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‘Embarrassing’: World reacts as Australia dump ‘shambolic’ Poms out of World Cup

England’s nightmare one-day World Cup humiliation is officially over — and Australia had the honour of striking the final blow.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
16 min read
November 5, 2023 - 8:24AM
Green survives bat & ball flying fiasco!

Australia have officially ended England’s ODI World Cup defence, dumping the old enemy out of the tournament contention.

England came into the match with the slimmest of hopes that fans and commentators were hanging onto but that hope has officially been extinguished as the defending champions remain rooted to the bottom of the ladder.

On the other side of the equation, Australia have claimed a fifth straight win after losing their opening two matches to India and South Africa and have almost wrapped up a place in the semi-finals.

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With one win in seven matches, the English campaign has been nothing short of a disaster.

While Ben Stokes threatened to repeat his regular Ashes heroics with 64, England always appeared to be behind the eight-ball after sending Australia in to bat, ultimately losing by 33 runs despite having the better of the conditions as the dew set in late in the evening.

England captain Jos Buttler was asked about his reaction to being knocked out of the World Cup so early.

“Disappointment,” Buttler said. “Improvements again today, getting back more like the stuff we can play but still short of it. To lose by 30-odd, there’s plenty of ways we can find those 30 runs we needed.”

Jos Buttler was a shattered man. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Jos Buttler was a shattered man. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Having experienced the highest of highs at the last World Cup, former England captain Michael Atherton asked if Buttler was experiencing the “lowest of lows”.

“It’s certainly a low point,” Buttler admitted. “Definitely as a captain, to be stood in this position when you arrive in India with very high hopes it’s incredibly tough, incredibly disappointing. It hurts a lot.

“We haven’t done ourselves justice.

“We feel like we’ve let ourselves down. We’ve let people down at home, the people who support us through thick and thin.”

But the recriminations are already in full swing for the side as legends had teed off after recent matches, while social media also unloaded on England’s horrific title defence.

There has been plenty of chatter across social media reminding Joe Root about his now infamous pre-match comment where he said England was a better team than Australia.

He has egg all over his face and plenty of fans are laughing at his expense.

“Man for man, I’d have this team every day over the Australians,” he said.

“We might not have played as well as we can do, but we know when we play our best stuff, the best teams struggle to compete with us.”

His comment looked more and more embarrassing the longer England’s run chase went on.

Australia didn’t find it easy either, as openers Travis Head and David Warner were dismissed early, while Marnus Labuschagne’s 71, Steve Smith’s 44 and Cameron Green’s 47 were all good innings without anyone going on to a huge score.

But while being bowled out for 286 in the final over of the innings left the door ajar for England, Australia started perfectly with the ball when Jonny Bairstow was dismissed with the first ball of the innings.

A Mitchell Starc loosener strangled Bairstow down the leg side, catching the edge and giving Australia the perfect start.

“Even though Jonny Bairstow is English, I feel sorry for him,” former Aussie star Shane Watson said in commentary. “It is such a stiff way to get out. First ball especially.”

Starc soon had two, after a faint edge from Joe Root was heard by Marnus Labuschagne.

“That was a huge noise, I don’t know what you guys saw but that was good,” Labuschagne said on stump mic.

“Massive noise. I heard a massive noise boys.”

And he was right as Australia reviewed and claimed the huge wicket.

Adam Zampa was the hero for Australia. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Adam Zampa was the hero for Australia. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes then rescued the innings but England were their own worst enemy, losing wickets in clumps with Malan’s 50, Stokes’ 64 and Moeen Ali’s 42 the main resistance.

Adam Zampa was the chief destroyer for the Aussies, taking 3/21 from his 10 overs, the most economical 10-over innings in a men’s World Cup since Daniel Vettori took 4/18 against Afghanistan in 2015, according to cricket statistician Andy Zaltzman.

It’s also the most economical against England in a World Cup since Andy Bichel’s 7/20 in 2003 and joint-most economical against England in any ODI since 2010.

It capped a great night for Zampa, who’s 19-ball 29 saved Australia’s blushes late in the innings, while he also took a brilliant outfield catch to be named man of the match.

Former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting said that of the five straight wins for Australia in the current edition of the World Cup, “it was their best one”.

“Conditions against them, they didn’t bat anywhere near their best,” Ponting continued.

“I think at the halfway mark even I said I thought England would be a good chance of winning this game.

“Super effort from Cummins and his men. Well led by the captain. Well supported by his fielders and bowlers.”

Australian next face Afghanistan on Tuesday evening, with both side desperate to push their semi-final credentials.

3.24am – Zampa does it all

He can bat, he can bowl, and he sure can take a catch — Adam Zampa can do it all.

The Aussie leg spinner has taken what Nasser Hussain called “a breathtaking catch”.

Running in from the boundary, Zampa had to dive, snagging the catch of David Willey and handing Josh Hazlewood his first wicket of the day.

3.15am – Zampa strikes again

Adam Zampa has essentially pushed Australia to a win here.

His 19-ball 29 was essential at the end of the Aussie innings, as well as 3/21 off his 10 overs, including the last wicket of Moeen Ali for 42.

A top edge off a sweep was caught on the boundary, and it leaves Australia in the box seat to claim the victory.

Zampa has been exemplary, moving to the top of the World Cup wicket-takers ladder with his 19th wicket of the tournament.

2.51am – Cummins strikes, Livingstone gone

What a catch that was. Photo: Fox Sports
What a catch that was. Photo: Fox Sports

Australia have hit again, leaving England 6/174 with 13 overs remaining.

Cummins had been bowling tight but got a bit shorter and Liam Livingstone looked to tee off.

However, his pull shot went near Sean Abbott, who took an excellent catch to leave England with a lot of work to do to chase down Australia’s 286.

2.43am – Stokes is gone

Not today Stokesy! Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP
Not today Stokesy! Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP

Thank you Adam Zampa — Ben Stokes is gone for 64.

The Aussie spinner has done it again, taking the big wicket for Australia with Stokes sweeping straight to Marcus Stoinis at short fine leg.

It’s a huge wicket and it leaves England needing 118 off 87 with five wickets remaining.

2.38am – The Poms are picking up speed

He’s doing it again …

Ben Stokes is doing Ben Stokes things once more, having moved into the 60s, and building another 50+ run stand with Moeen Ali.

Former England skipper Michael Atherton said: “Just some of the body language in the last 5- 10 minutes, from Australia, senses that a few of those memories or nightmares are coming back.”

Well when you’ve been burned so many times, there’s sure to be some scars.

2.19am – Stokes brings up 50

There’s nothing scarier than Ben Stokes taking his time in the middle if you’re an Australian cricket fan.

Stokes has brought up his 50 with a towering six, achieving the milestone off 74 balls.

But Aussie fans will feel like they’ve seen this play before, and will be hoping for Stokes’ wicket in the very near future.

1.55am – Patience is paying off

After an 84-run stand between Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes, it’s like England have remembered their last on the ladder and have begun capitulating once more.

It’s now two wickets for three runs after Jos Buttler was caught on the boundary by Cameron Green for a seven-ball 1.

It’s 4/106 off 25.1 overs.

1.41am – Aussies strike after Malan hits 50

England’s Dawid Malan has brought up his half-century against Australia, as England pass the 100 mark of the chase.

But he’s holed out to Travis Head after Pat Cummins brought himself back on.

The Aussie skipper has an unnatural ability to take wickets almost the second Australia need them and he’s done it once again.

A top edge went high and was well taken by Travis Head at the square leg boundary.

It’s 3/103 off 22.3 overs.

Cummins wicket ended an 84-run partnership between Malan and Ben Stokes.

1.13am – Australia keeping it tight

We’re 15 overs in and while England have only lost the two wickets, the Poms are struggling along.

While Australia knows only too well what Ben Stokes can do when he frees the arms, he’s 12 off 34 balls, while Dawid Malan is keeping the runs ticking over on 29 off 38 balls.

But after 15 overs, England are 2/58, batting at slower than four runs an over.

12.27am – Marnus got a DRS call right?!?

The world truly is turned upside down — not only did Aussie skipper Pat Cummins listen to Marnus Labuschagne for a crazy appeal, he was bang on right.

England at 2/19 with Starc nabbing a second wicket as Joe Root departs for 13.

The ball went past the bat but Labuschagne was adamant it was out.

“That was a huge noise, I don’t know what you guys saw but that was good,” Labuschagne said on stump mic.

“Massive noise. I heard a massive noise boys.

The huge noise. Photo: Fox Sports
The huge noise. Photo: Fox Sports
Marnus is usually the big appealer on the Aussie team. Photo: Fox Sports
Marnus is usually the big appealer on the Aussie team. Photo: Fox Sports

Despite having burned a review in the first over, Cummins sent it upstairs, with the snicko finding the edge.

It has England 2/19 and Australia well on top.

12.07am – Australia in disbelief over first ball stunner

Mitchell Starc had the perfect start to their bowling innings with Jonny Bairstow strangled down the leg side.

It was a poor first ball of the innings to be honest as Starc threw down a loosener down Bairstow’s leg side but the English opener got a little edge on the ball through to Josh Inglis.

“Even though Jonny Bairstow is English, I feel sorry for him,” former Aussie star Shane Watson said.
“It is such a stiff way to get out. First ball especially.”

Bairstow gone first ball. Photo: Fox Sports
Bairstow gone first ball. Photo: Fox Sports

Strikers WBBL star Amanda Wellington tweeted: “Starc with a first ball wicket!!”

Wisden editor Lawrence Booth wrote: “Needless to say, Jonny Bairstow is caught behind first ball down the leg side off Mitchell Starc’s loosener.”

CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy added: “MITCH STARC FIRST BALL AGAINST ENGLAND AGAIN!!!!”

Incredibly, it’s the fifth time Starc has taken a wicket with the first ball on an ODI innings.

It almost got so much better the following over when Marcus Stoinis dropped a chance at cover.

After three overs, it’s 1/14.

11.28pm – Zampa to the rescue as Australia all out for 286

It could have been so much worse but Australia have a total to bowl at in Ahmedabad, thanks mainly to a 19-ball 29 from Adam Zampa.

The Aussie spinner hit four fours and took Australia from 8/247 to 9/285 when he was dismissed.

Earlier it looked like Australia was nowhere near getting 300, but the leggy got Australia most of the way there.

But Mark Taylor said it might have backfired on the Aussies having Zampa tee off late.

“In the back of their mind they will be thinking ‘Have we underscored here’,” Mark Taylor said.

“Because if a tailender can come in and do that, imagine what you do with set batters, if Green and Stoinis is there, if Labuschagne or Smith had gone on and batted late. That will be the one worry for Australia.”

Adam Zampa got Australia close to 300. Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP
Adam Zampa got Australia close to 300. Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP

It was a largely frustrating innings for Australia with the two-paced wicket making it difficult going at times.

Marnus Labuschagne’s 71, Steve Smith’s 44 and Cameron Green’s 47 were all starts but Australia needed at least one of them to go really big to bat England out of the game.

Taylor said it was an “even game” but that Australia may be “15 to 20 short”.

“I always thought about 300 was going to be a pass for today,” Taylor said. “As you will see from the scorecard, too many starts, not enough big scores.

“It was only really that little cameo at the at the end for Adam Zampa who made 29 off 19 balls that got Australia to 286, which as I said, it is quite a good score. Whether it will be enough or not we don’t really know.

“You felt Australia could have made 300. If one of the batsmen at the top of the order had made that 100, that’s with was missing today, that finishing touch to the starts that they got.”

Taylor added that it was a “worry” that Australia were bowled out after batting first, the third time it’s happened this World Cup.

While the Poms have been largely hopeless with the bat this World Cup, it’s exactly the type of game the side would have pencilled into their diaries for a big game.

10.56pm – Two in quick succession

It’s over to the tail.

Marcus Stoinis got 35 off 32 balls, including 10 runs off the first three balls of the 44th over.

But the Western Australian went one to many times, picking out Jonny Bairstow on the boundary to leave Australia 7/241.

There’s still 39 balls left and hope Australia can get to 300, but it’s a lot harder when it’s Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc at the crease.

“He had done the damage and then holds out on probably the longest boundary at this ground,” Mark Taylor said.

“That’s once again leaving too much for the bowlers to do. There is still 6.2 overs left.

“We now have got Starc to join Cummins. So that 300 is not going to be easy to get from here because we are running out of batsmen.”

Pat Cummins then followed the following over, chopping Mark Wood down to third man for four, before top edging an attempted pull shot straight to Dawid Malan.

10.42pm – Green gone at the worst time

Australia has Marcus Stoinis and the bowlers with which to get to 300 after Cameron Green had his leg stump removed by David Willey.

Green went to work the ball around the corner but saw the leg pole knocked out of the ground.

“It was a poor shot from Cameron Green,” Mark Taylor said.

“Still 9.2 overs left in the innings. Just a bad time to get out. It left the bowlers a lot to do again because there is the best part of 10 overs left.”

Green had played well for 47 off 52 balls.

Not what Australia needed. Photo: Fox Sports
Not what Australia needed. Photo: Fox Sports

10.22pm – 200 is up

There’s 13 overs to go and Australia are 200.

Cam Green has moved to 39, while Stoinis is 11 off 10 balls.

After 37 overs, Australia is 5/202.

But Australia will need to accelerate as it’s believed after sunset it will become easier to bat on.

10pm – Just as Australia right the ship …

That was the one thing we didn’t need.

Australia’s innings could have gone one of two ways after Steve Smith and Josh Inglis were dismissed four runs and nine balls from each other but Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green have righted the ship somewhat.

Combining for a 61-run stand, Labuschagne appeared heading for a hundred, but Mark Wood, who has been shaking his head for most of the day, finally snared a wicket.

Marnus reviewed but it was out and Australia at 5/178 off 33 overs.

Channel 9’s Mark Taylor said: “The run rate is OK, but Australia you suspect is going to need something around 300, or certainly high-200s. Looks like a pretty good pitch. Generally batting second here in Ahmedabad is an advantage.”

9.30pm – Marnus has 50 …

… but we’re going to need a lot more.

After 27 overs, Australia is 4/138.

The pitch appears to settle after the lights go on, which could make this a long night if Australia can’t build a good score here.

Marnus appears to be the key although it would be welcome if Cameron Green can bounce back to form.

9.17pm – We’re in a bit of trouble

Australia is in a bit of trouble here …

Josh Inglis is out for three as Adil Rashid takes his second, with the Aussie reverse sweeping to the one man on the edge of the circle.

“This is a huge challenge now for Australia,” Ricky Ponting said.

“When you look at that, probably feels a little unlucky. Just the one man there. As far as I’m concerned, no need to play that shot.

“Wickets like this, you have to lower your expectations. It is not a wicket like Ali, you won’t get 380. Lower your expectations, partnerships, keep yourself in the game and hope to explode in the latter overs.”

9.10pm – Smith gone for 44

Smith wanted to go big. Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP
Smith wanted to go big. Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP

Although the run rate is still ticking over, there’s a lot of work still ahead for Australia’s middle order.

Steve Smith was dismissed in the 22nd over to make it 3/113 after he cut Adil Rashid with Moeen Ali taking a low catch at a short third man/gully position.

Smith had 44 off 52 balls.

Australia are still batting at five an over so 250+ is definitely on the cards, although what we could do with a 40-ball Glenn Maxwell century …

8.45pm – England keep Australia quiet

It’s not as easy as it seemed early.

After racing to 39 before David Warner’s wicket in the sixth over, Australia are still only two down but with 70 on the board after 15 overs.

Arguably in Australia’s favour is that Narendra Modi Stadium at Ahmedabad has had 15 matches with the average first innings score 235, while the second innings average is 205.

Unfortunately, both games this World Cup have seen the chasing team win.

The highest total at the ground during this World Cup was 1/283, set in the opening game of the tournament, when New Zealand chased down England’s 9/282.

The other match had Pakistan bowled out for 191, which India chased down three wickets down with nearly 20 overs up their sleeves.

8pm – Double blow rocks Australia

This hasn’t gone to plan.

While Australia would have liked to heap the misery on England, the old enemy have shown their right up for this, taking two wickets inside the opening 6 overs.

And those wickets were last match centurion Travis Head and Australia’s leading run scorer David Warner.

Warner top edged a rash pull shot and was easily caught for 15, giving Chris Woakes his second wicket of the match.

2/39 off six overs.

7.40pm – England take a huge scalp

There’ll be no replay of Travis Head’s heroics against England after he was dismissed in just the second over of the day.

With a little juice in the wicket it seems, Chris Woakes drew the edge to have Head caught by Joe Root at slip.

Head looked to be aggressive but didn’t seem to be timing the ball as well as last game out with a few lofted shots not finding the boundary.

He was dismissed for 11 off 10 balls as he looked to knock the ball down the third man, but instead steered it into the hands of Joe Root.

It’s 1/14 off two overs.

7.05pm – England win the toss and bowl

England have sent Australia in, believing the pitch is “tacky” and “will get better as the day goes on”.

Aussie captain Pat Cummins said he would have batted first anyway.

Australia have made two changes with Glenn Maxwell out through concussion and Mitchell Marsh heading home for personal reasons, with Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green coming into the side.

It’s the first time Australia and England have met since the Ashes, which was overshadowed by the Jonny Bairstow saga that has reared its head in recent times.

England chose not to have post-series drinks after the fifth Ashes Test and it’s set to be a fiery battle when the Poms face the Aussies once again.

Team line-ups

AUS XI: David Warner, Travis Head, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

ENG XI: Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Jos Buttler (c) (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

7pm – ‘Crap’ England finally see the truth

England’s Ben Stokes on Friday conceded that “nothing’s worked” in a disastrous World Cup campaign.

The defending champions have lost five of their six matches to lie bottom of the 10-team table and another defeat on Saturday in Ahmedabad against arch rivals Australia will end even their slimmest hopes of squeezing into the semi-finals.

“I think the problem is that we’ve been crap. To be honest with you, we’ve been crap,” Stokes said.

“Everything we’ve tried throughout this World Cup, through trying to put pressure back onto the opposition in a way in which we know, or trying to soak up the pressure in a different way, which we know we’ve done before and been successful with, it’s just not worked.” Stokes added: “Every opportunity that we’ve had in front of us where we feel like we can take control of the game, the opposition’s managed to get it back towards them. And we’ve just not been able to put a full game together.

“We’ve had a disastrous World Cup and there’s no point sugar-coating that because it’s the truth. But we know these last three games, for us, we’ve got a lot to play for.

“I think the biggest thing that we’ve got to play for is obviously the pride of what it is to put the three lions on your chest, walking out onto the field every time is a very special occasion and something that we value very highly.”

‘Crap’ is the perfect word for how England have played this World Cup. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
‘Crap’ is the perfect word for how England have played this World Cup. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

England have brushed aside any talk of an unlikely mathematical miracle of making the final-four even if they win their remaining three matches.

But a clash with five-time champions Australia does excite Stokes and his teammates, three months after an acrimonious Ashes series ended 2-2.

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“England-Australia in any sport whenever the two nations play against each it’s always a big occasion,” said Stokes.

He said, “There’s always a bit more chatter when England play Australia and whatever it is. So yeah, you just see it and I understand why. It’s a bit like when India and Pakistan come and play each other.”

With AFP

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