TOPIC:

Benny is all about Benny and his team mates see this.
You don’t go from WC winners one year to a team that can’t win a game the next.
 

Spot on. No one player is bigger than the game and by being parachuted into the team after previously retiring, the other players would have had to be questioning this decision. An opportunity was denied to a younger player who is likely to be around for the WC in 2027(e.g Brook) at the expense of s guy with a big reputation but who hadn't played an ODI for 2 years and was on one leg as well and unable to bowl.

I also felt that it was unfair on Butler to have the test captain looking over his shoulder, I don't think he was that comfortable with the situation either. Joe Root is a great test batsman but in the white ball format he is pedestrian and should not have been picked . They were literally living on past glories and paid the price.

If they lose to the Netherlands in their next game they will suffer the indignity of not qualifying for the next ICC 50 over event (Champions Trophy)

Meanwhile India are demonstrating how futile it is for any other team in this competition. They are flogging the 2nd best team, might as well engrave their names on the cup now.

I didn't have England rock bottom but then again I didn't have South Africa anywhere near the top either
But I guess there has to be risers & sliders from somewhere
those pitches only benefit one thing
and it is duly happening just like clockwork
it's just manicured mud at very best bit like all the show 

Geez India done the job on RSA.Amazing century by King Kohli on a pretty average ODI wicket.

Tonight will be tough for the Australian batsmen against Rashid Khan, Mujeeb and Nabi. They will get at least 30 overs of spin so will have to find a way of keeping the scoring rate at around 6 per over. Looks like Maxwell and Marsh will be in for Green and Stoinis. 
How about the first ever "Timed out" in an international match when Angelo Matthews was given his marching orders  when he arrived at the crease but pulled away when his helmet strap broke. Technically a correct dismissal according to the rules but you would have to question the sportsmanship.  Graham Smith had the opportunity to time out Sourav Ganguly in a test match about 15 years ago when he took nearly 4 minutes to get to the crease due to a mix up in the dressing room but Smith declined to appeal.

Gee I thought this game would be tough and there was a possibility that Australia could lose, but I never imagined that Australia would be dominated in the way they have been tonight. Afghanistan have executed their game plan perfectly. They had the fortune of winning the toss but they constructed their innings of 291 perfectly against a completely passive and ineffective bowling unit. The Australian batting by contrast has been a car crash with nobody willing to dig in and bat through the tough overs. I reckon most of our batters are flat track bullies who go missing when conditions get tough. They were lucky really to get out of gaol against England who have been absolutely hopeless
The Australians may still make the semis by beating Bangladesh but IMO they would be cannon fodder for teams like India and South Africa and it would be better for the tournament if Afghanistan beat South Africa to replace them

Looks like Maxwell and Cummins did what mikeh requested and what a few R&P naysayers thought this side was incapable of doing....showing some grit and resilience to win from anywhere....what's that now?....6 wins on the trot.....yeah a mixture of good fortune, plenty of luck and individual brillance, but no different to any  stuttering side eeking out the wins.
 
A great knock by Maxwell and with fantastic support from the beleaguered skipper. Cummins maybe be considered woke by many, but shows a lot of heart when the going gets tough.

Whilst a great backs to the wall victory for Aust, definitely a concern with Aust batting and bowling depts.....Starc is cooked, leaking runs continuously and struggling with the bat.....too many passengers at present with the bat....interesting to see Aust reputedly best batsman v spin, gets dropped v a side with 3 decent spinners......

Considering the age of the side, the number of passengers being carried, the apparent lack of leadership from the powers above, Aust has done well to atleast to match the achievements of the previous coach, by making the semi finals.

mikeh wrote:

Gee I thought this game would be tough and there was a possibility that Australia could lose, but I never imagined that Australia would be dominated in the way they have been tonight. Afghanistan have executed their game plan perfectly. They had the fortune of winning the toss but they constructed their innings of 291 perfectly against a completely passive and ineffective bowling unit. The Australian batting by contrast has been a car crash with nobody willing to dig in and bat through the tough overs. I reckon most of our batters are flat track bullies who go missing when conditions get tough. They were lucky really to get out of gaol against England who have been absolutely hopeless
The Australians may still make the semis by beating Bangladesh but IMO they would be cannon fodder for teams like India and South Africa and it would be better for the tournament if Afghanistan beat South Africa to replace them

 
well that could only be described as an innings you won't see all that often - Australia were gone and it was just pure hitting that got them out of seriously shiteful position
Further pictures of a desultory top order that urgently requires an injection of the new
might just be able to get past the rest but you can't see them getting past India 
maybe bat first and get as many as possible in the first 20-25 overs before the pitch & ball conditions take over

One of the highlights  of this ODI WC.
Is Afghanistans emergence as a decent white ball cricket nation.Dropping Maxi twise ,and having a review overturned. 
Unfortunately  for the Afgans there was a price to pay.And Maxi took advantage of his 3 lives.With great support from Cummins.
The greatest innings ever seen by Satchin Tendulkar,huge praise.

Well my last post didnt age well but it took arguably the best ever ODI innings to get Australia out of that hole. Maxwell was just on another planet with his stroke making and funnily enough his physical pain probably helped him to focus on what he had to do.  Beware the injured batsman.

Afghanistan played a perfect game for the first 70 overs but melted in the face of the brutal assault. Credit to Pat Cummins for hanging around with Maxwell and doing what none of the other batsmen could do.

Maxwell should now be put in cotton wool for the semi final to ensure he is fresh enough to take on the Proteas. There are still some issues with the bowling and middle order batting which need to be addressed despite the euphoria of this innings. They need to find a way to take wickets with the new ball which they have generally been unable to do in this tournament when you compare them with teams like India and South Africa