Australia’s World Cup preparations are in ruins after they crashed to a calamitous fifth successive one-day international defeat, crushed by India by 99 runs via DLS method at Indore.
Set 317 from 33 overs after rain delayed play for 70 minutes during their pursuit of India’s record-breaking 5-399, a late power-hitting rally from Sean Abbott spared some blushes before Australia were bowled out for 217 in 28.2 overs on Sunday (Monday AEST) to fall behind 2-0 in the three-match series.
India’s total was their highest in all ODIs against Australia – surpassing their 5-383 at Bangalore in 2013 – and their second biggest at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, only behind their 5-418 against the West Indies in 2011.
On the back of the Wallabies crashing out of the Rugby World Cup early, Australia could be headed for the same fate in the cricket tournament in India next month going by their recent form
Marnus Labuschagne bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
An unwanted record went the way of Cam Green (2-103), conceding the most runs by a bowler in an Australia-India ODI.
“We didn’t execute greatly with the ball,” Abbott said.
“As soon as we missed the stumps, we were punished.”
After the early departures of Matt Short (9) and acting captain Steve Smith (0) off successive deliveries, David Warner (53) looked good before succumbing to Ravichandran Ashwin in bizarre fashion.
Facing up right-handed to negate Ashwin’s off spin, Warner “switched” into a left-handed reverse sweep, clearly bottom-edging the carrom ball into his pad, all while tumbling over, and was adjudged lbw.
After a long discussion with partner Josh Inglis, Warner, incredibly, opted not to review.
The great Ashwin castled a flummoxed Marnus Labuschagne (27) with an arm ball before trapping Inglis (6) plumb in front.
Green’s horror day ended in amateurish style, run out for 19 by India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan after lazily plonking his bat over the crease.
Australia’s tail wagged with a thrilling 77-run ninth-wicket stand between Abbott (54) and Josh Hazlewood (23), who both notched career-highs.
“It was a difficult batting wicket in the end,” Abbott said.
“Facing their spinners, they were ragging it both ways.
“Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja on that wicket, especially Ashwin … tremendous skills spinning it both ways as a finger spinner.
“He asked me if I was picking them and I said ‘no chance mate’.”
Ashwin (3-41) and Jadeja (3-42) were able to extract significant turn on a surface which looked benign earlier when Indian pair Shreyas Iyer (105) and Shubman Gill (104) put on 200 for the second wicket after being sent in.
After raising his ton, Iyer survived a caught-and-bowled shout on video review when a diving Abbott, while plucking a right-handed screamer, scraped the ball on the ground, similar to Mitchell Starc’s contentious non-catch at Lord’s which earned England’s Ben Duckett a reprieve in this year’s Ashes.
Stand-in skipper KL Rahul belted 52, then came the ‘SKY’ show.
Dashing Suriyakumar Yadav (72no) crunched the first four balls of Green’s eighth over for 6-6-6-6 and hit six maximums in total in his thrilling 37-ball cameo, leaving Australia stunned and India assured of entering the World Cup with the No.1 ranking.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
If it makes anyone feel better; Allan Border's Aussies lsot five successvie matches before going to the 1987 WC; 3 Against Eng, 1 against Pak, 1 against Indiia.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
You could be onto something Don at first glance especially in test cricket l always was inclined to think they were nursing him based on his injuries of the past rearing up by over using his talent with bat & ball but it could be a vendetta.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
What about 'great ball striking' ...... you mean batting?
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
We didn’t execute greatly with the ball All sport codes produce this PR waffle. It seems designed to "own" poor play in such a way that the public (and perhaps even tbeir bosses) will give them more leeway. Someone learning English would wonder why the person didn't just say "we bowled badly" or "we had the wrong bowling strategy".
13th Man
Roar Rookie
If that's the case why isn't the WA side over in India? I agree Green's performance of late haven't been up to standard and that's on him - but the way he is used by McDonald and Cummins/Smith is laughable - he isn't a one trick pony that only bowls back of a length, hit the deck hard so clearly he is being told to bowl like that by his coach and captain. Green can swing and seam the ball but is given absolutely zero opportunity to do so by the tactics employed whilst he bowls - he also looks to have lost a yard of pace. Then batting - he is out of position and is batted too low in the order. He isn't a finisher or someone that gets going quickly like a number 6 should be. Either bat him up the order or don't play the guy - they are doing a young players confidence absolutely zero good by using him the way they are and throwing him to the wolves. I'd much rather see him sent back to WA to play Shield cricket than to continually be used the way he is in the National team.
DTM
Roar Rookie
He is a professional cricketer, he needs to act like one. You can't blame anyone else for a performance like that. Not many of the players who played in this match would get a game for the WA side - maybe Warner, Smith and Hazelwood but even they are all passed their best.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Our Union team is hopeless. We can't beat England, France, NZ, Wales, Ireland, Fiji & SA. Ireland are well above us. They've beaten the AB's in a series. We haven't done that in years.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Cricket’s big advantage in Australia is it’s the one truly national sport in which every state plays and being a summer sport it doesn’t have to compete with AFL and NRL. Australia is also still a global powerhouse - in rugby we are ranked 10th - basically we are a tier 2 nation in the same breath now as Georgia, Italy (in fact they are probably a bit better) and Portugal. It would be like the Australian cricket team swimming in the same pond as Scotland, Ireland and Namibia.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I honestly think Green at 4, it’s out of him and Marnus, you can’t have both those two and Smith in the middle order - it just makes it too pedestrian as all three are run a ball players - Green has an extra gear perhaps but needs to get busier early on in his innings.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
It’s a pity Paris has been off the park a lot with injury - same as the Dorff. They’ve also both been behind the big NSW 3, although Dorff was good at the last World Cup. For some reason the one WA bowler that got a good run was Coulter-Nile, even though most of us who follow WA cricket could’ve told you he was well down the pack in terms of bowlers, and also had attitude problems.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
In all white ball stuff, I'd have The Dorff. Paris with a red ball.
U
Roar Rookie
What about Paris? He should be our newest left armer
U
Roar Rookie
Yes he’s got a lot of learning to do. Hasn’t really shown his talent in his international opportunities so far either. 1 lone fifty in 20 games for Australia
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I’m a little worried about Green if i’m honest, but agree if they are going to play him, bat him at 4 where he can build an innings. Agree on Stoinis - I can’t understand the obsession with someone that would barely make the WA team. Marnus as well - it’s smith or Marnus, not both. Pretty much agree with that lineup, although I’m a big Hazlewood fan and would consider him over Cummins - unlikely considering Pat is skipper, but we need the two spinners so one misses.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Yeah, comparisons between the Aussie Cricket team and the Wallabies is ridiculous; the Australian cricket team remains one of the top three teams in the world, any day of the weak (across formats). The Wallabies are a second rate shambles now. But yeah, all totally valid questions. Honestly, I'm not sure why there needs to be so much 'resting'. This format means we only play ever four days... that's not even two games a week. If these guys aren't fit enough to play two games a week for a month, then we have a serious problem. I'm not old enough to start saying things like "back in the...", but seriously, why is it that they didn't need to rest all summer in the 90s-00s, playing six or seven tests, fifteen ODIs and domestic cricket, but these guys can't stay on the park for more than two games in a row. I know there was less international cricket then, but the players used to go play County cricket in the winter instead. For what it's worth, my perferred team until Head returns is: 1. Warner 2. Marsh 3. Smith 4. Green 5. Inglis 6. Maxwell 7. Carey 8. Agar 9. Starc 10. Cummins 11. Zampa It's not the line up I wanted, if fit, Head at the top and Marsh at five makes this a much better line up, but my line up factors in: 1. That Stoinis shouldn't be anywhere near the team; 2. Labs just doesn't have the gears to bat lower than 3 for mine; 3. Green needs to be backed to bat in a proper batting position; 4. Surely between Marsh and Green, we have enough pace overs in India with just two quicks.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I don't Union's woes are transferable to Cricket. Cricket has very little competition for players to cricket or another sport. Yes there is some. --------- Union is from 2 states, it's, in this country, the lesser of the 2 rugbys and has strong competition from the other 2 Footballs. -------- Granted there is almost High Water Mark distrust and disdain from the preparation staff, the selector's and to the poor corporate management Name a major sport that doesn't seem to do bad? :shocked: -------- Crazy
Ouch
Roar Rookie
that was painful to watch last nigh. we were getting smashed all over
zeus_kris
Roar Rookie
Warner Marsh Smith Marnus / Head Green Maxwell / Stoinis Carey Agar Starc Cummins / Hazlewood Zampa On spinning tracks or depending on form, play Maxwell or Stoinis. Once Head comes back drop Marnus. Cummins should play always…if resting or bad form, play Hazlewood.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Green at #5 at the absolute lowest. Carey at #7 to be our saviour if we lose wickets early. Otherwise our "finisher". Agree on Agar. So vital to have a second specialist spinner in our best XI.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Like the thinking there. I'd go Hoff over Cummins myself. The rest looks good.