Just when Australia needed a big performance and a sizeable victory margin over Afghanistan, they were flatter than the batting surface at the Adelaide Oval.
And unfortunately that’s been the case the entire T20 World Cup for the defending champions.
We needed a bit of AC-DC energy, some Highway to Hell action, but what was served up was more like Little River Band, mid tempo, nothing to get too excited about.
And now we’re relying on Sri Lanka beating England to get into the semis. There’s still a faint glimmer of hope but the Aussies shouldn’t be relying on other results.
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Last year’s World Cup win in the UAE was a bit of a surprise and it was a bloody good win.
(Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)
This time around everything was set up for Australia to at least make the semis, being on home soil and having all their big guns available.
I can’t understand why Mitchell Starc was dropped for the final group game. They’ve been using him in the middle overs and I was saying he should have been brought back up to open with the new ball and he’s been left out altogether.
It was a bewildering decision. I thought he was the one who could have ripped open the Afghans’ top order. There was a bit of swing in the air and he could have exploited that. I know he went for a few runs after getting a couple of wickets early against Ireland but without him, the attack seemed to lack that X-factor that he brings.
Pat Cummins has been opening but he’s had an average tournament and he’s pretty limited where he bowls – he doesn’t need to open and he’s not at his best at the death so he has to bowl in the middle overs.
The batting looked like it was going to explode to a big score. David Warner was getting off to a flyer and then he got it wrong with his switch hit. It was the best he’d looked all World Cup but his execution was astray on that one.
It was a similar situation with Mitch Marsh, he was out for 45 just when it looked like he was going to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
Cameron Green spills a catch in the outfield against Afghanistan. (Photo by Mark Brake-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis did well to get the total up to 168 but you just thought they’d left a few runs on the table – a score of 180 to 190 looked on the cards but the Afghans stuck to their task and stemmed the bleeding with some clever and committed bowling.
It was a similar situation when they batted. We needed to keep them below 106 and when they lost 4-4 through the middle overs it looked like the Aussies might get them out under that total but little Rashid Khan was magnificent.
Again it was Afghanistan who looked like they had everything to play for and not Australia even though we were the ones who had a semi-final spot on the line.
With the amount of T20 cricket that the developing nations are playing, it’s no longer the case that you can look at the schedule and think you’ve got an automatic easy win when you come up against a team like Afghanistan or Ireland.
It’s starting to show that they’re no longer easybeats. They’re dictating who makes the semis and it won’t be too long before they’re making the final four themselves.
Australia’s fielding was a bit hit and miss – there was a high-quality run-out from Glenn Maxwell but Cameron Green dropped one in the outfield.
It’s been that kind of tournament. There haven’t been enough high five moments from the Australians. There’s been a few highlights but we’ve just been waiting for someone to smash a quickfire 70 or take a few wickets to really run through a team but it hasn’t really happened.
I wouldn’t say they don’t deserve to be in the semis because if England don’t beat Sri Lanka then they haven’t done enough to get in the final four.
T20 cricket is such a fickle beast that if Australia can squeeze in somehow then you never know what could happen in the semis next week.
I’m hoping they’re getting one more chance but it’s unlikely but we wouldn’t have thought Ireland would have beaten England so while there’s life, there’s hope.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Yes we needed Agar. IMO the only players that came out better than expected in this WC were (1) Agar (from very limited time in the middle) and (2) Stoinis - for when he was hitting out!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
IPL has commentators reading advertisements, though.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
"I remember that but cricket doesn’t need gimmicks" My pet hate are the gimmicks they play in the BBL. The commentators try to promote them but they are just dead set unnecessary. Powerplay rubbish etc. I'm not sure but I don't think IPL uses the half witted gimmicks which seem like they were made up by a 7 TV bozo.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
They've looked ordinary for the most part. It doesn't help having a lame duck captain. Against NZ the game was lost early but the tail threw their wickets away chasing an impossible victory rather than batting it out for a smaller loss. The Afghanis looked capable of beating us. It was a huge game for them and as the article says they looked keener to win. Same vs NZ who came out with a plan and intensity. We had the guys (apart from Finch) to do the job, but they weren't up to the challenge.
Fox
Roar Guru
Flem com'on ...Afghanistan have not been easy beats in T20 cricket for a while and have very good spinners and some rising stars in their pace attack in this format. We heard endless stuff on this so-called great Australian T20 pace attack. Even with Starc they were ripped apart by relative NZ rookie 23 year old Finn who made all of them look ordinary. They won't make the final becuase they are not - sorry no not - one of 4 best T20 sides at this comp. NZ, England, South Africa and India have all been better overall. And picking Steve Smith in the T20 side is nonsense if you look at his record next to guys like Williamson and Kohli. Smith has scored only 2 x 50's in 63 games. He should never have been in the side in the 1st place. It's like they are afraid to tell him he is not a great T20 player. You reap what you sew Flem!
El Loco
Roar Rookie
Where have our courageous selectors gone? Divisive as he could be, Trevor Hohns would never have allowed Aaron Finch to play this tournament. Nor Laurie Sawle. Finch’s selection, a lazy and slightly arrogant one, has clouded the whole effort.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Strange approach by Aus . Really needed to come out swinging in boxing parlance . Their future participation in their own tournament in the balance but jabbed and defended seemingly comfortable for a points win . Almost got sucker punched too. Now no longer masters of their own destiny . Strange indeed .
Clear as mud
Guest
Marsh one over for the tournament, Maxwell 3.... Agar 4.... crazy stuff oh well, we will have a new skipper in about 7 hours I guess.
Jb
Guest
Absolutely garbage comment
Clear as mud
Guest
i would prefer if T20 had only 9 a side. it's a game of scoring, so reduce the number of fielders. balance the agenda in terms of hitting by only giving teams 8 wickets. avoid selection logjam by getting rid of two spots and those useful but hardly used players, who really are there for their fielding (especially in the WBBL and possibly the BBL).
Clear as mud
Guest
it's the lack of original thought, and overuse, I was focussed on what's wrong with PaMiJo anyway?
Clear as mud
Guest
Come on. we made 180 against Ireland and then had them 5-25. that's a big score and threatening with the bowling
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Maybe its time every match was a best of 3. thats still only 60 overs and can be done all on the same day. Winner takes all.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Yeh it’s a worry. God help us of his Test/ODI form drops off because it’s now pretty clear that he plays no matter what.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I remember that but cricket doesn't need gimmicks. There is no need to chase a non-cricket audience. Cricket is cricket and it is alive and healthy with no financial issues. People keep coming. We have had only 3 state games each so the season is just starting. Summer and holidays always finds its audience. WA is lucky because we get full radio coverage of every WA game.
Barney
Roar Rookie
What I think would be even better would be the once touted 40 over cricket….it came up quite a few years ago. 2 innings each of 20 overs…effectively 4 quarters. 15 man teams , playing 11, plus 4 subs….or something like that…. Strategy would be awesome and compelling
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
One thing that’s struck is how many mishit shots are going for six. I’m sure these big bats are getting even more powerful. Makes it too easy.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You haven't thought that through. Run rate was always going to separate the big 3.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Remember, they were "tired" before it even started.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Why didn't Marsh bowl instead of Stoinis. Stoinis never bowls in WA sides.