Inglis relishes captaincy after Pakistan T20 whitewash

Ethan James |

Josh Inglis has enjoyed masterminding Australia’s T20 3-0 series victory against Pakistan
Josh Inglis has enjoyed masterminding Australia’s T20 3-0 series victory against Pakistan

The biggest lesson for Josh Inglis from his first series as Australian captain was to trust his gut.

The 29-year-old steered his country to a 3-0 Twenty20 series victory over Pakistan courtesy of a thumping seven-wicket win in Hobart on Monday night. 

Australia bowled the tourists out for 117 before chasing down the runs with more than eight overs to spare thanks to an unbeaten 27-ball 61 from Marcus Stoinis. 

The only dampener was a low-grade hamstring injury to Glenn Maxwell, who is expected to go for further assessments on Tuesday after pulling up sore in the field. 

Inglis, who will link with Australia’s Test squad as a back-up ahead of the first match against India beginning Friday, was also skipper for the game three loss of the ODI series. 

Pat Cummins was rested in preparation for the Test summer, while Mitch Marsh and Travis Head were on paternity leave.

Inglis was pleased with how the squad bounced back from the ODI series defeat.

Spencer Johnson picked up eight wickets across the T20 series, including the best-ever figures by an Australian quick at that level of 5-26. 

“The energy in the group was brilliant the whole week, the way we carried the momentum (from the T20 game-one win in Brisbane),” Inglis said. 

Spencer Johnson
Spencer Johnson took eight wickets in the T20 series including a matchwinning 5-26 at Sydney. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

“It’s been awesome to see and I’m really proud of it.” 

It was the first time Australia had whitewashed Pakistan in a three-game T20 series. 

“I feel like I got better by each game. I really enjoyed it. (But) it makes it a lot easier when your bowlers perform like that,” Inglis said. 

“It’s just backing your own gut feel and instincts. 

“We’ve got a lot of real leaders in this team but I didn’t want to go to them too much and just wanted to put my own stamp on things.”

Inglis also heaped praise on allrounder Aaron Hardie, who produced a white-ball career-best 3-21 in Hobart.

“He’s shown those sort of skills throughout the Big Bash at times and for Australia when he’s played through the last 12 months,” he said.

“Everything he executed was brilliant. He changed his pace. He wasn’t predictable at all.” 

AAP