Australia moved on to The Oval, the ground from which the geometric shape gets its name. Their foe? Sri Lanka, whose cunning strategy of playing primarily in washed out games saw them perched just a point outside of the top four.
Here are the ratings for the World Cup match between Australia and Sri Lanka.
Tosses
Grade: D
With no prospect of this match being washed out, Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne was forced to head out to the middle to face Aaron Finch for the coin toss.
He needn’t have worried. Going into the match, Aaron Finch had lost eight tosses in a row, and he continued the trend here.
One might at first think that this trend is perhaps part of Australia’s ongoing bid to redeem their international reputation as a bunch of tossers. But, of course, it’s just as improbable to lose nine coin tosses in a row as it is to win them, which surely opens up the prospect of Australian coin skullduggery.
Furthermore, losing coin tosses consistently doesn’t mean you’re not a tosser. It just means that you’re an awful tosser. Which is exactly the kind of notoriety that Australia is looking to shed. Finch needs to think this through further.
Nevertheless, Sri Lanka, having won the toss, immediately elected to misfield.
Australia’s Top Order
Grade: B-
Sri Lanka’s fielding was dreadful, giving up plenty of runs to the Australian batsmen. For example, that thing modern teams do, where one fielder races around the boundary, dives and scoops the ball to a nearby teammate in one motion, who in turn hurls the ball back in to the keeper? Sri Lanka botched that on more than one occasion.
It was sloppy stuff, and it allowed David Warner and Aaron Finch to put on 80 for the first wicket from 16.4 overs. Warner made 26 from 48 deliveries in that opening partnership, and again struggled for timing with the bat.
However, in the process, he also became the top scorer in the tournament. David Warner scoring the most runs in the World Cup in the incorrect way is perfectly emblematic of Australia’s ongoing tendency to win matches in the World Cup in the incorrect way. But more on that later.
Warner was eventually overtaken at the top of the World Cup run-scoring table by Aaron Finch, who blasted his way to 153 from 132 balls, including fifteen fours and five sixes.
(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
Finch was at The Oval to hit boundaries and chew gum. And he wasn’t out of either.
Australia’s Middle Order
Grade: A
As has become the trend in this World Cup, after Australia had set a solid platform for the innings, they immediately settled into a nice little period of incomprehensible deceleration.
Historically, a decent rule of thumb for a team’s final total is to take the score after thirty overs and double it. Australia seem to be looking to become the first side in ODI history to achieve their final total by taking the thirty over score and halving it.
The only thing standing in their way against such a groundbreaking feat is, of course, one Glenn Montgomery Maxwell, who in this innings came to the crease and made 46* from 25 balls to ensure Australia reached 7/334. Not the 350+ they might have made, but more than the solid 300 that Shaun Marsh had seemed determined to reach.
Kusal Perera
Grade: B+
In reply, Sri Lanka openers Karunaratne and Kusal Perera flew from the blocks, bringing up the team fifty in the seventh over and the hundred in the thirteenth. Jason Behrendorff had 0/32 from three overs. Pat Cummins had 0/25 from his three. Starc 0/13 from two. And Kane Richardson skilfully augmented his 0/23 from three overs with a wasted review that later denied Maxwell an LBW.
Perera was in complete control, bringing up his half-century in 33 balls, as Sri Lanka threatened to make the chase interesting.
Mitchell Marsh, who had flown to England to be on standby to replace the injured Marcus Stoinis was now officially on standby for the entire bowling attack should some ‘misfortune’ happen to befall them.
Winning Incorrectly
Grade: A-
But Finch didn’t panic. He threw the ball to Mitchell Starc, who proceeded to bowl a 145km/h yorker that crashed off Perera’s pads and into his middle stump.
From there, Sri Lanka fell steadily off the run rate. Maxwell strangled them with a ten-over spell that cost just 46 runs. Starc continued to take wickets, finishing with 4/55 and eventually Sri Lanka ran out of batsmen, with Dhananjaya de Silva reduced to farming the strike in the final overs to minimise the net run rate damage.
Australia, with their three steadying number threes, an opener who can’t get going and only one specialist batsman capable of the kind of late innings acceleration most other teams take for granted, had won again. Despite also having no all-rounders fit to play and continually forgetting to pick a spinner.
In the process, they’d inexplicably gone to the top of the World Cup table.
Now all they need is for Warner to find some rhythm and form.
Also, Khawaja.
Oh, and Marsh.
Stoinis too.
Not to mention Zampa.
And, of course, Richardson, Behrendorff and Coulter-Nile.
Then they might be dangerous.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
A full day now has passed on comments to Ronan's article and they are mostly consistent. So, would you prepared to accept that, maybe, your responses are out of step (wrong) with the vast majority of contributors on Roar? I'm not trying to rub it in, but just want to know whether you have the capacity to acknowledge that perhaps, on this occasion, it might be the appropriate to agree that your views aren't supported by the majority of cricket followers/commentators/experts Kopa? And believe me, that isn't to disrespect your viewpoint, but just to acknowledge that most don't agree with your viewpoint on this particular issue.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Grounders? I could live with that as a sports name.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the (repeated) personal abuse. Enjoy your day also.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
I know Ronan's stats,always raw data, only if he knew his stats against India is from 2016, against NZ 8 matches Marsh played, 4 single digit including 3 ducks, again from 2016. Against England in 2018 home series he averaged 37 at SR 0f 93 against possibly weakest attack amongst top 4 team. Very dangerous to present raw data if they are not learnt properly. So doing plus minus, Marsh never played against none of "new" India & "New" England to show us his average is upto the mark to play in this wc. Both India & England, as i have mentioned before, has gone through drastic changes mostly in last 2 years, the changes that have made them top contenders for trophy in this important time period. Anyway i am tired of this bs. Thanks for wasting time for nothing when you have already made up mind before the arguments even start. And ya , its always "bizarre" when you want to get out of it. If you have used little brain you would have understood it in first place, i never suggested Faulkner should have been picked , he didn't play any competitive cricket in last 4 years. but same goes for Marsh who played minimal game against top raked teams to judge him in last 2 most important years. In last BBL his SR was barely 100+ & you people are suggesting he should be there to play "finisher role". MM is least of my problem, my problem with him is being the "defaulter" of justin langer . I have had enough, good day.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I'll defer to Ronan O'Connell's excellent article of today. I think that encapsulates my position well. But thanks for the hyperbole, skewed rhetoric and bizarre Trump/ballet dancer tangents you have taken us on through this discussion. Faulkner won't get picked sorry Kopa.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
You want me to tell you why Faulkner should have been picked, yet you are to explain on what basis MM to be picked. So MM developed this before India series. Developed that before South Africa series. Developed those before England series. And, somehow, with no prior matches, he walks right into world cup team? And Hazelwood wasn't because of "lack match practice"? MM "gave up" his spot for Stoinis? So now Stoinis is injured MM is in line "by default " to replace him? Ohk. "Weird comment that someone who has multiple Test/ODI centuries can’t bat. " Multiple centuries in ODI? You mean 1 century he made 4 years ago? Multiple test centuries? Where 600+ runs were scored in both occasions? Pitches were so flat that Mitchell Johnson retired? "the career stats that aren’t that different to Faulkner’s and are better than Stoinis’. Goodness, maybe all three of them can’t bat or bowl." Jeff, o Jeff. Right now you are so logical that , if Brazil defeats Germany & Argentina defeats Uganda you would say they are both equal. Because stats say both has 2 points. Isn't the "stats" the reason why Faulkner wasn't picked? People is calling out Stoinis to be dropped? Because none of them can cut it right now? Isn't that the case in first place. Out of all "stats" I have provided, you have picked 1 stat to support your arguments. And rejected others? Claps!!. And if career stats are "similar" then why not Faulkner with his prior experience to play wc? Arent you the first to give the logic that only last 4 years should be counted? How many times you will twist your own logic? I get now from where you are coming Jeff. If you don't find stats in planet earth, apparently you will go to planet zor to find stats for MM to play . You are taking more turns than ballet dancers. Chill. You want to play MM? Go ahead. You don't need stats for that. And Ya, I would disagree. If there is 1 person on face of earth who could screw up most than trump, that Mitch marsh. So , na thanks.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Oh and also, yes I do believe M Marsh would be a better president than Donald Trump, along with about 7 billion other people on the planet. Surely even you couldn't disagree with that Kopa!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
No, I just want you to tell me why Faulkner should have been picked? So many questions. Actually Marsh WAS selected to play in the ODI series against India in Australia in January, but developed gastritis on the eve of the series and missed the entire series because of it - so he gave up his spot and Stoinis has been able to run with it right into the WC. But Stoinis is now injured, so...who would be next in line? Also, his rupturing of his testicle in late February was a body blow and didn't help but he was able to get himself right in order to score a century in the Shield Final in March. Weird comment that someone who has multiple Test/ODI centuries can't bat. Even the stats you provided show ODI career average of 35 with bat and ball. But hey, perhaps that is evidence of a guy who can't bat or bowl. You know, the career stats that aren't that different to Faulkner's and are better than Stoinis'. Goodness, maybe all three of them can't bat or bowl.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
It is getting even more ridiculous right now. "Has he recaptured his form following the knee injury he took into that WC? " How will he "recapture" his form when he wasn't even selected? "my argument is what has Faulkner been able to achieve since the knee injury?" And how does Faulkner's "not capturing form" directly leads to selection of Mitch Marsh who didn't play for last 2 years?? If tomorrow Donald trump dies in white house you will come up with the some kinda logic that because trump is dead, Mitch Marsh is by default president!! What is with Mitch Marsh? Is he some kind of Global fail safe for everything that happens in this planet? You are asking if Faulkner has recaptured his form from his knee injury, and you are trying to convince yourself that the ideal replacement guy is one who has no form in first place. If he is in form why he didn't play against India in Australia & India?against south Africa when Aussies were getting whacked by du plesis & miller?against England in England?against Pakistan in Pakistan? In last BBL season Faulkner was one of highest wicket takers. The guy Marsh doesn't know how to bat , doesn't know how to bowl. All of your argument is based on the theory that because the other guy failed, Mitch marsh is solution. Mitch marsh is some kinda defaulter here i guess!!Baffling.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
This article has made me feel more optimistic about the Tiger's chances in the WC. All we need is Tamim to find his form, Soumya and Mushfiq converting starts in to scores, the lower order showing more aggression with the bat, and the pacers to add an extra yard to their. And we will ease our way in to the Lord's final.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Actually Kopa, if you had bothered to consider my original post I asked: "What have been Faulkner’s international stats since the WC four years ago? Has he recaptured his form following the knee injury he took into that WC?" It's pretty clear that the knee injury he took into the 2015 WC was the definitive turning point in his career and my original questions clearly asked what he has been able to achieve post that injury. What you gave me were career stats for both players - dating back to 2011 for Marsh and pre-knee for Faulkner. But as to your last point, "only stats that matter are those suited to my argument", well, yes, they are the only stats that matter because my argument is what has Faulkner been able to achieve since the knee injury? How is that hard to understand? And so to my very original post, you have provided nothing by way of response to support why your position that Marsh being picked ahead of Faulkner is just such an egregious outcome for Faulkner that it can only be explained by essentially claiming that Marsh is hopeless and only gets picked because of Langer favouritism. So my original observation that your comments are just more lazy Marsh bashing, stand.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Jeff, i hate it when people goes round and round. You are not picking overall stats, you didn't answer how many matches MM players in last 2 years. So basically you choose the stats to favor your own conclusion. Apparently when you were giving Mitchel Marsh's average against india, you didn't realize the fact that all of these matches was actually in the ODI series way back in 2016, just after 2015 WC. In that time India didnt have the formidable bowling attack as they have now with kuldeep chahal.It was first series of Bumrah too if i remember correctly. Now for your England average, that series was actually in 2015. Right after wc15. And Australia won that series against England in England. Since then what happened, do i need to remind you? Last 2 to 3 years both England with their batting & India with their bowling has gone through drastic changes. In that period your homeboy Mitch marsh played only 1 series against England in home at average of 37 with SR of 85 . It was very clever of you to give reference of "since 2015 wc" . It would work on someone who doesn't know his cricket.We aren't talking about before 2015, we aren't talking about last 2 years which matters most. Only stats matters are those suited your arguments, right in between end of 2015wc till 2 years ago. What a picking!! Nice try though.
Kurt
Guest
You make a good point. A better name for the sport than 'ground' I suppose.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
Regarding Finch, I will happily take a captain who calls incorrectly all the time and then smashes 150+ with the bat.
Dan Liebke
Expert
Surely when a sport is played at so many grounds with 'cricket' in the title it just makes sense to use that as its name. Saves a lot of explanation.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Actually I asked you what his stats have been since WC in 2015. You have provided me stats going back 8 years as support for selection in 2019. Since WC 2015: Mitch Marsh (36 matches) Batting: average 35 at SR of 94 Bowling: 33 wickets average 36 ER 5.64 James Faulkner (25 matches) Batting: average 20 at SR of 80 Bowling: 36 wickets average 32 ER 5.55 In terms of an all-round comparison between the two, Mitch Marsh is well ahead. As an aside, versus Aus's main competition in this WC, India and England: Marsh v India (4 matches): Batting: 977 runs / ave 82 / SR 107 Bowling: 3 wkts / ave 65 / SR 6.56 Faulkner v India (7 matches): Batting: 67 runs / ave 22 / SR 93 Bowling: 6 wkts / ave 65 / SR 6.25 v England: Marsh - 320 runs @ 40 and 11 wkts @25 Faulkner - no matches
Kurt
Guest
Ok, so I admit that I might be taking this too literally, but are you really saying that the shape known as 'oval' takes its name from the ground 'The Oval' rather than the other way around? That's a little like me claiming the the sport we know is cricket is named 'cricket's because it is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
How many matches Mitch marsh has played in last 2 year? How did he get selected? "Happy to agree that he should have been included for selection if the weight of statistical evidence supports it." Mitch marsh Batting : average 35 at SR of 93. Bowling : 44 wickets average 35 ER 5.52 James Faulkner Batting : average 34 SR 104 Bowling : 96 wickets average 31 ER 5.53.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
What have been Faulkner's international stats since the WC four years ago? Has he recaptured his form following the knee injury he took into that WC? Happy to agree that he should have been included for selection if the weight of statistical evidence supports it.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
ya more Marsh bashing. Lets not talk about faulkner even in nightmare. Identical stats but better at finishing, MOM in wc15, out of the team because out of form. Didnt deserve a crack afterwards. Hoff didnt get selected because "lack of match practice". poor bloke Marsh made hyper jump to escape both category. Bad me!! The designated Marsh basher.