George Bailey: Leading by example

Zee Media Bureau/Suyash Srivastava

Ranchi: Australia’s stand-in skipper George Bailey continued his phenomenal form as he slammed 98 against India in the fourth ODI at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi. Australia were wobbling at one stage as the score read 71/4 after which Bailey brought them back into the game as he stitched a 153-run partnership with Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket. Bailey who is leading the side in absence of regular skipper Michael Clarke was dropped twice by the Indian fielders, once by Virat Kohli and then by Ravichandran Ashwin, and the Aussie skipper made full use of it as he went on to score his highest score of the series. How good has been Bailey’s form can be ascertained from the fact that in his last seven innings he has scored - 82, 87, 4, 85, 92*, 43 and 98. While the Indian bowlers managed to halt Australian openers’ run-fest in the series, MS Dhoni’s boys were unlucky as they couldn’t capitalize on the two chances which came their way.