Robert Craddock: Why Australia never really got into their own World Cup

Some things are better left unsaid. There were several reasons why Australia didn’t make it out of the group stages of the T20 World Cup, but one sticks out for Robert Craddock.

Aaron Finch mentioned the ‘f-word’ ahead of the T20 World Cup — was that the beginning of the end? Picture: Richard Walker

The first sign of concern came when Aaron Finch dropped the dreaded “F’’ word just before the tournament.

Finch noted that some players, including Glenn Maxwell, had been “fatigued’’ by Australia’s hectic white ball schedule over the previous two months.

It was a busy schedule. It might have been true. But some things are better left unsaid.

Hearing a cricket captain express concern about fatigue in October, a week out from a home World Cup, is a bit like hearing an AFL skipper express his concern over the road ahead – in February.

The mighty New Zealand All Blacks used to ban players from mentioning the cold weather when they toured Europe, feeling the moment you say it is the moment something inside you softens.

In some ways the comment summed up a World Cup where Australia played like a team lacking a sizzling edge, a killer punch, an electric crackle.

Aaron Finch mentioned the ‘f-word’ ahead of the T20 World Cup — was that the beginning of the end? Picture: Richard Walker

Australia won three out of four games and were not terrible. But there was a general lack of momentum.

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It’s all there in the numbers. At the moment Australia were eliminated from the tournament Marcus Stoinis, the leading scorer from Australia, was ranked 16th on the tournament run-scorers list.

The wicket-takers list was even more damning with Australia’s best, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa, coming in 31st and 32nd with five apiece.

These figures mean Australia did not have a truly inform batter or bowler in the tournament. Sometimes all it takes is one player catching fire to ignite the side.

It was a strange tournament for Australia on an off the field.

While crowd support for teams like India was off the charts and a clear highlight, crowds for Australian games were below expectations with just 18,000 attending Australia’s final thrilling match against Afghanistan in cricket mad Adelaide and it was the second leg of a double header.

Finch had a tough campaign. Picture: AFP

Australia are not set to play another T20 until next August and the team will change substantially. Matthew Wade has had his international swansong.

Finch is yet to draw the curtain on his excellent white ball career but the moment is surely coming.

Finch was far from Australia’s least productive player in his swansong tournament but the shadow of continuing speculation over his place in the side cast a heavy shadow over Australia’s campaign.

When a captain wobbles the team wobbles with him and every step the side takes seems to be done with a furrowed brow.

Glenn Maxwell had endured a heavy white-ball schedule. Picture: Getty Images

Australia was given a vivid reminder the gap between the big and small nations is closing. Afghanistan pushed them all the way.

Ireland were tossed to the canvas early and rose to look them in the eye.

No team was a pushover. This is massive news for the cricket because at last it has a product it can truly take to the world.

The next World Cup, in the USA and Caribbean in 2024, is one of the most important tournaments in cricket history.

Done properly, it will give cricket the chance to sell its product to an American audience which has traditionally considered the 50 over and Test match brands too slow moving to attract their attention.