Cameron Green and David Warner Shine, while Other Australian Players Have Memorable IPL Campaigns
Mumbai Indians' Australian Players Shine as They Return to IPL Playoffs
Being the costliest Australian purchase at the IPL auction last December, Green faced immense pressure in his debut tournament. Despite a slow start where his highest score in the initial four matches was an unbeaten 17, Green revealed that there was no added pressure from the Mumbai setup. He credited the coaching staff and support staff for creating a relaxed environment, allowing him to excel.
"After arriving here, they assured me that there was absolutely no pressure from them, the coaching staff, or the support staff," said Green after his unbeaten 100 on Sunday.
The collective performances of these Australian players have played a pivotal role in Mumbai Indians' resurgence, and they now stand as strong contenders for the IPL title.
"I can just go out there and play without any pressure because I have an incredible batting lineup to support me.
"When I step onto the field, I don't go in with a specific plan to bat the entire innings because I have amazing players waiting behind me.
"All I try to do is demonstrate intent for as long as possible, and even if I get out, there's someone equally talented coming in. It's a wonderful team to bat in."
Despite having played only 21 T20 matches before being signed by Mumbai Indians for A$3.15m, Green's debut IPL season has been a valuable learning experience. The talented all-rounder's impressive tally of 381 runs and six wickets justifies his hefty price tag.
His unbeaten century off 47 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad last Sunday was the standout performance among all Australian players in IPL 2023. Additionally, he scored consecutive half-centuries against Hyderabad and Punjab Kings.
"I have limited experience in T20 cricket, especially in the final overs. Having Kieron Pollard as the batting coach has been immensely helpful. He has extensive knowledge and he has been able to pass on valuable insights to the younger players in the squad, including myself," Green remarked.
Green's contributions, combined with the support and guidance from experienced players like Pollard, have elevated his performance and made a significant impact on the Mumbai Indians' success in the tournament.
Performance of Australian Players in IPL 2023 - Batting Statistics:
| Player | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Warner | Delhi | 14 | 516 | 86 | 36.86 | 131.63 | 0 | 6 |
| Glenn Maxwell | Bangalore | 14 | 400 | 77 | 33.33 | 183.48 | 0 | 5 |
| Cameron Green | Mumbai | 14 | 381 | 100* | 54.43 | 159.41 | 1 | 2 |
| Marcus Stoinis | Lucknow | 14 | 368 | 89* | 30.67 | 150.20 | 0 | 3 |
| Tim David | Mumbai | 14 | 216 | 45* | 30.86 | 166.15 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitchell Marsh | Delhi | 9 | 128 | 63 | 14.22 | 131.95 | 0 | 1 |
| Matt Short | Punjab | 6 | 117 | 36 | 19.50 | 127.17 | 0 | 0 |
These statistics highlight the batting performances of Australian players in IPL 2023. David Warner, representing Delhi, has been the highest run-scorer among Australians with 516 runs, including six half-centuries. Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, and Marcus Stoinis have also made notable contributions with their consistent performances. Green stands out with a century to his name, while Stoinis and Maxwell have been impactful with multiple half-centuries. Other players like Tim David, Mitchell Marsh, and Matt Short have also made valuable contributions to their respective teams.
"The IPL provides incredible benefits as you get to be surrounded by the best coaches and players, and compete in the world's top-notch cricketing environment. It's a continuous learning experience.
"As an Australian player, getting exposed to subcontinent conditions is invaluable. The unique characteristics of low ball skid and significant spin are unfamiliar, making every experience gained here extremely valuable.
"The past three-and-a-half months spent here have been immensely rewarding, and I hope it helps me perform well in the future."
Jason Behrendorff, who hadn't played an IPL match since 2019 (previously part of CSK and RCB squads), seized the opportunity with Mumbai this year and emerged as their most successful pace bowler in the regular season.
"It feels great to be back in the IPL. I have had consistent cricket over the past couple of years, which has paid off," Behrendorff expressed.
David Warner, who was acquired by Mumbai for a significant amount in the mega auction last year, once again showcased his worth as one of the most destructive T20 batsmen in recent times.
Despite limited opportunities due to Mumbai's star-studded batting lineup, consisting of Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Ishan Kishan, Warner proved his value with a tournament strike rate of 166.15, ranking him among the top six fastest scorers with more than 200 runs in the season.
He consistently rose to the occasion when his team needed him, most notably with his exceptional innings of 45 not out from just 14 balls, including five sixes, to secure a memorable victory over the Rajasthan Royals on April 30th.
Meredith has contributed effectively whenever he got the opportunity, but initially, he was kept out of the side due to Jofra Archer's presence, who later suffered an elbow stress fracture that ruled him out of the tournament. Subsequently, his compatriot Chris Jordan occupied the spot.
At Lucknow, Marcus Stoinis has been leading the charge for Mumbai's opponents in the Eliminator at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday night. He has emerged as the top run-scorer (368) and leads the club's sixes tally (26). His unbeaten 89 in the last match against Mumbai, on a challenging batting surface, showcased his importance to the team's success this season. Daniel Sams is also part of the Super Giants squad but has not yet played a game this season.
Glenn Maxwell, the Royal Challengers Bangalore stalwart, once again demonstrated his consistency in the shortest format with another outstanding season. He played two match-winning innings against Rajasthan and registered half-centuries against Mumbai, Lucknow, and Chennai Super Kings, further solidifying his reputation.
Despite facing some injury setbacks, he has managed to pick up crucial wickets throughout the tournament. However, it was Green's exceptional performance on Sunday that played a pivotal role in pushing RCB out of the playoffs contention.
RCB's second Australian recruit, Josh Hazlewood, had a frustrating campaign. He was unable to play until May 1 due to an Achilles injury sustained during the SCG Test in January. Furthermore, he missed the final few matches of the campaign due to side soreness.
Mitch Marsh, another Australian player, also faced injury challenges and missed the latter stages of the tournament due to a minor adductor strain. However, when he did play, he showcased his bowling prowess by taking 12 wickets in just 20.1 overs. This impressive performance made him the leading wicket-taker for the Delhi Capitals throughout the season.
Here are the bowling performances of the Australian players in IPL 2023:
Player | Team | Matches | Overs | Wickets | BBI | Average | Econ | 4WI
These statistics reflect the performance of Australian bowlers in IPL 2023, including their number of matches played, overs bowled, wickets taken, best bowling figures (BBI), bowling average, economy rate, and the number of 4-wicket hauls (4WI) achieved.
David Warner, the highest overseas run-scorer in the history of the competition, continued his impressive form in his 14th IPL season. He finished the regular season in seventh place on the runs tally and achieved six half-centuries. Warner now has a career total of 6,397 IPL runs at an average of 41.53. Only Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan have more runs than him in the all-time standings.
Nathan Ellis showcased his skills as one of the best death bowlers from Australia. He bowled the most overs among all Australian players in the tournament and maintained an economy rate of 8.92 runs per over. Ellis had a standout performance against the Rajasthan Royals, where he recorded his best figures in IPL, taking 4 wickets for 30 runs.
Matt Short, playing for the Punjab Kings, made a strong impact during his debut season in the IPL. He joined the team as a replacement for Jonny Bairstow and displayed glimpses of his destructive batting abilities. As the KFC BBL|12 player of the tournament, Short registered scores of 36 and 34 in his six matches, showcasing his potential in the league.
Although the 2022 IPL champion Matthew Wade has not featured for the Gujarat Titans this season, his team remains in contention to defend their title. They will face the winner of the upcoming clash on Friday, following their recent loss to the Chennai Super Kings.
