Australia’s continued inability to kill off the opposition cost them dearly in Wednesday night’s amazing one-day cricket loss to Sri Lanka at the MCG.
The tourists were 8-107 in reply to Australia’s 8-239 from 50 overs and the match was effectively over.
But man-of-the-match Angelo Mathews and No.10 Lasith Malinga staged one of the great comebacks, setting up the one-wicket win with 34 balls left.
Their 132-run partnership set a world record for the ninth wicket in one-day internationals, beating the mark that had stood for 27 years.
India’s Kapil Dev and Syed Kirmani had made 126 against New Zealand in the 1983 World Cup.
After Australia had Sri Lanka on the ropes, Mathews and Malinga never looked like being dismissed.
Malinga was eventually run out for 56 with the scores tied and Muttiah Muralidaran hit a boundary to secure the win, while Mathews top-scored with 77no.
Stand-in Australian captain Michael Clarke was particularly concerned about the team’s growing habit of letting the opposition off the hook.
It was also their sixth-straight loss in all forms of the game, going back to July.
Australia have two more one-dayers against Sri Lanka over the next four days before the first Ashes Test on November 25 in Brisbane.
“What I’m so disappointed in is we got so close again and we couldn’t finish the game off, which is an issue we’ve had for a while now in all three forms of the game,” he said.
“We’ve got to look at that and ask ourselves questions, find out what we can do to improve that.
“Execution cost us today with both bat and ball – having them 8-107 we got hit around the park.
“Mathews is a very good player, but Malinga is a No.10 – a good No.10, but he’s still a No.10 batsman.
“If we’re good enough to execute our plans and get the top order out, I don’t see any reason why we can’t do it to the tailenders.
“But it’s not the first time it’s happened and it’s something we need to look at.”
Clarke stressed Australia could not look ahead to the Ashes, saying it was vital they improved their one-day form over the next few days with the World Cup fast approaching.
“We’ve got a one-day World Cup coming up after the Ashes and we need to be playing our best cricket now,” he said.
“The Ashes are great, everybody’s looking forward to it, but we need to be focussed on what’s in front of us because right now, we’re not playing our best cricket and we need to be.”
Bayman
Guest
Roger, Not so much a case of "more questions", just the same questions being asked - yet again. Still, as good as that win was for Sri Lanka, it was great to see the Aussie bowlers taking the opportunity to experiment. We now know that bowling wide, or even straight, half-trackers - which could not hit the stumps even if they were a foot taller - is no good even at tail-enders. So that's one box we can tick for the Ashes - don't bowl those, they don't work. Another possible lesson learned was "bowl to take wickets". It seemed most of our quicks were more intent on giving the batsmen an opportunity to make a mistake. Last night's result is what happens if the batsmen don't play along with that particular plan. I think in most sporting contests, generally speaking, you get a better result if your plan does not include the opposition playing along with you. It's usually best to assume he's "against" you - so your only hope is to do it all by yourself. In all this though you've got to feel for Michael Clarke. He's lost a T20 match as captain, he's lost an ODI as captain and it looks like Ponting will rob him of the opportunity to complete the set. Maybe Ricky could pull a hammy before Brisbane.
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
Well played Sri Lanka, guts and determination from a very perilous position. Time for Johnson to sent back to Shield cricket, Clarke summed the whole thing up post match when he said they thought they had it won at 8-107. Hey Clarke...its never over til the fat lady sings. He is not captain material, and at the moment barely holds his place in the team on form. Well played Doherty though, good debut.
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
Johnson has become an embarassment at international level. The bowling equivalent of a flat track bully that packs it in at the first sign of effort. His figures last night were atrocious. It seems he does not have the ability to contain the tail, let alone actually bowl them out. It's time to stop picking "favoured sons" that might have some marketing value with Gen Y and pick the blokes who can get the job done.
Kermit is a frog
Roar Pro
The thing that stood out was the ability of Sri Lanka's bowlers in keeping the ball full to the Australians and not giving any chance for the Australians (Hussey in particular) to get under the ball. Siddle, whom I love in the tests, still doesn't strike me as a short form of the game bowler - until at least he bowls a better length. Watson was very pedestrian. However, the injury to Smith seemed very much to hurt on the night. However, were Cameron White still being encouraged to bowl - then, he may have been a better option than Watson,.....alas, we saw White's attempted net session quality (not even that) medium pacers over in SthAf in the recent 20/20 comp. His bowling mind is all messed up. At any rate, from 8-107 for the Lankans to win is a 'marvelous' effort. - good game, good Lankan support and the smiles of Malinga are pretty infectious.
Beer O'Clock
Guest
Fantastic win by sri lanka !! Australia has lost that killer touch and they cant finish teams off anymore. Pity they couldnt use Smith because he was injured, but Australia is in a pretty deep hole at the moment. Kudos to the Sri Lankans in the crowd for turning up and adding such a passionate atmosphere. If only aussies bothered to turn up as well......
Jeansy
Guest
Living in London I only caught the last 10 hours or so. I think Watson's last delivery sumed up Australia at the moment. Muralist on strike who can't bat, everyone in to stop the single, strong offside field and Watson bowls at his legs, easy clip to win the game. Pressure maybe, but a very poor delivery that shouldn't happen from someone at that standard. More concerning was the lack of passion and determination, we didn't seem like we wanted it. The cricketers should watch the Wallabies game just gone to see heart and desperation. besides doherty on debut who was brilliant our bowlers were poor. I have had it with Johnson erratic pie bowling. He looked like he didn't care. We need to blood youth and players who want it and will give everything for the baggygreen. Our current crop know they can't be displaced and it shows. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.