T20 World Cup 2022: Legend calls for Pat Cummins to be axed for England game
While Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Finch stole the headlines for different reasons, Australia faces another massive headache ahead of its England clash.
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Australia is “so far off the pace” at the T20 World Cup that former selector Mark Waugh has called for a bold change and urged the panel to drop Pat Cummins for Friday’s must-win clash with England at the MCG.
As he savaged a “pretty ordinary” performance in Perth on Tuesday night, despite Australia claiming a win over Sri Lanka, Waugh said Cameron Green should not only replace Cummins in the team but he should also open the batting instead of captain Aaron Finch.
Waugh said Finch’s unbeaten innings of 31 off 42 balls, with just one boundary, was “torturous” and he needed to be shuffled down the order if the defending champs were any chance of beating England.
“It just doesn’t feel right watching Australia. They are not a happy camp and they looked like they are lacking confidence,” Waugh told RSN on Wednesday.
“I think Australia need to think about making a change or two for the next game. I’d bring Cameron Green in for Pat Cummins, and I’d let Cameron Green open the batting. That’s the one change I would definitely make.
Dad: "How'd you go today?"
— CricBlog ✠(@cric_blog) October 25, 2022
Finch: "Great, was in the matchwinning partnership." pic.twitter.com/9tWzrb5xl5
“I think Cameron Green can bowl four overs as good as any of the other bowlers. They are not going to drop Aaron Finch. Go with that extra batsman. We need an injection of something.
“Aaron Finch’s innings was torturous. I don’t think he can open the innings in the next game. If he plays, I don’t think he can open.
“I think the selectors have been very, very conservative for the past six months. It’s time to grow some kahunas.”
Cummins went for 20 runs in the final over of the Sri Lankan innings in Perth, and he has figures of 1-82 in two World Cup matches so far.
Waugh said the Aussies looked a shell of the team that won the tournament in Dubai last year and were lucky to beat Sri Lanka, a victory mostly achieved through an innings of 58 off just 18 balls from Marcus Stoinis.
“It was a win for Australia but I must say it was a pretty ordinary performance,” he said.
“In the field they were sub-par, they let Sri Lanka get 20 too many and then with the bat, if Australia were playing a team with three or four decent quicks, they would not have got those runs.
“(Sri Lanka) only had one fast bowler and it was still enough to put us under a lot of pressure. They have to improve 100 yards to beat the good teams on those first two performances.
“There are some individual players who seem to have lost the plot. Just have a rethink on everyone’s own individual games and improve a lot.
“We look so far off the pace it’s not funny. The way we are playing, we’re not even going close to winning this tournament.
“All is not lost but I am concerned about the form of a lot of players.”
STOINIS SAVES AUSSIE, FINCH
- Ben Horne
Marcus Stoinis put on a stunning six-hitting masterclass in Perth to power Australia into a do-or-die Friday night blockbuster against England.
Australia appeared in serious trouble against Sri Lanka in Perth, until Stoinis strode to the crease and slaughtered 59 not out off 18 balls – the fastest 50 ever by an Aussie in any format and the second fastest in T20 World Cup history.
Stoinis declared Australia is ready for a mini-final against England at the MCG, after his pulsating knock restored confidence to the dressing room.
“Our backs are still against the wall. It’s going to be a really important game for us,” said Stoinis.
“The backs are against the wall and we’ll look to take that game on.”
Captain Aaron Finch played a tortured innings of 31 not out off 42 balls to raise further concerns about his form heading into the critical clash against England, but to his credit, at least he carried his bat through the innings and saw an important win through to the end.
Australia looked lacklustre in the field and tense early in its pursuit of Sri Lanka’s 6-157, taking 44 balls to hit the first boundary off the bat.
There was further evidence that Australia might need to seriously consider Steve Smith for an MCG recall with everything going on the line against England – but at the same time it would be a massive call for selectors to change plans now.
Especially given the bell-ringing six sixes and four fours could be the moment of brilliance that helps bring the defending champions back to life, as Stoinis pumped his fists and roared into the Perth night sky as if a man possessed.
When the hulking ‘Adonis’ came to the crease, Australia was 3-89 and a long way from home in the 13th over. But in the blink of an eye, Stoinis had cut Sri Lanka in half to spearhead a 7-wicket win with 22 balls still left in the game to also help his side improve its net run rate issues.
Australia must beat England to stay alive in the group, but should they do that all the momentum will be with them. Stoinis said the atmosphere in the camp had suddenly caught fire again.
The joint-second-fastest fifty in the men's T20 World Cup 💥
— ICC (@ICC) October 25, 2022
Outstanding innings from Marcus Stoinis 🙌ðŸ»#AUSvSL | #T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/rRIHMeooVw
“Yeah I did. I think obviously we didn’t start the way we wanted this World Cup campaign to start and being in your home country that’s not how we wanted to start and how we want to play,” said Stoinis.
“It’s only one game. It’s nice to be on the board. It’s going to be a big game on Friday at the MCG.
“I was actually quite nervous to be honest. The intention was to go put an impact on the game. And probably provide a bit of energy for the boys and try and get a spark going.”
Glenn Maxwell was also superb in a 23 off 12 cameo and threatened to single-handedly turn the tables for Australia when he came to the crease and hammered 22 off his first six balls faced, including two fours and two sixes.
“His knock was really important. It sent a little spark to the team as well. It got us going. His play of spin is unbelievable,” said Stoinis.
However, Maxwell’s momentum was suddenly halted in sickening fashion when a Lahiru Kumara short ball smashed into his throat causing him to reel away in distress.
“He’s in the change room now icing up. He said it’s pretty sore but I think it’s all good. I think it’s just a bruise up I guess,” he said.
Maxwell bravely batted on but lasted only a couple more deliveries when he was caught superbly on the boundary by sub-fielder Ashen Bandara, who kept his heels just inside the rope.
It was an extraordinary catch made all the more incredible by the fact Bandara had just shelled an absolute sitter to give Finch a life on 23.
With Maxwell at the crease Australia was back in command at 2-85 at the halfway mark, but it turned again when Sri Lanka sent down 10 dots punctuated only by one wide in a suffocating spell which included Maxwell’s blow to the throat.
Enter Stoinis. Helping Australia overcome its wobbles and the pre-match disruption of losing spinner Adam Zampa to Covid.
A sharp short one from Lahiru gets Maxwell flush in the neck.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 25, 2022
Thankfully he's good to continue #T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/dVPPUxwfNc
FINCH FRUSTRATION
The Aussie captain was visibly frustrated at his innings which ranks as the slowest in World Cup history for any knock of 40 plus balls.
Finch struck at just 73.80 and a six was his sole boundary for the match.
The skipper shared in a matchwinning 69-run partnership with Stoinis, but scored just 7 off 7 in that time.
Had sub fielder Bandara completed a relatively simple catch to send him packing for 23 it would have finished a roundly underwhelming knock, however, in the end the scoreboard told the story that Finch had helped guide his team to the finish line.
It wasn’t pretty, but Finch got the job done.
“I think that’s just how it is. Also that new ball was actually doing a lot. It was definitely the hardest time to bat,” said Stoinis.
“I think it was just important that he saw that through and was there to hit the winning runs.”
LACKLUSTRE AUSSIES
Finch admitted after the warm-up series against England that Australia was exhausted, and in the field there still seemed a lack of energy.
Aside from David Warner’s brilliant catching and athletic six-saving in the outfield combined with his constant hustle, there was a flat feel about a lot of Australia’s work in Perth.
Misfields, an inexcusable 23 extras and just a general lack of liveliness about the team that should have been up and about in this tournament as hosts and defending champions.
Pat Cummins dropped a chance that should have been taken off Mitchell Marsh in the 13th over, which proved costly as the Sri Lankans smashed the next ball for six and another for four.
Cummins took an excellent catch in the outfield to make up for his error, but missed his mark bowling the final over of the innings – where he was carted for 20.
A wide off what should have been the last ball was again punished when Finch failed to make a stop which allowed Sri Lanka to go to the innings break with another confidence-boosting boundary.
Australia should have restricted Sri Lanka to 140 although Stoinis’ late-hitting helped repair the team’s damaged net run rate.
SCHEDULING BLUNDER
When Australia next hosts the Twenty20 World Cup in six years’ time there can’t be a repeat of the scheduling miss-hit that achieved nothing by starting at 10pm on the east coast.
Most fans were asleep by the time the must-win encounter kicked off, a shame because the massive ratings to start the tournament suggests the numbers would have been big for Australia fighting for World Cup survival on a weeknight.
The bizarre start time was designed to cater to Perth fans given the three hour time difference, however, a mediocre turnout at Perth Stadium meant the plan fell flat.
Local Perth commentators said starting at 7pm local was actually too late for a school night, and fans in the west are well drilled in attending AFL matches starting at 5.40pm.
Starting Australia-Sri Lanka might have satisfied everyone, because 8.40pm on the east coast would have ensured the game would have been finished by midnight on the east coast.
Either that, or give Perth a game on a Friday or Saturday.
Some drama at the end of that over. Mitchell Starc twice warning or at least remonstrating with Dhananjaya de Silva for leaving the crease too early at the non-striker’s end & the chat continued at the end of the over #T20WorldCup#AusvSLpic.twitter.com/ObUNyM01S5
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 25, 2022
STARC MANKAD THREAT
Mitchell Starc continues to show no patience for non-strikers he feels are backing up too far.
The Australian left-armer engaged in a heated discussion with Sri Lankan Dhananjaya de Silva and then umpires in the fifth over, appearing convinced the batsman was leaving too early.
Replays showed Dhananjaya still had his bat in the crease at the point of delivery, but umpires spoke to the Sri Lankan batsmen at the end of the over.
Starc was again remonstrating in the 19th over with Chamika Karunaratne for breaking too quickly out of the blocks.
Former Australian great Mark Waugh predicted there would be a Mankad in this World Cup, while Indian star Hardik Pandya declared it was time for the stigma to be removed from the dismissal and debate to end over whether the practice is against the spirit of the game when it’s in the rules.
Starc has called for cameras to monitor the movements of non-strikers and penalise as they would for bowlers committing front foot no balls.
Cummins took an excellent catch in the outfield to make up for his error, but missed his mark bowling the final over of the innings – where he was carted for 20.
A wide off what should have been the last ball was again punished when Finch failed to make a stop which allowed Sri Lanka to go to the innings break with another confidence-boosting boundary.
Glenn Maxwell’s visceral celebration of his dismissal of Dasun Shanaka in the 16th over almost seemed a deliberate attempt to inspire a bit of exuberance from the team.
RE-LIVE AUSTRALIA’S GREAT ESCAPE
- Richard Lamberton
A record-setting Marcus Stoinis combined with Aaron Finch to rescues Australia’s World Cup defence from the jaws of defeat against Sri Lanka.
Stoinis recorded Australia’s fastest ever international half century (59* off 18) after watching his top order collapse.
The all-rounder’s brutal innings included four boundaries and seven maximums.
And while Finch hit the winning runs to carry his bat, the underfire captain’s shocking strike rate (74) is a major problem for Australia going forward.
12:58PM: MAXWELL GONE AFTER FRIGHTENING MOMENT
Glenn Maxwell survived a brutal ball to the throat but he couldn’t survive the bowling of Chamika Karunaratne, holing out for 23 to leave Australia’s World Cup defence hanging in the balance.
After a blistering start, Sri Lanka’s bowlers stymied the onslaught after the innings break to leave Australia three down.
Incredibly, Finch remains in the middle. Could this be the innings to ignite the struggling captain?
Marcus Stoinis to the crease.
A sharp short one from Lahiru gets Maxwell flush in the neck.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 25, 2022
Thankfully he's good to continue #T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/dVPPUxwfNc
What a Unbelievable catch by
— KAPIL DEV TAMRAKAR 🚀 🇮🇳 (@kapildevtmkr) October 25, 2022
Ashen Bandara. Maxwell gone
Match looking so much interesting.
Catch of Tournament.....#AusvSl#T20WorldCup#T20worldcup22#CricketTwitterpic.twitter.com/WN3pnkvDxk
12:38PM: DISASTER FOR AUSTRALIA, MAXY ENTERS
Mitch Marsh has finally holed out in the deep after surviving a big LBW review and a dropped chance.
Incredibly Finch has outlasted his two partners at the top of the order - but it’s come at a cost, chewing up plenty of dot balls.
Enter Glenn Maxwell who has blasted three boundaries in about as many balls. For reference, it took Australia eight overs to score its boundary.
Could we be in for another match-saving Maxy innings?
Marsh survives the Chamika review. Always looked a little high #T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/8JYOmgcXmI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 25, 2022
The Big Show 🔥🔥
— Hadron 💥 (@AkkiSrt) October 25, 2022
That's more like Aussies fighting spirit.#AUSvsSL#T20WorldCup
12:18: FINCH ROASTED AS WARNER FALLS
Aaron Finch’s nightmare doesn’t look like ending - even against this second-string Sri Lankan unit.
It doesn’t matter who’s bowling to the Aussie skipper at the moment ... Keith from Birchgrove fourth grade would have the out-of-sorts batsman jumping around like House of Pain.
To make matters worse, opening partner David Warner couldn’t replicate his incredible performance in the field, falling to a sharp catch at cover.
But it’s Finch who has drawn the ire of cricket fans, who looks all at sea out in the middle.
Sri Lanka legend Russell Arnold believes Finch would have been out on any other wicket.
“Fighting here, Finch, to say the least. He’s 9 from 18 inside the Power Play.
And he is out there only because he is playing in Perth. A lot of the deliveries that he missed have just missed the stumps, just went over the stumps. That wouldn’t happen in most other venues.”
Finch gloving Warner after that miss by keeper 😂.. Cute #T20WorldCup
— . (@Sourabh_49) October 25, 2022
Finch needs to turn around kick his stumps #T20WorldCup
— Sam Turner (@SamTurner77) October 25, 2022
Good to see Finch’s feet moving as well as usual, how the hell does he keep getting picked #T20WorldCup
— Aus Sports Guy (@AusSportsGuy1) October 25, 2022
#T20WorldCup#SLvAUSpic.twitter.com/4HiLCIwbbN
— Deep Longstop ðŸ¶ðŸ 🻠(@deeplongstop) October 25, 2022
Can Australia sack Finch mid innings? #T20WorldCup
— Heath Chick (@_TassieDevil_) October 25, 2022
Regardless of result tonight, Finch needs to be dropped from Australian T-20 team. 4 from 15 balls means no boundaries by batters in first 4 overs. Put pressure on Warner resulting in his wicket in first ball of 5th over. Tactics and selections are poor by Australia #T20WorldCup
— David Southall (@david_southall) October 25, 2022
11:58PM: SRI LANKA’S NIGHTMARE
Sri Lanka’s already depleted bowling stocks have been dealt a cruel blow, with big left-arm quick Binura Fernando limping off with a ball remaining in the opening over of the second innings.
“This is extraordinary for Sri Lanka,” Fox Sports commentator Mark Howard said. “A number of injuries have struck their fast bowling unit and it looks like another.
“Conceding straightaway, not even trying to get through the last ball of his opening over, he is going to leave the field.
“ I was talking to Mahela Jayawardene before the game, and I asked any changes to the bowling stock and he said “None, we haven’t got anyone fit really”. That is going to add to their woes.”
11:44PM: AUSTRALIA RELEASE FOOT OFF THE THROAT
David Warner and Australia’s attack have laid the platform for their batsmen to ice the must-win game, restricting Sri Lanka to 157.
Helped by the pace-friendly pitch, Australia’s bowlers have Warner to thank for not letting the score get away from them.
The veteran took one of the catches of the tournaments, saved several boundaries and would have broken the NRL Telstra tracker with his ground coverage.
However, Pat Cummins leaked 20 runs off the last over that involved the most comical review of the World Cup.
When a caught behind referral doesn't even need snicko, you know it's bad. #T20WorldCup
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) October 25, 2022
10:57PM: SUPERMAN WARNER, CUMMINS FUMBLES
David Warner’s lean trot with the bat hasn’t affected his fielding!
The veteran is using his new and improved body to full effect, taking a boundary-line screamer to remove de Silva off Ashton Agar’s bowling.
Warner can’t stay out of the action, saving a six in the previous with a flying catch before flicking it back inside the rope to save four runs.
“He can’t be kept out of action,” the Fox team roars. “Just the previous over we saw him take a terrific catch but flick the ball back because he was going to go over the boundary rope.
“This time he knew that there was no such danger. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant from this man. And he’s brought Australia back in the game with that wicket. Because that partnership was getting just a little bit threatening.”
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the Aussies with Pat Cummins grassing Charith off Mitch Marsh.
. @davidwarner31 what a save !! It would have been a catch of the tournament ! #Australia vs #SriLanka#T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/5q3DjrE9Ct
— ð—¥ð—®ð—ºð—® ð—¦ð˜‚ð—´ð—®ð—»ð˜ð—µð—®ð—» (வாழபà¯à®ªà®¾à®Ÿà®¿ இராம சà¯à®•à®¨à¯à®¤à®©à¯) (@vazhapadi) October 25, 2022
Nice save and a catch by David Warner#T20WorldCup#AUSvNZpic.twitter.com/BUlMVsXGtb
— CrickMoments (@crickmoments) October 25, 2022
10:45PM: FIRST INNINGS DRINKS BREAK
Following a shaky start and the loss of spearhead Kasul Mendis, classy Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka and first drop Dhananjaya de Silva have settled in to post 63 at the halfway mark - but it hasn’t been without drama.
Two close run out chances are keeping the pair on their toes.
But scoring is hard to come by with David Warner - or was it superman - building an iron ring at deep mid-on.
🤪#T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/XpyF4tswuL
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 25, 2022
10:25PM: NOT THE MANKAD...
Mitch Starc gets his power play over - and it’s a good one from the white-ball star.
But it wasn’t without a hint of drama. Starc appears to warn Dhananjaya de Silva for leaving his crease early, exchanging words with the Sri Lanka batsman at the change of ends.
The firebrand quick locked eyes with de Silva and pointed at the non-strikers end.
The mankad has been a hot topic leading into the World Cup thanks to a controversial incident involving England captain Heather Knights and India bowler Deepti Sharma.
Some drama at the end of that over. Mitchell Starc twice warning or at least remonstrating with Dhananjaya de Silva for leaving the crease too early at the non-striker’s end & the chat continued at the end of the over #T20WorldCup#AusvSLpic.twitter.com/ObUNyM01S5
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 25, 2022
Starcy on the mankad warning again?
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) October 25, 2022
Or was he pointing at the pitch.#T20WorldCup
10:09PM: CUMMINS REMOVES SRI LANKA DANGER MAN
The golden boy strikes! Pat Cummins removes Sri Lanka danger man Kasul Mendis in the second over.
Cummins’ delivery gets quick on Mendis and the Sri Lanka star skies one to short mid-wicket and Australia has its first power-play wicket of the tournament.
Interestingly, it’s just the second time Mitch Starc hasn’t opened the bowling in his international T20 career.
A smart ploy from the Aussies? Starc has only taken one power-play wicket in 2022.
The deck, as you would expected at the ‘new WACA’, is playing perfectly for Australia’s cartel - consistent pace and bounce with a hint of movement when the pill is pitched up.
Just the second time in Mitchell Starc's 57-game international Twenty20 career that he hasn't been used by Australia in the first four overs. #T20WorldCup
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) October 25, 2022
9.30PM: AUSTRALIA WINS TOSS IN PERTH
Aaron Finch has won another toss and decided to stick with the tactic of bowling first, with Adam Zampa ruled out of the must-win clash against Sri Lanka.
Australia will once again chase to win in Perth, despite the approach backfiring in the tournament opener against New Zealand.
Aside from the forced change of Ashton Agar in for Zampa, Australia have stuck with an unchanged line-up in their push for victory and momentum.
TEAMS: AUSTRALIA NAMES UNCHANGED LINE-UP
AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Aaron Finch (capt), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood
SRI LANKA: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando
ZAMPA RULED OUT OF MUST-WIN CLASH
Adam Zampa will be racing the clock to be fit for Friday night’s World Cup blockbuster against England after being sidelined with Covid.
The Australian spinner is critical to the side’s hopes of defending its World Cup trophy, but was ruled out of Tuesday night’s clash against Sri Lanka in Perth.
Zampa didn’t travel to the ground and stayed isolating in his hotel room.
Australia will keep him separate from the group but will hope he can be made available for Friday night at the MCG.
Zampa’s omission opened the door for West Australian spinner Ashton Agar to step up on home soil in Perth.
Agar played in Australia’s warm-up game against India but has missed a lot of cricket due to a side strain.
The left-armer played one match in last year’s World Cup campaign, but Zampa has become an almost invaluable figure in Australia’s white ball teams.
It’s understood Zampa’s symptoms are not necessarily severe and there would be hope he might be able to get himself up for Friday night.
Losing Zampa for any extended period would be a massive blow for Australia.
Two nights ago Ireland cricketer George Dockrell played in the World Cup despite having Covid.
Tournament rules allow teams to play Covid positive players, something Australia’s women’s team did with Tahlia McGrath at the Commonwealth Games gold medal final earlier this year.
WHAT IS STEVE SMITH WEARING?
Is that Steve Smith wearing Australia’s long-sleeve match jersey in Perth?
The Test vice-captain was left out of Australia’s opening match against the Kiwis but could he pad-up against Sri Lanka?
Smith can be seen talking to coach Andrew McDonald, Matt Wade and Pat Cummins at Optus Stadium.
We’ll find out shortly as toss and teams announced shortly.
PERTH AIRPORT EVACUATED AFTER FIRE
Here’s hoping every interstate and overseas punter with tickets to tonight’s clash have landed in Perth.
Major delays are expected at Perth airport after a “small kitchen fire” forced hundreds of people to evacuated.
“As per normal safety procedures, the terminals were evacuated,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
Given Australian airports’ recent track record of long delays, ticket holders to Australia’s clash with Sri Lanka could watching the action from 30,000 feet.
@perthairport evacuated. Will be a long afternoon #qantas#perthairport#needwinepic.twitter.com/CuQDZaxcgE
— Dion Warnock (@DionWTF) October 25, 2022
BIZARRE SCHEDULING FOR AUSSIES’ MUST-WIN FIXTURE
While Australia and captain Aaron Finch are fighting for survival, most of the country will be fast asleep.
In a bizarre TV scheduling decision, Australia’s do-or-die clash against Sri Lanka on Tuesday night from Perth won’t start until 10pm on the east coast, meaning fans will have to stay up past 1.30am on a weeknight to see the finish.
The reason is admirable in that World Cup organisers have decided to prioritise local fans in Perth, because the three hour time difference means they couldn’t have it both ways with a crowd and large Australian TV audience.
To feed into prime time on the east coast, the match would have had to start at 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon in Perth which kills any chance of filling Optus Stadium with the kind of crowd the occasion deserves.
However, it is unusual for the Sydney and Melbourne television markets to be the casualty when it comes to scheduling decisions, and there’s little doubt Australia’s desperate mission to save its World Cup campaign would have rated gangbusters on Channel 9 and Fox Cricket if it was in a normal prime time slot.
The Australia-New Zealand game rated well on Saturday and was the fourth highest show on free to air television with Channel 9 attracting 441,000 metropolitan viewers. It was the highest rating Fox show with 245,000.
Watch every T20 World Cup match Live and Ad-Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
It’s unheard of for a match featuring Australia on Australian soil to fall outside day-time or prime time hours, but organisers gave Sydney the blockbuster timeslot of the Saturday night tournament opener and Melbourne next Friday’s huge Australia v England clash at the MCG.
Adelaide has also been given a Friday night Australian fixture against Afghanistan at the end of the group stages, leaving Brisbane and Perth with the weekday games in what is a tight schedule.
It would have been a massive blow for cricket in Western Australia after hosting nothing during Covid, to also be dudded with a Tuesday afternoon match in the World Cup and organisers have chosen to look after Perth fans.
ZIMBABWE COACH SLAMS PLAY IN ‘RIDICULOUS’ WORLD CUP CONDITIONS
–AFP
Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton has slammed the umpires’ decision to carry on with their Super 12 match against South Africa at the Twenty20 World Cup even in “ridiculous” amounts of rain.
In a weather-hit stop-start match in Hobart, South Africa were on the brink of victory in their revised chase of 64 in seven overs when a final spell of showers forced a washout.
Quinton de Kock with an unbeaten 47 off 18 balls had steered the total to 51 for no loss in three overs but South Africa and Zimbabwe shared a point each in Group 2 on Monday.
“I don’t think we should have even bowled a ball, to be fair,” said Houghton. “But the umpires are the guys making those decisions out in the middle and they seemed to think it was fit to play. I disagree with them, but there’s not much I can do off the field.”
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat but their innings only began after a rain delay of more than two hours and 30 minutes and the match was reduced to nine overs a side.
Zimbabwe managed 79-5, before de Kock replied with a flurry of fours and a six before rain arrived again, forcing the umpires to cut overs further.
“The rain had got so heavy at one stage, it was ridiculous,” said Houghton. “For most of the evening it was misty with mizzle, but it got to the stage where we could hear it thumping on the roof in the dugout.
“To me that’s no longer mizzle and drizzle -- that’s time to get off the field. “And the field was wet when we started, it was wet when South Africa fielded, so they were difficult conditions for both sides.
“But it just got more and more wet as we bowled. I don’t think the conditions were right to carry on playing.” Zimbabwe fast bowler Richard Ngarava slipped and had to be taken off injured.
Houghton said: “He’s lying in the changing room with a bunch of ice strapped to his ankle. Obviously we’re not too happy about the fact he’s not in a great space for bowling at the moment.” South Africa coach Mark Boucher said Zimbabwe would have wanted to carry on if they had got into a similar position as the Proteas.
“We bowled with a ball that was quite wet as well,” he said. “We were in a very good position. You walk away from this game thinking we were hard done by.” The washout has left South Africa in a tricky spot in a group which includes heavyweights India and Pakistan. Only two teams from the group make the semi-finals.
CRICKET’S RATINGS BOOM AS AUSSIE WC DEFENCE GOES ON THE LINE
Fox Cricket out-rated Channel 9’s free-to-air coverage for Sunday night’s India v Pakistan record-breaking sporting classic at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
On a blockbuster opening weekend of television ratings for the Twenty20 World Cup, viewing milestones were falling everywhere, with Australia’s capitulation against New Zealand even trumping the Virat Kohli show on Australian television sets.
Australia’s tournament-opening loss to New Zealand is the highest rating T20 World Cup game of all time on Foxtel, rating 397,000 – pipping the India v Pakistan spectacle, which rated 391,000.
The numbers on Fox were so strong they actually beat out the free-to-air coverage on Nine’s GEM which did 359,000.
Worldwide it’s anticipated in excess of 250 million would have watched the India-Pakistan all-time classic.
On global digital platforms, the match rated 16 million, jumping up from 10 million in the last, breathtaking over.
“What a fantastic way to kick off the Super 12s at the World Cup with record audiences,” said Fox Cricket boss, Matt Weiss.
“Our campaign of ‘Won’t Miss A Thing’ and the every game, no ads in play has stamped Fox Cricket as the destination cricket lovers are heading for their cricket fix.
“What a huge summer we have ahead.”
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Recurring injuries are playing havoc with Victorian Will Sutherland’s all-round ambitions, and now the Vics face a tough decision on the immediately future of the budding star.
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Cricket Australia snare global giant in hunt for new boss
Cricket Australia is pulling out all the stops in its attempt to find a successor to CEO Nick Hockley, though one hopeful seems to be the standout candidate.
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