughan posted on social media.
But Fox Cricket commentators believe Marsh’s focus has turned to white ball cricket – with the red ball game no longer in his sights.
“He’s not interested in the red ball cricket – he wants to focus on the white ball,” Ravi Shastri said.
“Seeing the body language here, very composed and calm. It just shows his mind is very clear how he wants to go about the rest of his career.
“Even when it comes to workload management with his bowling, it takes a back seat.
“His focus is on his batting.”
It comes after Marsh said earlier this week that he had tickets in the crowd for the first two days of the Ashes Test in Perth.
“He’s been playing some pretty good cricket lately in white ball. The tour in New Zealand he just looked a class above. His power, looks really confident in his game,” Mike Hussey praised.
“But I think he’s kind of made his mind up that no, he’s not wanting to play Test cricket anymore and just wants to focus on leading Australia in T20 cricket or playing white ball for Australia. And then you’re really just focusing on those formats of the game – rather than having to chop and change too much between red ball and white ball.”
“Being an all-rounder, it’s hard to try to stay involved for three forms of the game,” Brad Haddin added.
“You’ve got to bowl, catch and bat. I think Mitch Marsh, he’s found a really happy place in his preparation and not having to worry about red ball – we’ve seen the benefit now in the white ball.
“And there’s a T20 World Cup coming up and he’s the captain of the team there so there’s tremendous opportunities there in the short form.”
Mark Waugh agrees Marsh is more suited to the short format.
Marsh plays down Test chances | 02:21
“There’s some talk about (Marsh) maybe opening (in the Ashes) and going out there and having a bit of a dash, but I don’t think so,” he said at the Fox Cricket Launch.
“I don’t think that that’s the right way to go. I think against England, we need guys that are technically very sound at the top of the order. Not that Mitch isn’t, but he’s a bit of a dasher.
“I don’t see him featuring at the top of the order for the Ashes, but you never know.”
RENSHAW’S RUNS OPEN UP TEST HOPES
Former Australian batter Mark Waugh believes that Matthew Renshaw could “definitely” open the batting during this summer’s Ashes campaign off the back of his blistering white-ball form.
The Queenslander made his national 50-over debut in Perth on Sunday, becoming Australia’s 250th men’s ODI cricketer. He struck 21 not out during the run chase, helping the hosts chase the modest target with 29 balls to spare.
The Australian call-up comes after a prolific couple of years for Renshaw in domestic one-day cricket – batting predominantly in the middle order, the left-hander has maintained a List A batting average of 48.68 since November 2021, hitting six hundreds during that period.
He also enjoyed successful Australia A campaign in Darwin over the winter, cracking scores of 80, 106 and 62 in the one-day games against Sri Lanka A.
The 29-year-old, who has already made 14 Test appearances, got his summer underway with a century during Queensland’s Sheffield Shield opener against Tasmania in Brisbane, but missed the Bulls’ next two red-balls contest due to ODI commitments.
Marnus Labuschagne, Jake Weatherald and Sam Konstas are the leading candidates to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja during this summer’s Test campaign against England, but Waugh threw Renshaw’s name into the mix.
“Runs in any format is good for your confidence,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“Renshaw has been one of the best one-day players at List A level in the last four years for Australia.
“He’s definitely in the talk for the Ashes. I reckon there’s about eight blokes in the chat for the opening spot.”
He continued: “I can’t believe he hasn’t played ODI cricket of the years.
“He’s been around for a long time, he’s been stellar performer for Queensland.”
Former Australian batter Michael Hussey pointed out that Renshaw scored his maiden Test century nine years ago when he was 20 and still a work in progress, arguing he’s now the finished product.
“I think he’s really come into calculations for this Ashes series,” Hussey said.
“He has a great understanding of his own and he is ready if given the opportunity, to do well again.”
Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin continued: “Are the Australian coaches having a look at Renshaw over the next couple of weeks to see where his game’s at, to see where his head’s at mentally? Is his name going to come into calculations for that Test selection?”
Marnus chats Ashes hopes & form revival | 05:44
‘RELENTLESS’ AUSSIE SHOWS HE CAN LEAD
With Pat Cummins sidelined, Australia are crying out for a leader of their pace attack.
Enter Josh Hazlewood.
The 34-year-old showed just how dominant he can be as he cruelled India’s charge in the Perth one dayer – fuelling hopes Hazlewood can lead the attack in the upcoming First Ashes Test at the same venue.
“He’s been immaculate with his length in particular,” Ravi Shastri praised.
“Hardly pitched the ball up to the bat.
“And really making the Indians hop with that extra bounce.”
“He got driven down the ground once … and that’s been it,” Mark Waugh added of Hazlewood’s seven-over spell.
“He’s been between the hip and the chest.”
Shastri described Hazelwood as “relentless” as he finished with 2-20 from his seven overs, including 35 dots and a 2.9 economy rate.
THE BOLD CALL THAT COULD PAY OFF
Josh Philippe made the big decision to relocate to NSW in 2024 in the hopes of boosting his international selection chances.
The wicketkeeper-batsman had been on NSW’s radar since signing for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL back in 2019. But he had continued to represent WA behind incumbent Josh Inglis in the other State formats before his progress halted.
“It came to the point where I had a hard look at myself and realised I’m not quite getting the best out of myself,” he told cricket.com.au at the time.
“My contract came up and I felt like a new environment might be the best thing to get me back to where I want to get to.”
Now with his foot firmly back in the door in Australia’s short formats, ex-Aussie wicketkeeper Brad Haddin implored Philippe to make the most of his chance in the green and yellow.
“He had an outstanding series recently in India in the Australia A series. He had an 100-not out in one of the games over there,” Haddin praised.
“He’s done well now at the top of the order for NSW in this form of the game.
“It’s great to see him get another opportunity at this level.
“He had to make the brave decision to change States – come to NSW. Leave the comforts of home to progress his cricket career – so he’s done well.”
But while Philippe (37 off 29 balls) is enjoying his chance to represent Australia, Alex Carey is already waiting to return.
Philippe, who was part of five of WA’s six Shield and 50-over titles in three seasons before the move to NSW, took three ripping catches before starring with the bat.
The first catch was going blind at a trickle down legside to dismiss Indian skipper Shubman Gill while the second was a fair effort off Josh Hazlewood to snare Shreyas Iyer.
And coming in at four with the bat, Philippe got to work quickly, accumulating 37 of his 50-run partnership with Mitch Marsh.
“I think his day has been outstanding Josh Philippe,” Haddin said.
“He’s come to the wicket with some real intent. The way Josh Philippe has come out and put pressure back on the Indian bowlers, it just shows how much it means to get another opportunity in this Australian team.
“He hasn’t panicked.”
Fellow former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist liked what he saw from the West Aussie.
“He’s really picked up the initiative,” he said.
“Took a little bit of time early … and then he just started to find a little bit more touch and rhythm. (He) looked comfortable at this level.
“It would have been very easy to position him down around number 7.”
Speaking after his game one efforts, Philippe said he wanted to make the most of his chance.
“It’s always the dream to play for Australia,” Philippe told Fox Cricket after the match.
“It’s been a long wait, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get another opportunity.”
