Aaron Finch admits Australia were ‘completely outplayed’ in World Cup semi-final loss, but still proud of progress

Australia’s World Cup game plan failed at the crucial moment, with Aaron Finch calling out big players who failed to deliver - including himself - but insisting the team can be proud its overall showing.

• Match report: England crush Australia to make final
• Carey channels McCosker with incredible knock
• Roy lands heavy fine over x-rated show of dissent
• Player ratings: Smith digs deep, Stoinis falls short

Australia saved its worst World Cup performance for the semi-final with captain Aaron Finch turning the blowtorch on his senior players after the embarrassing loss to England.

The Aussies built their game plan around winning the powerplays and while Finch’s top order crumbled to be 3/27 after 10 overs, England’s openers chalked up 0/50.

Destructive pair Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow then lifted 21 runs off Steve Smith to scoot to 0/124 after 17 overs, already within 100 runs of victory as the Edgbaston crowd started rocking.

“We were totally outplayed,” Finch said.

Aaron Finch admits he and other senior players failed to delivery in Australia’s semi-final loss.

“Our senior guys, myself, Davey (Warner), we didn’t get going.

“Starcy (Mitchell Starc) didn’t get going, Pat Cummins — guys that you expect to stand up in big games.”

ANALYSIS: The moment Australia’s title defence was lost

FULL CIRCLE: Edgbaston’s vital role in England’s ODI revolution

Since Finch raised the bat for a century against England at Lord’s last month he has batting figures of 4/11, trailing off as injuries contributed to the team’s crumbling momentum.

Australia backflipped on its decision to dump Glenn Maxwell for Matthew Wade while debutant Peter Handscomb failed, making four scratchy runs from 12 threatening deliveries.

A rare failure from David Warner came at the worst possible moment for Australia.

Losing Finch and Warner within nine deliveries was the perfect situation for natural opener Usman Khawaja to enter, but his torn hamstring meant Handscomb instead was in the middle order.

England quicks Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer hit the seam in a withering display that Finch said his team never recovered from.

While Finch put his senior men in the gun, Marcus Stoinis’s second-ball duck capped a nightmare tournament that included three side strains and just 83 runs.

Stoinis never properly recovered from his first injury on June 9 and was given seven overs in the final three games, adding to the frustration for fans who wanted Mitchell Marsh to replace him.

But shortly after Australia’s first semi-final defeat in World Cup history, Finch gave the spirited campaign a tick.

“In terms of where we were 12 months ago, obviously I think we have made a huge amount of progress,” Finch said.

MEAN TWEETS: How Archer predicted Aussie defeat years ago

FOLLOW THE LEADERS: How Australia will plan for 2023

“Really proud of everyone involved for how much hard work and how far we have come, but at the same time we came here to win a semi-final and get ourselves into a position to win another World Cup.

“So that was really disappointing how it ended, especially to put up probably one of our worst performances overall for the tournament.

Mitch Starc now has more wickets at a single World Cup than anyone, but was below par at Edgbaston.

“But really proud of where we have come from and the gains that a lot of players have made over the last 12 months in particular.”

Finch all but confirmed that Maxwell was set to get dropped before a last-minute reprieve.

“You weigh up every possible 11, whatever you think’s the strongest 11 to win the game, matching up to England, also what is in your best interests in terms of your strengths,” Finch said when asked about Maxwell’s possible omission.

“So you put dozens of teams up, dozens of combinations and that happens every game, you throw enough stuff in the air, but we were really confident to back Maxi in.”