South Africa vs Australia T20 Series: Australia Player Ratings

Australia have won the T20 series 2-1 and will feel confident before the T20 World Cup this month. Although they used this series to experiment with all their players to find the right combination, they played professionally and showed no signs of weakness. Coming off a loss after the first game, they chased down big targets in the remaining encounters to win the series convincingly. Here’s the player ratings for this series:

David Warner – 9.5/10

Having played all 3 matches, Warner is the highest run-getter in the series, scoring 130 runs at an average of 43.3 and an impressive strike rate of 167. With a new role in the team, having been given the responsibility in the middle order, Warner seems to be enjoying his stint as a middle order batsman. His 77 (40) with 6 fours and 5 sixes steered Australia to victory from a rather bad position in the 2^nd game. Given how brilliant Warner was in this series, despite the new role, he was unsurprisingly the Player of the Series.

Glenn Maxwell –8/10

Maxwell’s 75 off 43 balls in the 2^nd T20 helped Australia chase down a huge target and also stay alive in the series. In the 3 innings that he has played, Maxwell has scored 111 runs at an average of 55.5 and a strike rate 173, which is expected from a hard hitter like Maxwell. His bowling figures include 8 overs 0/70 in the series, which is way below par. However, for his match winning innings along with Warner in the 2^nd game, Maxwell scores a solid 8.

Shane Watson –6/10

The big and burly all-rounder had an average series. In the 2 matches that Watson opened the innings for Australia, he’s managed to accumulate just 51 runs at a strike rate of 121. His bowling figures in the series: 1/22 in 2 overs. Although he didn’t have a great series, Watson does rack up points here for his batting in the yesterday’s game. He scored fours & sixes against Tahir &Rabada, both good bowlers, and also laid a really good platform for Australia with his 42 (27).

Steve Smith – 6/10

The Australian captain has led the side well and also played a really good knock in the decider yesterday:  Scoring 44(26), Smith seems to have found his touch again after two mediocre outings in the first 2 games. Winning the series surely seems to have covered up for his disastrous 6 (17) in the first game.

Usman Khawaja –4.5/10

Khawaja was given 2 chances in the 3 games. Although the free flowing batsman scored 33 (25) yesterday, he hasn’t been all that impressive, thanks to his average of 21 and his strike rate of 120. These numbers for an opener earn Khawaja a 4.5/10.

Mitchell Marsh –7/10

Australia’s premier all-rounder played all 3 games. His bowling:  5 overs 2 wickets at an economy of 9 and best figures 1/17. Coming out to bat at no. 6 , Marsh has the responsibility of finishing off games, which he has done well. His batting figures: 41 at an average of 41 and a SR of 151.

Aaron Finch – 7/10

Aaron Finch’s 40 (18) in the first game was seriously impressive. He was rested in the decider yesterday. His Strike Rate is the highest in the series: 191. Finch seems to be in good form, he seems to be striking it well and the timing is just as impeccable. He scores a solid 7/10

Nathan Coulter-Nile –7.5/10

Without a doubt, Australia’s best bowler in the series, Coulter-Nile is tied with Rabada for highest no of wickets in the series: 2 matches, 8 overs,  5 wickets at an economy of 8.1 and best figures of 3/29. He is sure to have had more wickets than Rabada had he played all 3 games. His performance in the series will surely see him figure in the playing XI for all the games in the WT20 this month.

John Hastings –4/10

Hastings has not been as impressive as he was in India’s tour of Australia. In 3 matches, he has bowled 11 overs for 2 wickets at an economy of 9. He went wicketless in the 1^st and 3^rd game, hence earning him just 4/10.

James Faulkner –6.5/10

Playing 2 matches and completing his full quota of 8 overs, this genuine match winner scalped 4 wickets with best figures of 3/28 in the 2^nd T20. Faulkner also kept calm with the bat in a pressure situation/last over of the same match, a must-win for Australia.