Oz 7/275 (45.2).
That may be the game gone.
Khawaja comes to the crease, with his torn hamstring!
ODI World Cup.
18 needed from the final over. Is 17 (a tie) enough?
Phehlukwayo to bowl.
First ball: 3 runs. [15 needed from 5.]
Second ball: Single. [14 needed from 4.]
Third ball: Hit down the ground. They go for 2. Run out appeal? TV ... Not out [12 needed from 3.]
Fourth ball: Single. [11 needed from 2.]
Fifth ball: Lyon holes out in the deep.
Oz all out 315 (49.5). S. Africa win by 10 runs.
India play NZ on Tuesday in the first SF.
Oz play England on Thursday in the second SF.
Phehlukwayo to bowl.
First ball: 3 runs. [15 needed from 5.]
Second ball: Single. [14 needed from 4.]
Third ball: Hit down the ground. They go for 2. Run out appeal? TV ... Not out [12 needed from 3.]
Fourth ball: Single. [11 needed from 2.]
Fifth ball: Lyon holes out in the deep.
Oz all out 315 (49.5). S. Africa win by 10 runs.
India play NZ on Tuesday in the first SF.
Oz play England on Thursday in the second SF.
In many ways, it was a shambolic performance from Oz.
The bowling was pathetic, starting with 5 wides from the first ball, until Lyon stepped in. The running between wickets was panicked, and they were lucky they didn't have three or four run outs, instead of just one. Much of the batting was pathetic too.
There are many concerns, not least the injuries to Khawaja (a torn hamstring, probably tournament-ending), Stoinis (a back or side strain, probably not tournament-ending) and Starc (not clear, but maybe a knee injury, not serious though -- well, he's so badly needed that they would make him hop in to bowl if they had to).
Carey's missed simple stumping may have ended up costing the game. (It's hard to argue it didn't cost much more than the 10-run final margin.)
And Oz, even if in form and uninjured, still obviously have problems on very flat pitches.
But...
For all the shambles, at the end it turned into a valiant effort to get so close. Warner & Carey played magnificently. Khawaja tried to do what he could, coming back to the crease with his torn hamstring. They were still a real chance to steal the win with two overs to go, after Starc and Khawaja took 17 runs from the 48th over.
There is still hope. If it's another flat pitch at Edgbaston, winning the toss and batting first will be crucial. That's not the way cricket should be. Unfortunately, England care more about winning than about the health of the game.
The bowling was pathetic, starting with 5 wides from the first ball, until Lyon stepped in. The running between wickets was panicked, and they were lucky they didn't have three or four run outs, instead of just one. Much of the batting was pathetic too.
There are many concerns, not least the injuries to Khawaja (a torn hamstring, probably tournament-ending), Stoinis (a back or side strain, probably not tournament-ending) and Starc (not clear, but maybe a knee injury, not serious though -- well, he's so badly needed that they would make him hop in to bowl if they had to).
Carey's missed simple stumping may have ended up costing the game. (It's hard to argue it didn't cost much more than the 10-run final margin.)
And Oz, even if in form and uninjured, still obviously have problems on very flat pitches.
But...
For all the shambles, at the end it turned into a valiant effort to get so close. Warner & Carey played magnificently. Khawaja tried to do what he could, coming back to the crease with his torn hamstring. They were still a real chance to steal the win with two overs to go, after Starc and Khawaja took 17 runs from the 48th over.
There is still hope. If it's another flat pitch at Edgbaston, winning the toss and batting first will be crucial. That's not the way cricket should be. Unfortunately, England care more about winning than about the health of the game.
This article was updated 6.56pm:
Handscomb poised for World Cup debut, Wade and Marsh on stand-by
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket ... 524nr.html
"Australia confirmed on Sunday night that allrounder Mitch Marsh and batsman Matthew Wade had been drafted into the squad as cover for Khawaja and Marcus Stoinis (side strain), although this was not yet as official replacements. A final call on Khawaja and Stoinis would be made after the results of scans were known.
...
Nathan Coulter-Nile, who has not played since the win over Bangladesh in Nottingham, could replace Stoinis because he had been bowling well and can provide power hitting, having crunched a match-turning 92 against the West Indies earlier in the tournament.
...
There were also alarm bells for Starc when he took pain-killing tablets in the 33rd over and expressed concerns about his right knee to the team doctor."
------------------------------------------------
This article may be more recent, but cricinfo are shocking when it comes to giving dates & times for their articles ("10.55pm", it says, but what day & time zone is that?):
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id ... four-weeks
"The hamstring strain Usman Khawaja picked up on Saturday in the game against South Africa has ruled him out of the World Cup, and out of action for three to four weeks, Australia coach Justin Langer has confirmed. ...
Australia named Matthew Wade as cover for Khawaja on Sunday morning and will need the approval of the ICC's event technical committee for the wicketkeeper-batsman to replace Khawaja in the squad."
Handscomb poised for World Cup debut, Wade and Marsh on stand-by
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket ... 524nr.html
"Australia confirmed on Sunday night that allrounder Mitch Marsh and batsman Matthew Wade had been drafted into the squad as cover for Khawaja and Marcus Stoinis (side strain), although this was not yet as official replacements. A final call on Khawaja and Stoinis would be made after the results of scans were known.
...
Nathan Coulter-Nile, who has not played since the win over Bangladesh in Nottingham, could replace Stoinis because he had been bowling well and can provide power hitting, having crunched a match-turning 92 against the West Indies earlier in the tournament.
...
There were also alarm bells for Starc when he took pain-killing tablets in the 33rd over and expressed concerns about his right knee to the team doctor."
------------------------------------------------
This article may be more recent, but cricinfo are shocking when it comes to giving dates & times for their articles ("10.55pm", it says, but what day & time zone is that?):
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id ... four-weeks
"The hamstring strain Usman Khawaja picked up on Saturday in the game against South Africa has ruled him out of the World Cup, and out of action for three to four weeks, Australia coach Justin Langer has confirmed. ...
Australia named Matthew Wade as cover for Khawaja on Sunday morning and will need the approval of the ICC's event technical committee for the wicketkeeper-batsman to replace Khawaja in the squad."
England not scared of chasing in World Cup semi-final, says Trevor Bayliss
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id ... or-bayliss
"England enjoyed a significant advantage in their two previous matches, against India and, in particular, New Zealand, in batting first on surfaces which became slower and more responsive to cutters and slower balls.
But Bayliss believes England's long-term record batting second suggests they can cope if they are asked to chase and feels the improved weather across the UK is starting to be reflected in the quality of surfaces. Over the tournament as a whole, the side batting first has won 27 and lost 14 games. Over the last 20 matches, however, that increases sharply to 16 wins and four defeats.
...
After a prolonged period of wet weather, the last couple of weeks have been much warmer and drier, providing groundsmen more time to prepare their pitches. It remains possible we could yet see some of the vast scores predicted ahead of the tournament in the final three matches."
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id ... or-bayliss
"England enjoyed a significant advantage in their two previous matches, against India and, in particular, New Zealand, in batting first on surfaces which became slower and more responsive to cutters and slower balls.
But Bayliss believes England's long-term record batting second suggests they can cope if they are asked to chase and feels the improved weather across the UK is starting to be reflected in the quality of surfaces. Over the tournament as a whole, the side batting first has won 27 and lost 14 games. Over the last 20 matches, however, that increases sharply to 16 wins and four defeats.
...
After a prolonged period of wet weather, the last couple of weeks have been much warmer and drier, providing groundsmen more time to prepare their pitches. It remains possible we could yet see some of the vast scores predicted ahead of the tournament in the final three matches."
'Langer said he's expecting to encounter a flat pitch at Edgbaston. The semi-final will be played on a fresh strip in the centre of the field, eliminating the short boundary that was a talking point during India's loss to England and win against Bangladesh. But, despite the fact that 16 of the past 22 games in the tournament have been won by the team batting first and several pitches have slowed noticeably through the course of a match, Langer doesn't believe that pitches have been the overriding reason for unsuccessful chases.
"We've seen it [deteriorating pitches] once for the whole tournament. Maybe once or twice. The England vs New Zealand game seem to get harder.
"It's more the batting first at a World Cup than the pressure of the wickets. A lot of teams have chased and won in the last few years, it's become a bit of trend but not here. I think that's the pressure not the wickets. When it comes to the day, whether you bat first or you bowl first, you've just got to be at your best."'
(cricinfo)
"We've seen it [deteriorating pitches] once for the whole tournament. Maybe once or twice. The England vs New Zealand game seem to get harder.
"It's more the batting first at a World Cup than the pressure of the wickets. A lot of teams have chased and won in the last few years, it's become a bit of trend but not here. I think that's the pressure not the wickets. When it comes to the day, whether you bat first or you bowl first, you've just got to be at your best."'
(cricinfo)
Last edited by K on Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
'... Langer says there are "probably about five different ways we can get our batting order" ..., and this includes pitchforking Wade directly into the No.3 spot vacated by Khawaja.
Another option was to elevate Steve Smith to No.3 and have Handscomb ... come in at No.4.
...
Wade ... is in superb touch and shapes as an explosive option at the top of the order.
He has played 94 one-day internationals as a batsman-wicketkeeper, making 1777 runs at 25.75, with one century. His last ODI was against India in Nagpur in 2017.
...
One theory is that gloveman Alex Carey, with 329 runs at 68.5 in eight innings ..., should be elevated to No. 5, with Glenn Maxwell at No. 6, where he would have the freedom to play as more of a Twenty20 thrasher style, should the conditions suit.
...
The form of Smith and, to a greater degree, Maxwell and his inability to handle the short ball have become a problem, for too much has been left to too few in recent matches."
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket ... 524z7.html
Another option was to elevate Steve Smith to No.3 and have Handscomb ... come in at No.4.
...
Wade ... is in superb touch and shapes as an explosive option at the top of the order.
He has played 94 one-day internationals as a batsman-wicketkeeper, making 1777 runs at 25.75, with one century. His last ODI was against India in Nagpur in 2017.
...
One theory is that gloveman Alex Carey, with 329 runs at 68.5 in eight innings ..., should be elevated to No. 5, with Glenn Maxwell at No. 6, where he would have the freedom to play as more of a Twenty20 thrasher style, should the conditions suit.
...
The form of Smith and, to a greater degree, Maxwell and his inability to handle the short ball have become a problem, for too much has been left to too few in recent matches."
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket ... 524z7.html
Yes, Maxwell's poor form was partly hidden by his 32 from 10 balls against Bangladesh, when Khawaja ran him out, but it's pretty obvious now.
Smith is batting poorly. He was poor in the IPL and has been poor in ODIs since about 2017. His WC scores:
Runs Opponent
18 (27) Afghanistan
73 (103) WI
69 (70) India --- LBW
10 (13) Pakistan
73 (59) SL --- bowled by Malinga
1 (2) Bangladesh --- LBW
38 (34) England
5 (8 ) NZ
7 (6) SA --- LBW
Smith's ODI record
Total (career): Ave. 40.93, SR 86.72 in 103 innings.
2017-now: Ave. 35.2, SR 83.16 in 27 innings.
Last two years: Ave. 28.31, SR 82.51 in 19 innings.
Last 12 months=WC: Ave. 32.66, SR 91.30 in 9 innings.
Batting 3: Ave. 52.06, SR 85.20 in 55 innings.
Batting 4: Ave. 35.61, SR 90.44 in 23 innings.
Batting 5: Ave. 15.60, SR 80.41 in 5 innings.
Batting 6-8: Ave. 21.75, SR 92.30 in 20 innings.
Guess who should be batting at 3, huh?
Smith is batting poorly. He was poor in the IPL and has been poor in ODIs since about 2017. His WC scores:
Runs Opponent
18 (27) Afghanistan
73 (103) WI
69 (70) India --- LBW
10 (13) Pakistan
73 (59) SL --- bowled by Malinga
1 (2) Bangladesh --- LBW
38 (34) England
5 (8 ) NZ
7 (6) SA --- LBW
Smith's ODI record
Total (career): Ave. 40.93, SR 86.72 in 103 innings.
2017-now: Ave. 35.2, SR 83.16 in 27 innings.
Last two years: Ave. 28.31, SR 82.51 in 19 innings.
Last 12 months=WC: Ave. 32.66, SR 91.30 in 9 innings.
Batting 3: Ave. 52.06, SR 85.20 in 55 innings.
Batting 4: Ave. 35.61, SR 90.44 in 23 innings.
Batting 5: Ave. 15.60, SR 80.41 in 5 innings.
Batting 6-8: Ave. 21.75, SR 92.30 in 20 innings.
Guess who should be batting at 3, huh?
"England will have been pleased to return to Edgbaston...
They have won their last 10 international games across the formats here, while Australia have not won an ODI at the ground since 1993. England have also won 10 of the last 12 ODIs between the nations. They may have been further encouraged by news that the groundsman expects the pitch - a fresh one - to neither offer much to bowlers or deteriorate as the game progresses. It does not, at this stage, look like a two-spinner surface, which may be better news for Liam Plunkett than it is for Moeen Ali."
(cricinfo)
They have won their last 10 international games across the formats here, while Australia have not won an ODI at the ground since 1993. England have also won 10 of the last 12 ODIs between the nations. They may have been further encouraged by news that the groundsman expects the pitch - a fresh one - to neither offer much to bowlers or deteriorate as the game progresses. It does not, at this stage, look like a two-spinner surface, which may be better news for Liam Plunkett than it is for Moeen Ali."
(cricinfo)