Not really that much of a choke. The toss. Yeah there was more for pacers in the first innings and the bowling and fielding was immaculate but there was some bad and negative batting from SA in the first 10 overs. Some extremely poor shots.
Apart from that semi in 2019, they generally always manage to find a way to perform to their utmost potential. I agree that India look far better and it appeared that everyone else was kind of much of a muchness, but Aus have made sure it's them who will at least be challenging India for the trophy.
It’s one the luckiest toss losses imo.
love this post and love the profile photo
aus would have been rolled below 150
Agreed!
Yeah the one thing I'll say for the way this team is structured is that they have packed the team full of players who can just have "their day" and win a game of cricket on their own. Even if it seems patchy and inconsistent, all it needs is for two or three of them to have the sort of game we all know they're capable of putting together - if Starc bowls like today and it swings for a few overs etc - and the paper evaluation goes out the window compete
I don't think the toss was that important in the end. The key to it was a couple of top order batsmen throwing their wicket away instead of grinding it out. 250 was a winning total and was definitely achievable.
Not surprising actually. IND and ENG are the only Team that have beaten AUS in ICC tournaments in knockouts in last 20 years
I think it was both captains wanted to bat. It could have easily been Australia 3 wickets down in the powerplay had they batted first and the momentum’s on the other end. Don’t think many predicted the pitch being this spicy
This is good content. So it turns out Australia can't beat England in knockout games. Good to know
They wouldn't have gotten any wickets if the sticks quicks bowled like they did with the new ball tonight, that was rancid stuff. Jansen bowling nine ball overs, Rabada serving leg stump half volleys or short wide trash etc
Was the new ball stuff majorly conditions? I didn't watch the start of the SA innings closely enough to remember, but based on the rain delays it seems like it was overcast AF. From what I saw in the SA innings their pacers didn't get nearly as much out of the new ball as starc and haze did, despite rabada and jansen being quality new ball bowlers.
All we have to do now is qualify for knockout games!!
That ball was still hopping around and going past the edge a lot of balls also in their powerplay. Don’t think enough credits given to head and Warner in that stage.
