You've got to love T20. It's a format that keeps the minnows in it to the very end and can even produce an upset every now and then. The Australian summer has produced a catalogue of mismatches as England have trounced their hosts, but thanks to the mother country's inventive generosity (they did after all come up with the 20/20 format in the first place), close finishes are not quite a thing of the past.
Today's 2nd and final T20I at the MCG once more produced a last ball thriller, though in truth England's goose was cooked with about three overs to go. The pitch didn't lend itself to attractive strokeplay, but it is on precisely those surfaces that some of the tightest games are played. Rather as Ireland benefitted from playing England on a stodgepot at Georgetown in the T20 World Cup (I know it's not a cup but I refuse to call it "championship" or "bowl" or sim'lar), Australia made the most of equalising conditions; Aaron Finch rising above his peers on both sides with an excellent 50 at almost 10 an over. He was the one player to attempt improvised scoops and flips, and he didn't overhit the ball in the desperate search for a boundary.
Woakes again was impressive with the bat, and had he managed to get back on strike for the last ball, a tie or an England win could have been on the cards. Instead Bresnan raised an arm, stole the strike, assumed responsibility, and should now assume the position after failing to smack a slow long hop out of the ground.
Both matches provided fabulous entertainment, but the feeling persists that no one really cares. I wonder if they feel the same about 50 over ODIs. I suspect not, and wonder if it's possible for cricket fans to maintain a devoted interest to two different limited overs formats simultaneously. But with the World Cup round the corner, now is probably not the time for me to embark on a campaign to scrap 50 over ODIs.
But if the seven match series is going to be played on the kind of surface we saw at the "G" (as seems likely after such a wet summer in Australia), it could be a tough ordeal for players and spectators alike. However, as preparation for the World Cup, far from it being a hindrance as Flower has suggested, it could be the perfect dress rehearsal, whilst the hosts and South Africa, two favourites for the Cup, may be far more inconvenienced by their series, played out on faster, bouncier wickets.
I confess to remaining perplexed as to Wright's place in the team. If he isn't going to bowl any overs, a better batsman would surely be the correct pick. There's even a decent case for Strauss to be coaxed back into T20s. He was among England's fastest scorers during the Ashes and whilst he isn't renowned for hitting over the top, I'd rather see him coming in at six and giving the strike reliably to Morgan than Wright hurling himself off his feet as he swishes at thin air, desperately attempting to justify his reputation as a big hitter.
Woakes doesn't yet look the part as a bowler and I would expect Tremlett to come back for the ODIs. Strauss will return also. Bresnan and Shahzad are not yet strike bowlers so England will feel the loss of Anderson (first 3 matches) and Broad (whole series), who will surely, injuries permitting, start the 1st World Cup match.
As for Australia, they still lack finesse with the bat, Finch notwithstanding. Twatto has two gears. One is sixth, the other is neutral. White needs a long bat, which he may get in the ODIs if Australia's top order continues to implode in all forms of the game. But it is the choice of Tait and Lee which hints at old thinking. England's success in the Championship of The Universe T20 2010 was built on bowling variations. Slower ball bouncers and yorkers did the job, along with disguised cutters. Shahzad was at his most effective when bowling quick leg breaks today. Tait, however, continued to wang the ball into the pitch and watch the ball sail away. Lee began to get the idea, but you'd have thought they might have been quicker on the uptake.
Again it was Twatto with the ball who most impressed. Over the two matches his 6-32 in 8 overs takes some beating. Who knows? Maybe he should be the next skipper after all.
So England's record run in T20s is halted at 8. I suppose it didn't help that captain Paul Collingwood said after the 1st match that he couldn't see the record being beaten any time soon, having presumably forgotten that he was due to play again in two days. And in truth today's loss is probably not a serious setback. But doubts persist as to England's batting in ODIs, and while Pietersen shows no signs of finding consistent form, an awful lot is required from Morgan, Bell and the returning Strauss.
I'm expecting a close series. With a bit of luck it may be the last bloated bi-lateral 50 over series. After all, once this is done, and the World Cup is over, the campaign for its abolition can finally begin