How Australia will address middle innings slump at Cricket World Cup

Australia’s World Cup campaign has been reborn on the back of a four-game winning streak, but one giant question mark remains in their quest for a record sixth title.

Australian batting coach Michael Di Venuto says the side’s reshuffled top order will look to adjust better to the match situation after a middle innings slump almost proved costly in the side’s narrow win over New Zealand in Dharamsala on Saturday.

Despite the hugely successful return of Travis Head, who scored a comeback century after overcoming a broken left hand and another excellent knock from David Warner, the Aussies were unable to fully capitalise on an outstanding platform.

Head and Warner posted 118 without loss in the power play, and put on 175 for the first wicket inside 20 overs.

But with Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne all dropping down a batting spot to make space for Head, the Black Caps spinners managed to bog Australia down. The Aussies were 5-274 when Labuschagne departed in the 39th over, and it took the late hitting of Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis and Pat Cummins to catapult the Aussies back in the vicinity of 400.

A late collapse of 4-1 meant Australia was ultimately bowled out for 388 with four balls unused.

Marnus Labuschagne and Australia failed to fully capitalise on an outstanding platform against New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

The persistent Black Caps almost ran down that total, falling five runs short in what was the highest scoring World Cup match in history by aggregate.

Speaking on the ICC broadcast post-match, Australian legend Ricky Ponting said the Aussies’ middle over batting had almost been their undoing.

“They’ll be relief from the Australians, no doubt about it. If it had snuck away from them, their batting through the middle of their innings was deplorable,” Ponting said.

Marsh, Smith and Labuschagne all have superior ODI records in the spots they had been batting before Head came back.

Marsh in particular is a powerful force against pace bowling when the field is up, but has tended to be tied down more by spin, while Smith is on record saying that ideally he would bat at No. 3.

Di Venuto said that the most important thing for Australia was to play the game on its merits.

“It’s an interesting one. The openers put on a fantastic partnership. So when that happens, it’s more situation rather than the number next to your name,” Di Venuto said.

“So it’s about adapting to the situation that you go in at. So (if) we lost an early wicket, Mitch goes in, plays like an opener.

“If we lose two early ones, Smudge (Smith) is in.

Steve Smith is on record saying that ideally he would bat at No. 3. Picture: Getty Images

“So on this occasion, terrific opening stand, the game’s a little bit deeper so you’ve just got to adjust out in the middle and adapt. We can be better at that. Certainly through that middle period. There’s some good bowling from their spinners. There’s areas that we can certainly

improve. Batting out our overs would have been nice. One run off the last two overs we thought was going to cost us there towards the end. So to lose 4-1 is not ideal to finish your innings.”

The Aussies are on track for a semi-final spot on the back of four straight wins. The team has been given the start of the week off before training resumes on Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s date with England at Ahmedabad.

All-rounder Marcus Stoinis has endured a stop and start campaign, missing the last two games with a calf niggle. However the West Australian trained strongly under the supervision of team physio Nick Jones on the eve of the New Zealand game, with Di Venuto saying Stoinis was likely to be right to face the Old Enemy.

“Pretty close (to playing New Zealand). He’s in good touch, so he should be right for England,” Di Venuto said.

Labuschagne’s spot in the XI still appears the most vulnerable in the event Stoinis gets the nod.

Originally published as How Australia will address middle innings slump at Cricket World Cup