Battered by a buoyant England side riding seemingly unstoppable momentum, Australia trudged off Edgbaston with tails firmly between legs after a semi-final hammering overnight.
Chris Wakes, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid put in performances to remember in Birmingham, skittling the Australians for just 223 in 49 overs before Jason Roy put the Aussie bowlers to the sword.
At 3/14, a shellshocked Aussies never wrestled the momentum back from an England side that are now indisputable favourites to claim their first piece of silverware at a global ODI event.
A World Cup final, as it turned out, would prove a bridge too far for Australia.
But while disappointment is the overwhelming emotion after the loss, and will remain so for the coming days, they can take heart in their ODI revival under Justin Langer and Aaron Finch in 2019. Suddenly, the Aussies are competitive again.
Australia were thumped by England. (Photo by Andy Kearns/Getty Images)
Amongst the sorrow, and despite the hammering in Birmingham, the side has returned as a force in one-day cricket. After years of disjointed tactics, incoherent squads and poor results, the Aussies have quickly turned things around under fresh leadership. In just six months, the side who looked at long odds to get anywhere near the knockout stages would finish a more-than-credible second in the group stage.
This isn’t clutching at positives to deflect from a poor semi-final showing. There’ll be time for that. Rather, it’s to take a step back from the immediate disappointment to reflect that beyond the World Cup, Australia is once again a competitive force in 50-over cricket.
Sure, there was disappointments at this tournament. Australia’s two all-rounders failed fairly spectacularly. Plans for a frontline wrist spinner were scuppered while more broadly, certain players made contributions too infrequent throughout.
But on the whole, the tournament was a good one for Australia. So accustomed to winning, fans of a particular generation might think a failure to make the final equals, well, a failure. But when you consider the wider context of where Australia was at the start of the year, the effort was commendable.
Further, the result overnight was a fair one. England have been far and away the best 50-over side for at least two years, setting new heights in the format and smashing records along they way. And while cricket, and sport, doesn’t always reward the most deserving sides, on this occasion it did.
The eight-wicket loss was far from pretty for the Aussies, and the review (whenever that happens) will be fairly scathing. But Finch was magnanimous in post-match interviews.
“There’s still a lot of positives to take out of the World Cup campaign and the last few months,” he said. “We’ve come a long way from where we were at this time last year.”
And he is right. It was just over a year ago, you’ll remember, that England plundered a record 481 against a demoralised Australian team at Trent Bridge. Just four players that day made the 15-man World Cup squad (Finch, Stoinis, Maxwell, Shaun Marsh), reflective of the clear out that was to come.
The game also effectively finished Tim Paine’s run as ODI captain, paving the way for Finch to take over for the three-game series against South Africa in November.
The Aussies would go on to lose that series 2-1, the same scoreline they would lose a subsequent home series against India. At 2-0 down in the return series in India, the Aussies had by then become all too familiar with losing. But a stunning fightback to win 3-2 would instil a belief that has carried the side since then.
Finch touched on this, too.
“In the last six months there’s been a lot of backs to the wall, and character shown. A lot of hard work has gone in so I’m really proud of how the group’s progressed over the last few months.”
He and Langer deserve credit for turning around a side that had at one stage lost 22 of 26 games. A culture of losing has been turned on its head.
Aaron Finch of Australia bats. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
But the pain of this loss will string.
“Yeah, it still hurts,” Finch confirmed.
And it will for some time.
But the side’s progression since the start of the year should temper the wider disappointment that many fans will feel today. It was far from ‘the one that got away’. No, the Aussies were beaten thoroughly by a better side.
But their reformation from easybeats back to the competitive side they once were means the future, at least, is bright.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
And so to the next game and Head and Wade have produced centuries. And Siddle with 5/33 against Warwickshire following 2/71 and 4/32 in his previous match vs Yorkshire. Labuschagne recent form in FC for Glamorgan: 106 & 100; 65 & 82; 51 (and 5 wkts for 77); 37 & 83; 6; 14 & 182; 14 & 32; 0 & 137. This time line 909 at effectively 65 avg. Bancroft for Durham: 36 & 109; 77 & 92*; 158 & 5; 2; 18 & 3; 0 & 40; 70 & 25. That's 635 at about 53. So some solid form lines.
Mitcher
Guest
Not slightly also bolstered by rolling through the World Cup group stages and ultimately only getting tossed by a fantastic home Cup English squad?
Mitcher
Guest
Paul offers an analytic some good, plenty bad perspective of Australia’s performance. And George gives us this. George, congrats mate on your teams win. Enjoy it. I’m sure in your mind you’re getting one back on the odd fan who slighted you on cricinfobor Facebook. But just remember there’s plenty of sensible fans on every side. Equally plenty of Ah0les on every side. Try not to get so caught up in the fray. Enjoy the final. I assure you. Winning world cups is fun. Tho can get go hum after 5... ;)
Mitcher
Guest
In a conversation about the next World Cup cycle. I’m not sure his age helps his cause.
Simoc
Guest
I think you've got it wrong David. Smith & Warner were out for 12 months and Starc out for three years as far as ODI form goes. They came back with a vengeance. Finch and Cummins added a bit of spice and the rest did what they normally do, which is sfa.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Peter W. Know was forcasting Warner to have a strike rate down to the level of the other batsman also.
Peter Warrington
Guest
yes at first i hadn't realised they had managed to squeeze 5 quicks in last night, plus Rashid, 2 of the quicks express, Stokes very fast and fiery, Woakes a classic Chris Older and Plunkett wobbly enough for the white ball. We might have been able to test their batting, but not in this universe. in one of 500 posts yesterday I mused whether we should tack our quicks and just go for the throat. oh well.
Gee
Roar Rookie
In WC final games it's great to be fair to him, solid as a rock when it counts.
Paul
Roar Guru
Chris, I think last nights result and the manner in which we lost has had an extreme impact on many of the comments being made today. Our method of playing won us MORE games in the early rounds than England. We flogged them using the same methods only 2 weeks ago. Think back to the game against South Africa, which we lost by 10 runs. Only 10 runs. Remember too, Khawaja batted on one leg. He stays healthy, we win (using the methods that you question) and we finish on top of the pile. I think the brains trust got the method exactly right, but some of the guys you named simply didn't execute. I named India as the team to beat and felt we were no chance. The fact this squad got as far as did with all the factors you mentioned is amazing for sure.
Chris Price
Guest
Three bad games. India, South Africa and England
Richard
Roar Rookie
Always thought playing Stoinis and Maxwell in the same team was a risk. Would have preferred an extra batsman and had Smith / Finch to round out the ten overs with which ever allrounder we played. Australia's tail was too long (probably the worst at the World Cup) and we were caught out against England (and nearly against NZ). NZ have the same problem with both De Grandhomme and Neesham in their side although Santner is a good No. 8. England have the best balanced side with Stokes being a batsman who can bowl and Woakes being a bowler who can bat.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Well that is the issue isn't it, we assume there will be a rebuild for the next World cup cycle but who is there to pick? Ashton Turner, Mitch Marsh I guess. There aren't many options they haven't already tried.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Absolutely, kudos to the selectors for picking and sticking with Carey. A real shame that Khawaja got injured, him playing a fighting knock after we lost Warner and Finch could have made a big difference. I'll never get the fascination with Stoinis this tournament, they had three opportunities to put an alternate in place
Jeff
Roar Rookie
It's interesting to recall prior to the WC what a strong push there was from outside the team for not only Handscomb to be included, but as the keeper. That may have led to a very different set of results for Australia through the tournament.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
If by, right now, we mean the next few ODI series, the fact we are now just post-WC and therefore starting the next 4-year cycle, I'd be tempted to look for other options than Wade and Maxwell. Wade is a short-term fix, can't see him still being around in 4 years, playing at a high enough level. One of the commentators, might have been Atherton, commented during the semi how Maxwell often plays the shot of the day, but can he play the innings of the day. That just about sums him up. He plays some extraordinary shots, but time after time fails to ever string enough of them together to make an innings. Might be time to give some young guys a go. Not entirely sure who I'd pick at this point, but it's time to start a bit of transition.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Paul, I totally agree. They pulled together well and individuals stood up at different times when required to get them wins, and it was pretty amazing that they were able to finish second from the group stage. In reality, this team shouldn't be winning this WC. They weren't close to being as balanced or as strong as England. And the better team won. But I think that most of the issues people saw before the tournament turned out to be true. Stoinis and Maxwell in the middle were an issue, the batsmen overall got bogged down too much and struggled to really accelerate at the back end. I think the bowling struggles caught most by surprise. Most would have thought Zampa would have done better, and whoever played as the third seamer also.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Australias one day revival was base on two series of one day matches in India and Dubai. So they prepared in different conditions, and the spinners did a lot better. Cummins also did very well was the form bowler and then was ordinary in England. Their results were due to Maxwell and Ashton Turner in a one off covering their poor strike rates. Ashton Turner got 80 off 40. Maxwell had an incredible period. You cant expect to have Maxwell averaging 60 with a strike rate of 140 to cover up for the rest team for more than short period. Nathan Coulter Nile got them the win against the West Indies. Khawaja and Shaun Marsh strike rate 80 in good batting conditions should never have been picked. Handscomb should not have been picked for Dubai in order to be next in line for England. Lyon and Zampa did nothing except for Lyon on the one wicket that did spin. They were surplus to the whole world cup. You dont prepare for something in different conditions and with two spin bowlers who there is a lot of doubt whether they could be of any use. The governing factor was selling off Australias one day team for money and favours .
Paul
Roar Guru
remember the talent pool that was available at the time this team was selected Asthon. Not a lot of quality spinners to choose from. We also expected Maxwell to really perform but that never really eventuated. One of these days, we'll find out why Stoinis was chosen. I for one have no idea, given his form over many games
Paul
Roar Guru
you may have a very valid point, certainly about Maxwell. I remember back to the weeks leading up to the selection of this squad and ALL wanted at least one more hitter to support Maxwell and we all thought Warner would come back to his blazing best. There's no doubt Davey was very good in this tournament but not the same hitter we'd seen previously. As for the Tests being a priority, I don't think so. I'd be more inclined to question maybe some biases, eg against Wade, for Stoinis, against MM, against Handscomb, for S Marsh. You're right about this series being a great grounding for a lot of our Test guys, but that's only because those you named would be automatic selections in both teams right now, in the eyes of the selectors.
Paul
Roar Guru
No idea where you're coming from George. I'm not sore in the slightest. I think the better team won a knockout semi final on the day and good on them. I'm proud of the way our guys came together as a squad less than 4 months ago, how well they pulled together as a team across the UAE, India and England and the fact they finished second, shows to me a side that takes a lot of pride in how it plays and works hard for it's results. As for England well that's another story for another day!!