Australia crash to a second heavy World Cup defeat, jeopardising their chances of progressing to the semi-finals.
At the toss, opposing captains Pat Cummins and Temba Bavuma both said they had no idea how this newly laid pitch would play. Twenty-hours later, it is safe to assume that the bulk of Australia’s batsmen still don’t know. Of the top six, only Marnus Labuschagne spent more than 30 balls on it on a calamitous night for Australia.
Suddenly, there are so many questions the Australians will have to ask for reading time. They pertain to selection as well as performance. Frankly, Australia looks like a Test team crudely adapted for the white-ball cricket they rarely play, then patched up to deal with untimely injury and failing form. In this XI, only Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are customised one-day players.
Everything that could go wrong did. Two South African referrals so late they were more like retrospectives brought the wickets of Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis for Kagiso Rabada.Smith missed a ball on leg stump, once a phenomenon so rare only David Attenborough had seen it. Stoinis was trying to remove a glove from the bat handle as the ball brushed it. Both were caught on DRS. In between. Rabada castled Josh Inglis as surely as if on a chessboard.
The pitch had been relaid since it was last used, but played as if it had been laid out for burial. On it, the Australian attack might have believed they had done well to restrict the white-hot South African line-up.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australia v South Africa: Cricket World Cup 2023Over-by-over report: Australia seek their first win of the tournament in India while the Proteas look to make it two from two. Join our writers for updates
Read more »
Cricket World Cup live ScoreCentre: Australia vs South Africa in Lucknow — scores, stats and updatesThe Australians need a win against South Africa in Lucknow to keep in touch with the top four at the Cricket World Cup. Check out the live scores and stats in our ScoreCentre.
Read more »
Cricket World Cup 2023 LIVE updates: Australia battle South Africa, Alex Carey outPat Cummins’ men are back in action in India with a crucial match in Lucknow between two of the world’s top-four ranked one-day teams.
Read more »
Cricket World Cup 2023 LIVE updates: Australia battle South Africa, Alex Carey outPat Cummins’ men are back in action in India with a crucial match in Lucknow between two of the world’s top-four ranked one-day teams.
Read more »
Cricket World Cup 2023 LIVE updates: Australia battle South Africa, Alex Carey outPat Cummins’ men are back in action in India with a crucial match in Lucknow between two of the world’s top-four ranked one-day teams.
Read more »
Australia skittled by South Africa, facing World Cup crisisAustralia crash to a second heavy World Cup defeat, jeopardising their chances of progressing to the semi-finals.
Read more »