Stoinis and Wade’s bond grows with death overs success

When Australia’s required rate pushed beyond two runs a ball in Friday morning’s semi-final chase against Pakistan, tension was particularly evident on the faces of teammates and staff in the stands.

Out in the middle, however, Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade took a somewhat lighter approach.

Stoinis said afterwards that a break-the-ice moment with Wade during the chase helped keep things in perspective.

"At one stage I think we needed probably about 60 off 30, he looked at me and said, 'what do you reckon?' And I said, 'you’ve got 30 off 15, and I’ve got 30 off 15'," Stoinis said.

"He looked at me, started laughing and he goes – I actually can’t repeat the rest.

"We had some good banter out there, he’s a bloody funny bloke."

Stoinis was proven correct in his assumption, light-hearted as it might have been, and it was Wade (41no off 17 balls) who did the late heavy lifting.

The incredible chase was the second time during the tournament that the pair had pushed Australia to victory in tough circumstances.

Against South Africa, the Aussies required 38 off 28 deliveries when Wade joined Stoinis on a difficult batting surface.

Yet they saw the side home in a victory that was crucial to setting up Australia’s tournament.

Asked whether he had reflected on that sliding-doors moment, Stoinis said he had with his new death overs partner in Wade.

"We did have a laugh, just because we haven’t had to do too much throughout the tournament, and the couple of times (we have) the pressure has been on," he said.

"It’s brilliant because that gives us the confidence, and builds that little bond we’ve got going on there."

The pair’s bond is somewhat unlikely.

Dominant openers in the KFC BBL for the Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes, Aaron Finch and David Warner’s stranglehold on those positions for Australia has meant they must slot in down the order.

And while Stoinis has shown signs of finishing prowess for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, Wade was largely unproven in the position before the World Cup.

Coach Justin Langer said the pair’s emergence at number six and seven has come at the perfect time.

"We’ve been talking about needing some finishers, and it’s just so pleasing to see Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade grabbing that opportunity – it’s brilliant," he said.

"The truth is, in Big Bash cricket most guys open or they bat up the order, but we had to find guys (to push down).

"We’ve tried different combinations over the last 12 months or so to find those finishers, and we’ve found a couple of rippers at the moment."

Langer singled out Wade as a player whose perception within the Australian camp might differ from the general public.

"He’s a great leader within the group," he added.

"He’s very, very well respected amongst the group and he’s got so much talent.

"When he hit those sixes last night it might have surprised some people, but we’ve been watching that for the last 12 or 18 months, particularly at practice.

"He’s a very talented and important part of this team."

Stoinis and Wade put on 81 in just 40 balls against Pakistan, culminating in three consecutive sixes from the left-hander to seal victory.

Langer said the six Stoinis struck off Shadab Khan immediately following the dismissal on Glenn Maxwell typified the "fearless cricket" his side hoped to play.

Further, he suggested Australia’s thumping win over Bangladesh, which saw them chase down 74 in just 6.2 overs, represented a shift in the team’s mentality with the bat.

"Every T20 team will use that word, that 'we want to be fearless'," the Australia coach said.

"But the first time I’ve really seen it was when we had that Bangladesh chase.

"And I think that’s a real blueprint for this tournament, but also into the future for Australia’s white ball cricket."

2021 Men's T20 World Cup

Australia's squad

Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserves: Dan Christian, Nathan Ellis, Daniel Sams

Oct 23: Australia beat South Africa by five wickets

Oct 28: Australia beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets

Oct 30: England beat Australia by eight wickets

Nov 4: Australia beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

Nov 6: Australia beat West Indies by eight wickets

Semi-finals

Nov 10: New Zealand beat England by five wickets

Nov 11: Australia beat Pakistan by five wickets

Final

Nov 14: New Zealand v Australia, Dubai (6pm local, 1am Nov 15 AEDT)

All matches live and exclusive on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports.

Click here for the full 2021 ICC T20 World Cup schedule

Click here for the full squads for all 16 teams

Super 12 stage

Group 1: England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh

Group 2: India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Scotland, Namibia