Australia’s T20 World Cup hopes in the balance after stunning loss to Afghanistan
After a stunning loss highlighted by the omission of Mitchell Starc, Australia now faces a do-or-die battle with India, and even if they produce a win, they will be relying on a net-run rate to progress to the semis.
Australia’s decision to drop white ball legend Mitchell Starc backfired, with a butterfingered performance symptomatic of an ugly World Cup defeat with potentially dire consequences.
A seismic first-ever loss to Afghanistan on a night when an actual earthquake also rocked the stadium in St Vincent has backed Australia into a corner where they must defeat India at 12.30am AEST on Tuesday or be knocked out of the tournament before the semi-final stage.
Even if Australia beats India, its net run rate will still need to be better than Afghanistan’s (who play Bangladesh in the last match of the group) for them to progress into a semi.
Adding to Australia’s predicament is they must scramble to another island for the Indian sudden-death showdown that will start just 34 hours after the final wicket fell in the forgettable 21-run loss to Afghanistan.
Australia dropped five catches, misfielded three balls over the boundary rope for four, missed a stumping and a couple of run-out chances in one of the sloppiest fielding efforts produced in decades by a team that sets the highest of standards.
No one could question the decision to bring second spinner Ashton Agar (0-17) into the line-up on a turning deck, but eyebrows were raised at the fact the most successful World Cup bowler of all-time was the quick forced to make way.
In two of the four matches Starc has played in this World Cup so far he has blasted through for a wicket in the first over, and Australia certainly could have done with his power play prowess on a night where they lost the game in the fact they failed to make a single breakthrough until the end of the 16th over having chosen to bowl first.
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Pat Cummins joined Wasim Akram as only the second bowler to ever take two-hat-tricks in successive matches to highlight that there was no easy decision on which member of the ‘big three’ to omit, but for Australia to drop its left-arm point-of-difference Starc was stunning especially given Afghanistan’s batting line-up relies so heavily on openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran – who both made excellent 50s in a 118-run stand.
In contrast, Australia’s top order collapsed to be 3-32 and aside from Glenn Maxwell’s lone-hand 59 off 41 which threatened to repeat his heroics against Afghanistan in last year’s ODI World Cup, it was a poor batting display where 16 extras was the next highest score.
Captain Mitchell Marsh denied leaving out Starc was the difference, but admitted fielding cost Australia dearly on a night when Afghanistan took a series of brilliant catches, including the matchwinning moment when Maxwell was dismissed in the 15th over.
“We certainly pride ourselves on our fielding and can’t question, the boys put in the work. We didn’t execute in the field tonight and ultimately it played a part in us losing the game,” Marsh said.
“I think any time you make a decision like that, Starcy is unlucky in a sense but we’ve said right from the start of the tournament that we’ve got 15 guys here, and we’ll pick a team that we think can win us the game in those conditions.
“Everything pointed towards Ash tonight and I thought he did a brilliant job. He was outstanding.
“The reality is when you’ve got this much talent someone is always unlucky to miss out.
“Yeah look, I don’t think the game was won or lost in the power play tonight.”
However, in contrast Afghanistan quick Naveen-ul-Haq roared out of the blocks and did a Starc on Australia when he destroyed Travis’ Head’s stumps in the first over of his team’s defence of 6-148.
Marsh was trying to put a positive spin on the loss by insisting Australia is now where they like to be – backs to the wall.
To win last year’s ODI World Cup and the 2021 T20 World Cup, Australia had to come back from impossible positions in the tournament to win, and Marsh says it can be done again in the West Indies.
“First things first we’ve got to recover. We’ve got a lot of belief in our group. We’re a very good cricket team. Yes, we had an off night but I guess there’s also a positive that in that 34 hours we go again,” Marsh said.
“It’s a big game against India obviously and it’s a must-win game and I think you look back at the short history of this team.
“I know for a fact it brings out the best in our guys so our boys will certainly be up and about for it.
“It’s all about trusting ourselves. Like I said we had an off night tonight but we stayed focused on what we’re about as a team.”
Afghanistan stun Australia in huge T20 World Cup boilover
Glenn Maxwell fell short of producing his heroics against Afghanistan, as Australia fumbled its way to an ugly loss which now has them needing to overcome the odds and beat India to stay alive in this World Cup.
Australia dropped five catches in a shocking fielding display, while the decision to bat first and omit Mitchell Starc will also come under scrutiny as it took until the end of the 16th over for Mitchell Marsh’s team to take a wicket against a fired-up Afghanistan.
A top order collapse then heaped all the pressure on Maxwell as it was in last year’s ODI World Cup when the spin-playing master somehow conjured an unbeaten double hundred while battling severe cramps to engineer a remarkable get-out-of-jail victory for Australia.
Maxwell made a superb 59 off 41 and as long as he was at the crease Australia was on track to mow down Afghanistan’s highly competitive 6-148 on a treacherous St Vincent wicket.
But when Maxwell was caught in the 15th over it was curtains for Australia as Matthew Wade and Pat Cummins followed in quick succession.
Australia needed 24 to win off the last over, but with tail enders Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood out there, it was a bridge too far, with Afghanistan running out 21-run winners, taking the final wicket with four balls to go.
Afghanistan celebrated a famous night in their history with sheer jubilation, particularly after last year’s nightmare at the hands of Maxwell.
It’s not a fatal blow to Australia, but in all likelihood they must now beat India in their final Super 8s match in St Lucia in 34 hours’ time to avoid being knocked out of the World Cup.
The only other factor which could help them is if Afghanistan loses its final Super 8s game to Bangladesh, which would then mean Australia could get through on net run rate even with a loss to India – however that seems highly unlikely given how comprehensively Bangladesh has been beaten by the good teams.
It is no longer an embarrassment to lose to Afghanistan, who are a world class team – but this is Australia’s first ever loss to the emerging nation in six contests.
The defeat breaks an eight-match winning streak for Australia in T20s but such is the cutthroat nature of the format, they are now on the verge of being sent home by India.
Australia only have themselves to blame for being put in this position after a fielding display which is bad as they would have produced possibly in decades.
There were five dropped catches, as well as three or four misfields where balls were parried for boundaries.
Afghanistan in contrast were unbelievable in the field and hung on to some outstanding catches.
The difference in the match was clearly the 100-run opening stand piled on by Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60 off 49) and Ibrahim Zadran (51 off 48), while Australia was reduced to 3-32 in reply.
Never before has it taken Australia more than 13 overs to make a breakthrough in a T20 international.
Former Test captain Ricky Ponting said in commentary he would have chosen to bat first if he was Marsh, on a pitch which has proven difficult for run-scoring all tournament.
Maxwell batted superbly and Afghanistan are clearly haunted by his presence.
Had he batted even another two or three overs, it might have been enough to break the back of the chase and get Australia home – but the onus is more on the other batsmen who failed around him.
Pat Cummins joined Wasim Akram as only the second man in cricket history to take hat-tricks in back-to-back matches but sadly the stunning achievement was a footnote to a forgettable Australian display.
Australia has been brutalised by the schedule in this World Cup and with this match finishing well after midnight local time, they must fly to St Lucia and prepare for a morning match against India 34 hours later.
In contrast, India has been looked after with a schedule of exclusively morning matches all tournament.
Australia’s decision to bring in second spinner Ashton Agar was justified on this turning track and the left-armer was Australia’s most economical bowler.
But eyebrows were raised at power play wicket-taking specialist Mitchell Starc being the man to make way.
Starc has an uncanny habit for taking first-over wickets – something he has done twice already in this World Cup.
He is Australia’s most successful ever World Cup white ball bowler.
Afghanistan Naveen-ul-Haq then did a Starc on Australia – when he skittled the stumps of Travis Head in the first over of the second innings.
There was a fiery verbal battle running all night between Marcus Stoinis and Gurbaz – with both men giving the other animated send-offs.
In the end it was Gurbaz with the last laugh.
Re-live the action in our live blog below with Ben Horne and Jacob Kuriype
1:57PM: AFGHANISTAN WIN
Australia all out. Jubilation for Afghanistan as they win by 21 runs.
1:56pm: FINAL OVER
Australia need 24 off the last over.
1:46pm: AGAR GONE, AUSTRALIA NINE DOWN
Gulbadin Naib’s dream night continues. Takes a diving catch at cover to remove Ashton Agar. Naveen-ul-Haq has figures of 3-17. Mitchell Marsh is in disbelief in the dugout. 9-113.
1:42pm: CUMMINS GONE, AFGHANISTAN DARE TO DREAM
Gubladin Naib has the remarkable figures of 4-20 and Australia is on the cusp of a significant loss.
The seamer does Pat Cummins up superbly with a slower ball, bowling him for three.
All on Ashton Agar here with Australia needing 36 off 18.
1:36pm: ANALYSIS: AUSTRALIA ON VERGE OF HUGE UPSET LOSS
Glenn Maxwell has again pulled out his best against Afghanistan, but his departure with 5.2 overs left has put Australia on the verge of a huge upset World Cup defeat.
With Maxwell at the crease, Australia was on track to haul in Afghanistan’s total of 6-148, but the big-hitting wonder was eventually out caught 59 off 41 to leave his side 7-108 in reply, with Pat Cummins at the crease.
Matthew Wade followed the next over to leave it up to the bowlers.
In last year’s ODI World Cup it was Maxwell at the crease with Cummins to produce the most extraordinary of heroics to pull victory out of the fire.
Maxwell made an unbeaten double century barely able to walk with cramp.
Now Cummins must do it alone with Ashton Agar, who was returned for this match at the expense of Mitchell Starc.
1:35pm: WADE GONE, AUSSIES IN HUGE DANGER
Another big moment and another big catch. Matthew Wade looks to sweep Rashid Khan but gloves it high to short fine leg where Karim Janat dives forward to hold onto a very important catch. Asutralia 7-108.
1:31pm: GULBADIN REMOVES MAXWELL
A huge moment to pull off a superb catch. Maxwell skews Gulbaidin Naib to backward point where Noor Ahmad dives to his left to snare a clutch catch centimetres off the ground.
Maxwell gone 59 off 51 and Australia is 6-108.
1:21PM: FIFTY FOR MAXWELL
As long as Glenn Maxwell is out there, Australia will consider themselves in the driver’s seat. He brings up his half-century with a six straight back over the head of seamer Gulbadin Naib. It's come off just 34 balls. Australia 5-94 after 13.
1:15PM: DAVID GONE
Golden arm Gulbadin Naib strikes again, trapping Tim David in front for two.
David calls for a review and ball tracking has it just clipping leg. Australia retain the review but still lose the wicket. 5-84.
1:07: STOINIS COPS HUGE SEND OFF
Marcus Stoinis has copped an extraordinary send-off from Afghanistan wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz as Australia’s knife’s edge run-chase gets spicy in St Vincent.
Stoinis and Gurbaz had been going at each other all night, and Afghanistan celebrated the Australian’s departure at 4-72 with raucous jubilation.
Gurbaz took the overhead catch with the gloves running back, and then sprinted in to the vicinity of Stoinis walking off the field and threw the ball up in his direction.
Stoinis turned around, but continued walking off the field without incident.
Stoinis had given Gurbaz an animated send-off during the first innings after the Afghani had made a brilliant half century.
Australia is chasing 149 to win, with Glenn Maxwell (36 off 28) carrying his team’s hopes on his shoulders.
1:00: MAXWELL AND STOINIS BUILDING A PLATFORM
Twenty runs across two overs of a spin and this match is tilting back Australia’s way.
This stand between Stoinis and Maxwell is now worth 38 off 29 - significant in a chase of 149.
Australia 3-70 after 10.
12:54: ANALYSIS: STOINIS COPS SPRAY WITH AUSSIES ON TIGHTROPE
Australia has suffered a crippling top order collapse as Marcus Stoinis came to the crease to an almighty spray from Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell simply must put on a massive partnership or Australia is staring down the barrel of a chastening Super 8s victory which will have them walking the tightrope to elimination.
Australia were 3-33 at the end of the power play, compared to Afghanistan who were 0-40 after the first six over block.
However, Maxwell got going in the seventh with Australia’s position improving to 3-46.
Afghanistan are the most economical bowling team at this World Cup between overs 7-15 and will fancy themselves defending their 6-148.
Stoinis gave Gurbaz a huge send-off during Australia’s bowling innings after a verbal battle.
But the feisty Gurbaz wasted no time serving it back up after David Warner skied one up and became Australia’s third dismissal inside the power play.
Travis Head was clean-bowled first over and Mitchell Marsh continued his lukewarm tournament, caught hitting one straight up.
The worry for Australia is Afghanistan’s best bowler Rashid Khan is only now taking the ball.
12:41: WARNER’S SLUGGISH INNINGS OVER, STOINIS COPS SPRAY
Starved of the strike, David Warner goes into the sixth over on three off eight balls and the frustration tells.
On the first ball of spin in the innings, Warner goes the slog sweep and top edges it to fine leg.
Australia are 3-32 in the sixth over and wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz has plenty to stay to the new man in after Marcus Stoinis gave him a lengthy send-off earlier.
A reminder of Stoinis’ send-off below.
12:28PM: MARH FALLS
A lovely bit of bowling from Naveen-ul-Haq accounts for Mitchell Marsh right when he looked set to deliver a captain’s knock.
Having started the over with a sumptuous drive over the covers for four, Marsh falls for the slower ball, skying it to mid-off where Mohammad Nabi holds his nerve to take a simple catch. Australia 2-16.
12:20PM: AUSTRALIA’S CHASE OFF TO A HORROR START
Three balls in and Australia is already one down.
Naveen-ul-Haq fires one in at leg - down leg out of the hand -but it swings away beautifully to make a mess of Travis Head’s stumps.
Australia 1-1 after one.
12:05PM: BACK-TO-BACK HAT-TRICKS FOR PAT CUMMINS
Hat-trick Patrick has done it again, with Pat Cummins taking a second hat-trick in as many World Cup matches - and he should have had a double hat-trick.
Cummins’ heroics have been desperately needed for Australia on a night against Afghanistan where their fielding has been shocking.
Afghanistan has climbed to 6-148 from their 20 overs and it will take some chasing from Australia to get 149 on an extremely difficult St Vincent wicket.
Cummins bowled brilliantly at the death but Australia paid the price for not taking any wickets in the power play.
Similar to the previous match when he took a hat-trick against Bangladesh, Cummins took his hat-trick across two overs - with Glenn Maxwell completing the astonishing feat with a catch in the deep.
A rare double hat-trick appeared in the bag, but David Warner dropped a regulation catch in the deep.
Australia’s fielding was deplorable by their high standards.
There was half a dozen dropped catches, misfields for boundaries, byes and missed run-out opportunities.
The call was made to leave out Mitchell Starc for Ashton Agar.
Agar bowled well, and was the most economical of the Australian bowlers, but had a poor night in the field.
Never before has Australia not taken a wicket in the first 13 overs of a T20 international - and it’s in the power play when Starc is such a dangerous weapon - and had to wait 15.5 overs this time around.
11:45: BREAKTHROUGH AT LAST
Marcus Stoinis has finally made Australia’s first breakthrough at the end of the 16th over and given Afghanistan’s brilliant opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz an animated send-off to boot in a desperately tight Super 8s World Cup clash.
Frustration was setting in for Australia until Stoinis finally struck to leave the underdogs 1-119 with four overs left at St Vincent. The 15.5 over stand is the longest anyone has ever put on against Australia in a T20I.
Adam Zampa then followed up next over to remove new batsman Azmatullah Omarzai and removing Ibrahim Zadan (51) to make it 3-122. The flurry of departures shows Australia just how hard this pitch could be to start on if wickets fall.
Stoinis had been locked in a verbal battle with Gurbaz before he was finally caught in the deep by David Warner for an outstandingly made 60 off 49.
It was the first time Australia has failed to take a wicket in the first 13 overs of a T20 international.
Australia’s fielding has again been poor - as it was against Scotland two matches ago - and the 100-run opening stand from Afghanistan put enormous pressure on new captain Mitchell Marsh.
There’s little doubt second spinner Ashton Agar needed to be brought in for the conditions, but Australia may rue dropping Mitchell Starc given his prowess for making breakthroughs in the powerplay.
11:27: ANALYSIS - AUSTRALIA ON THE ROPES
Australia is on the ropes in their Super 8s World Cup clash against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is 0-100 after 13 overs on what is a very difficult St Vincent pitch.
Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (48 not out) and Ibrahim Zadran (41 not out) are putting Australia under enormous pressure and have put the underdogs in a position to put on an above par total.
Selectors made the decision to bring in second spinner Ashton Agar for the extreme conditions - and it was completely understandable why with huge turn from the outset.
However, Australia did miss the power play wicket-taking prowess of Mitchell Starc who was omitted.
Agar bowled brilliantly at the top of the innings, but fielded poorly and made two mis-fields which went for four.
Australia has missed a number of half chances and been below par again with their fielding.
Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis have all dropped difficult chances.
Afghanistan said they wanted to bat first anyway despite losing the toss, and have made Australia pay.
It’s the third time this Afghan pair have put on 100-run stands in T20s.
11:27: RECORD DROUGHT FOR AUSTRALIA
Thirteen overs down, and Australia still hasn’t taken a wicket. The longest its ever gone wicketless in a men’s T20I, according to the commentators.
And the errors are starting to add up.
Matthew Wade missed a huge chance off Adam Zampa in the 13th, fumbling a stumping after Gurbaz dances past a googly.
Two balls later, Zadran laces Zampa over cover and Agar runs past ball in the deep to allow another boundary. Afghanistan well on top here.
11:21 PRESSURE GROWING ON AUSTRALIA
Twelve overs in and Afghanistan still haven’t lost a wicket. The last time Australia waited this long for a wicket in a men’s T20I was way back in 2018, according to the commentators.
The pressure is just starting to tell to as a couple of close chances go a begging before another uncharacteristically sloppy bit of fielding.
A simple single to midwicket turns in to two as Travis Head fails to back up the throw.
11:15AM: EVEN STEVENS AT THE MIDWAY POINT
Australia is yet to breakthrough for a wicket, but Afghanistan is still struggling to get away in a desperately tight Super 8s World Cup struggle in St Vincent.
Test great Ricky Ponting said in commentary he would have batted first if he was Australia, but captain Mitchell Marsh backed in his bowlers to strangle Afghanistan on a treacherous pitch where Ashton Agar was brought in for Mitchell Marsh.
Agar started on fire bowling two brilliant overs, and at the 10-over halfway mark, Afghanistan is 0-64.
Adam Zampa dropped one tough chance in the field on the rope, but otherwise Afghanistan’s openers have been chanceless.
Scoring is tough on this pitch and Australia won’t want to be chasing more than 130 if they can at all help it.
11AM: BIG TURN FROM MAXWELL
A wide down the legside from Glenn Maxwell, but it’s how sharp the ball turned rather than the sundry itself that will concern Australia.
Maxwell lands a length delivery on middle but it spins sharply down the legside.
It might have hit a crack, but it’s a delivery that points to why Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan said he’d have elected to bat first. Chasing could be difficult here.
10:55AM: BOUNDARY ROPE BLUNDERS
Adam Zampa has grassed a difficult chance as Australia wrestle with Afghanistan in a desperately tight T20 battle in St Vincent.
Australia dominated the majority of the power play, but Afghanistan’s world class openers threw a few punches in the last couple of overs against Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins to get to 0-40 at the end of the first six overs.
Zampa threw himself at a diving chance in the deep off Cummins, but was unable to hold onto the chance which would have dismissed Afghanistan’s Zadran for 11.
It was a tough over for Cummins, with an Ashton Agar misfield and then Zampa’s drop giving Afghanistan back-to-back boundaries at a point when they were needed.
Afghanistan’s openers are the key to their batting.
Agar came in for Mitchell Starc and bowled two brilliant overs up front to get Australia off to a great start.
But a wicket is needed.
10:50AM: GURBAZ BALL
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has built his career on being ultra-positive, and he’s trying to be just that here but in difficult batting conditions, the ball is regularly beating bat.
When he does connect though, boy does he connect.
On the final ball of what had been a spotless Pat Cummins over, he leans back to drive a full ball down the ground for six.
He follows that up with two boundaries – one six, one four – off the next Josh Hazlewood over.
10:40AM: AUSTRALIA TURNING THE SCREWS
It is slow-going out there for Afghanistan, with Agar turning the screws either side of a tight over from Josh Hazlewood.
Just 11 runs from the first three overs, with five of those runs coming via byes, and on comes Pat Cummins.
Plenty of encouragement for spin and seam so far, with the pitch offering tennis ball like bounce.
10:33AM AGAR GETS THINGS UNDERWAY
Into the team, and straight into the attack.
Ashton Agar starts with a maiden, but its still worth five runs to Afghanistan courtesy of byes.
10AM: AUSTRALIA WIN THE TOSS, STARC DROPPED
Ashton Agar has replaced Mitchell Starc in Australia’s XI to face Afghanistan on a spinning minefield in St Vincent.
Australia has won the toss and have elected to bowl first although Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan claims he would have chosen to bat first anyway.
Winning the toss would appear to be a significant advantage for Australia on this sort of pitch, but they still need to take the wickets.
Captain Mitchell Marsh confirmed Starc being left out was “purely conditions based.”
Australia had laid the groundwork for Agar being shoehorned in for this clash after deliberately playing him in the final group game because they knew this St Vincent clash was coming up on the horizon.
In previous World Cup matches, scores of just over 100 have been enough to win in St Vincent.
9:30AM: STARC SET TO MISS OUT
Mitchell Starc appears likely to miss out on today’s Super 8s clash against Afghanistan as a conditions based omission.
Second spinner Ashton Agar or death bowling quick Nathan Ellis would be the two options to replace Starc in the XI.
Agar was given a game by selectors earlier in the tournament for the specific purpose of giving him match practice for this Afghanistan match to be played on a spin-friendly St Vincent deck.
St Vincent has proven treacherous for teams so far this World Cup with very low winning scores.
The team will not be announced until the toss, but Starc is not stretching and warming-up with teammates.
There is no question Starc would return for the next match in St Lucia on a pacier wicket.
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