Cricket World Cup 2023: Stoinis dismissal ‘confusing’ in Australia’s record loss to South Africa
Australia has fallen to a record-breaking World Cup defeat by South Africa and adding salt to the wound was a contentious third umpire decision.
Australia has been left confused by a contentious third umpire decision that went against all-rounder Marcus Stoinis in the side’s record-breaking loss to South Africa on Thursday night.
The Aussies’ 134-run loss to the Proteas was Australia’s heaviest in the almost five-decade history of the men’s World Cup and left Pat Cummins’ side facing a mountainous task to make the semi-finals.
Winless through two matches and having taken a heavy hit on net run rate, Australia sits ninth out of 10 teams in the round-robin league stage, behind even the Netherlands and likely needing to win at least six of its remaining seven matches - beginning with Monday’s clash with Sri Lanka in Lucknow - to qualify for the semi-finals.
On the back of a Quinton de Kock century and 56 from Aiden Markram, the Aussies were already spiralling towards defeat at 5-70 chasing 312 when South Africa appealed for a leg side caught behind catch to remove Stoinis.
Umpire Joel Wilson turned down the shout but the Proteas headed upstairs where after a protracted deliberation, Richard Kettleborough appeared to deem that Stoinis had gloved the ball to de Kock.
Marcus Labuschagne was at the non-striker’s end at the time - just as he had been for another contentious overturned decision which led to Steve Smith being removed lbw - and said he had thought Stoinis’ hand was off his bat when the ball touched his glove, which would have meant the West Australian was not out.
“The umpires really didn’t know what was going on. They just saw what we saw,” Labuschagne said.
“For me it looked like his hand was off the bat and hit the glove. And so because they didn’t go to the side-on angle, Marcus and I were just asking like, ‘have they checked?’ because I just saw the spike from the front on and they didn’t sort of get a close up zoom in of the side. And that just looked like there was clear daylight between the two gloves and the handle. But once again, I have been into the third umpire room and the screens are big and everything’s much clearer than me sitting in the middle looking at pretty pixelated screen.”
Marcus Stoinis was unhappy with the decision as he felt his hand was off the bat when the ball made contact. pic.twitter.com/6tN2HgnqXA
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 12, 2023
Labuschagne said the Aussies would seek further information on the decision but suggested it had not been the difference on the night.
“It was certainly confusing. And I’m sure we’ll get clarity or going to seek for clarity, because it’s a World Cup, you know, we don’t want small decisions that can be avoided to change the outcome to games. Obviously, in the situation we’re in. It’s hard to say that it was going to change the outcome. But you know, for the future, it’s you certainly want to make sure we get them right.”
Labuschagne said all was not lost despite the team’s predicament. The Aussies dropped five catches during the South African innings, typifying Australia’s all-round struggles so far in the tournament.
“We have to be better than that. Yeah, it’s hard to put your finger on it. I mean, you know, we’re one of the best fielding sides in the world. We pride ourselves on that. And, you know, we just didn’t seem to get it right today. You know, we credit opportunities and just didn’t take them and yeah, it just wasn’t a great performance from us, but we’ll have to bounce back and get this train rolling,” Labuschagne said.
“We’re gonna need to win every game from here I assume, or at least, very, very close to get into that four. But once again, it’s the reason Australia’s won the World Cup five times, is because we play well under pressure and we haven’t started well but this is the beginning not the end.
“I consider us one of the top sides. And it’s disappointing that we haven’t competed in the last two games.”
A MISERABLE DAY IN THE FIELD FOR AUSTRALIA
The, 30-year-old de Kock reached his 19th ODI hundred off 90 balls with eight fours and five sixes having also made a century in South Africa’s opening win over Sri Lanka.
De Kock, who will retire from international cricket at the end of the tournament, was batting in familiar surroundings at the Ekana Stadium where he plays in the IPL for the Lucknow Super Giants.
He was eventually dismissed for 109, bowled by off-spinner Maxwell while trying to reverse sweep in the 35th over.
South Africa were on 197-3 when de Kock departed before Aiden Markram then took up the charge.
Having made the fastest World Cup century off just 49 balls in the win over Sri Lanka, Markram raced to 56, making the most of being dropped by Cummins when he had made just a single.
It was a miserable day in the field for Australia as Bavuma was also dropped twice on 19 and 32.
Marsh dropped Virat Kohli in their opening game when the Indian star was on 12. Kohli went on to make a matchwinning 85.
Bavuma’s luck ran out on 35 when he was caught at midwicket by Warner off Maxwell.
With de Kock, the skipper put on 108 for the first wicket.
Once Markram was dismissed by Cummins, the Proteas saw Jansen (26) and David Miller (17) take them past the 300 mark.
Both Miller and Jansen fell in the final over, a double-wicket maiden bowled by Starc.
They should have been dismissed in the penultimate over when Starc dropped Miller and Stoinis gave Jansen a lifeline, both off Cummins.
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