Fielding fiasco stuns cricket as Australia breaks dropped catches world record

Australia has been rendered unrecognisable in a humiliating defeat against South Africa as its World Cup quickly reaches the disaster zone.

Australia captain Pat Cummins admitted the five-time champions were “hurting” after suffering a 134-run loss to South Africa overnight Thursday, their heaviest World Cup defeat.

Australia was dismissed for just 177 with 55 balls to spare in pursuit of South Africa’s 7/311 despite winning the toss.

It was the Aussies’ second loss of this World Cup after a six-wicket defeat to India. They sit second bottom of the 10-team table, behind the Netherlands with only Afghanistan propping them up.

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Based on the group stage results at the 2019 World Cup, Australia will need to win six of its final seven matches to qualify for the semi-finals.

It is the first time Australia has lost its opening two matches at the ODI World Cup, after also being comprehensively beaten by India.

“Not much needs to be said tonight, everyone’s hurting,” said Cummins. “We were well off the mark. If we want to be challenging for this tournament you’ve got to adapt to all conditions.”

Australia had a bad case of butterfingers in the field as South Africa piled on a record ODI score at the ground, although there have only been four 50-over internationals at the stadium.

Australia's Marcus Stoinis drops another catch. Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP.

Led by Quinton de Kock’s 109 off 106, South Africa dominated as Australia proved to be its own worst enemy.

According to ESPN Cricinfo the six catches dropped during the Proteas’ innings were the most recorded since they began keeping the statistic in 2018.

According to CricTracker, Australia has the worst catch efficiency at the World Cup so far with just 54 per cent of catches taken.

Fans were in utter disbelief as it was about as poor a fielding performance Australia has delivered in some time.

Given how they’ve fielded, an incredible performance from Australia not to be chasing 430. #CWC23

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) October 12, 2023

Trying to remember the last time Australia made this many mistakes in the field. They look like they're at the end of a long campaign rather than a team in their second match of a WC. #CWC2023#CWC23#AUSvSA

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) October 12, 2023

When was the last time Australia fielded this woefully in an international game? And seriously, Australia needs to look past Pat Cummins as skipper. He has no answers when Australia are under the pump. Steve Smith was the better candidate for captaincy always. #AUSvSA#AUSvsSA…

— Vishesh Roy (@vroy38) October 12, 2023

What happened to Aussies today? A lot of mis opportunities today. Drop catches, misfields. This is not the vintage Australia that we all know.

Pressure, pressure and more pressure.#AUSvSA#AUSvsSA#CWC23#ICCWorldCuppic.twitter.com/eDFdpXoLMu

— Ahtsham Altaf (@imahtshamaltaf) October 12, 2023

That's very poor fielding from Aussies. Those 30-35 runs will be the difference when Australia will come for bat. #AusvSA#CWC23

— Mihir Jain (@mihir0504) October 12, 2023

Matthew Hayden in commentary said: “I can’t believe it — the number of close chances that have gone down.

“Australia’s catching efficiency is usually all over it, especially in World Cups. There’s so much pride and legacy that goes in behind Australia’s fielding efforts.”

Mark Taylor said Australia were playing too defensively.

“I think the mindset is not right and we are thinking too defensively,” Taylor said. “These are a lot of catches you would expect Australia to take.

“It becomes a problem because Australia have not been aggressive enough. I think they’re waiting for the game to come to them and not grabbing the game.”

While there were plenty of hard catches grassed early, Australia looked to have changed the momentum slightly when Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen were dismissed in quick succession.

But the penultimate over bowled by Pat Cummins almost perfectly encapsulated the day for the Aussies.

It was a tough day in the field for Australia. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The first ball was a misfield for two hit at the usually safe Glenn Maxwell.

The second ball was a skied ball dropped by Mitchell Starc after it jarred out when he hit the ground.

Next ball, a top edge over the keeper for four.

Ball four was again skied but this time it was dropped by Marcus Stoinis.

Pommie Mbangwa in commentary said: “Oh no, just one of those days.”

“I don’t really have any words,” Shane Watson added. “Disappointing for Australia.”

It was followed by six from David Miller and, mercifully, a dot ball off the final ball.

Luckily, Mitchell Starc’s final over saw two wickets and a leg bye but the damage had already been done as South Africa finished 7/311.

Their mood did not improve once they began chasing, losing wickets on a regular basis as South Africa’s fast bowlers ripped through their top order.

Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi sent back openers Mitchell Marsh (seven) and David Warner (13) before Kagiso Rabada took three quick wickets.

Rabada had Steve Smith lbw controversially on review for 19, clean-bowled Josh Inglis for five and had Marcus Stoinis smartly caught down the legside by wicketkeeper De Kock, also for five.

Australia were unhappy with the decision as Stoinis appeared to have his hand off the bat when the ball brushed his glove on its way to De Kock.

Well this one's sure to cause a bit of debate...#CWC23pic.twitter.com/466E6VvnR1

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 12, 2023

In between, off-spinner Keshav Maharaj claimed dangerman Glenn Maxwell off his own bowling as the Australian nicknamed “The Big Show” suffered stage fright and was out for just three.

With the match virtually lost, Australia went into damage limitation, hoping to ease the damage to their run rate with still seven pool matches to play in the marathon event.

At the halfway stage of 25 overs, they had crept to 95-6 before Marnus Labuschagne (46) and Mitchell Starc (27) put on 69 for the seventh wicket.

They fell in the space of seven balls before the innings collapsed with leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi wrapping up the tail.

Former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting could smell something was off about the Aussie side even before the match started.

“Australia, to me, looked to be a fair way off the mark, to be honest, in that game against India,” Ponting said via the ICC Podcast.

“You can’t afford to be zip-and-two (0-2) in a World Cup. We know how important it is to finish up the top of the table.”

Australia’s next game is against Sri Lanka at Lucknow on Monday while South Africa face the Netherlands on Tuesday in Dharamsala.

- with AFP