Warner skipped to a 20-ball half-century as Australia sprinted to the their target in 10 overs
Josh Hazlewood started with three consecutive maidens (file photo) • Getty Images
Australia 123 for 3 (Warner 54*) beat Namibia 119 for 9 (Green 38, Zampa, 3-25, Hazlewood 2-5) by seven wickets
Nine-man Australia made light work of Namibia in their opening T20 World Cup warm-up match, led by an impressive new-ball spell from Josh Hazlewood, during which four members of their backroom staff helped make up the numbers.
There was also useful time in the middle for David Warner after his lean and injury-hit IPL season as he hammered a 20-ball half-century with Australia needing just half the overs to reach their target.
At one stage there were four substitutes on the field for Australia comprising head coach Andrew McDonald, assistants Brad Hodge and Andre Borovec plus national selector George Bailey. Borovec, who is fielding coach, and Bailey were the first-choice subs when play began.
Australia are currently without six of their 15-player squad – Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis – following the IPL.
While Australia are shorthanded, they opted to have two warm-up matches given a number of the squad are coming from the off season and others had limited action in India.
One of those who has been at home is Hazlewood and he set an outstanding tone with a remarkable opening spell of 3-3-0-2. His second wicket of Nikolaas Davin came courtesy of a catch by Borovec. In his last over, Hazlewood got fingertips on a straight drive to run out Malan Kruger at the non-striker’s end.
“Probably a few of us needed to [play] coming off a big lay off…was good to get out there, playing is always different to training,” Hazlewood said. “The ball felt like it was coming out pretty good. The wicket looked a little bit tough early, probably a little bit slow, probably what we are going to encounter here in the West Indies so it’s just about keeping it pretty simple, sticking to the top of the stumps, not trying too much and letting the wicket to its work.”
Ashton Agar, recalled for this tournament, opened the attack with Hazlewood and ended as the most expensive of the specialist bowlers. Given the lack of players available, and captain Mitchell Marsh not yet fit to bowl, Tim David’s part-time offspin was used for a full allotment of four overs which helped Namibia scrambled to 119.
Adam Zampa took out the middle order and Nathan Ellis, who appeared just once for Punjab Kings in the IPL, was economical with 1 for 17 from his four overs.
Australia raced along in their chase with Warner and Marsh quickly out of the blocks in the powerplay before the captain was run-out in a mix-up.
Warner, who will retire from international cricket after the tournament, brought up his fifty with the third six of his innings against Tangeni Lungameni.
Josh Inglis missed out at No. 3 when he chopped on against Bernard Scholtz, who also removed David.
Australia play their second warm-up game against hosts West Indies on Thursday.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
