A HEIST: New Zealand march past Australia in World Cup opener ...
And looking forward to the Aussie's must-win game tonight with Sri Lanka.
Apologies. The post was three parts wrote Saturday night — it’s normally 10.30pm lights out in Geelong! — and, believe it or not, I watched a full day of cricket Sunday in Melbourne, and the same Monday.
So, the late filing of this report seems tardy, and a tiny bit inconsequential after India and Pakistan's epic encounter Sunday night. We will get to that game later. It's probably wise to actually take a breath, and take some time to reflect. OMG. What a game of cricket. Forget about the format — just, what a game of cricket.
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So back to Saturday night …
New Zealand, the country, was closed for a while. They, too, have one of those leaders, apparently, one that leans without preference toward the woke movement.
Wokeism challenges me. Like calculus, I really don't understand it. Mathematics was easy, then they introduced letters - a line borrowed from Ricky Gervais. Even a conscientious Google search reveals little on Woke, and it’s many derivatives.
Anyway, back to New Zealand, and their tourism marketers — who are, by the way, working pro bono!
They proudly announce, "100% pure New Zealand." "Come and see it."
That’s all well and good if you can get in. Ask nicely, and we shall see. Thank you, Ms. Ardern.
Instead, New Zealand came to Sydney to play cricket. And, this they did.
They traveled with a plan, and a good deal of baggage — maybe the 2015 final in Melbourne was front of mind, or the last T20 World Cup. Whatever, and however, they came and ambushed a hapless Australian team Saturday night.
Summarising Australia …
Every batter failed (Glenn Maxwell might argue against this, given his recent form); all five bowlers got carted, and they were fielded off the park.
One positive was Aaron Finch winning the toss, and he did what anybody else would have done — bowled first.
What came next though — The Finn Allen show (yes, you could absolutely pitch it to late-night American TV) — was a heist of the highest proportions.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins all came and went. New Zealand’s over progression read: 0-14, 0-29, 0-46 — yes 0-46 from three, with the triumvirate of quicks all seeking calmer pastures.
All-rounder, Marcus Stoinis steadied the ship in over four, conceding just 10!
With the score 0-56 from four overs, Hazelwood returned and removed Allen with a well-directed yorker. The score was 1-56, and Allen had made 42 from 16 balls at a strike rate of 262. At one point the projected innings score was 280. OMG. Yes, Finn Allen, not Martin Guptill, had taken down the tournament hosts big-time.
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If Allen’s exploits were unexpected, which they were perceived to be, then Devon Conway's template innings was statistically predictive.
Conway has an exceptional record in his 28-match T20I career, averaging 52.3 per game, with a total of 941 runs. The leftie’s five innings against Australia see him making 192 runs at an average of 48, with a 140 strike-rate, and a career high-score of 99* - my stat-pack from the dependable Prateek Patil (Pratty), said simply, “Conway is a key member of the Kiwi’s batting line-up.”
His ability to score heavily at the front-end of overs was undeniable. Australia’s bowlers were never able to settle, Adam Zampa included. Conway’s tempo is like watching Ernie Els swing a golf club, just easy on the eye. He ran the wickets like a man in a hurry, always looking to extract an extra run. Partnership batting is often forgotten in this format; not in this case. Conway went: 56, 69, 27, and 48.
Australia could not take a trick with the ball and a partisan supporter could argue; it was through no fault of their own. This was a near-perfect batting innings by New Zealand, orchestrated by Conway, and ignited by Allen. It always seemed too much for Australia to handle.
David Warner was abjectly unlucky, and his dismissal said it all: this wasn’t to be Australia’s night. Tim Southee delivered a harmless loosener, only to see Warner move the ball from pad, to body, back to the bat, which had completed the swing, and then to the stumps. If that description is confusing, it was meant to be. It resembled a pinball game.
Australia lurched to 3-34 in the fifth over when Southee induced Mitchell Marsh to hit a tame fly-ball to the reliable Jimmy Neesham (another late-night TV name for you); at this point Australia’s lot read like this: current run rate (RR) 6.80, required run rate (RRR) 11.13, runs required 167, balls remaining 90. Optimism abounds. Or not.
Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis stared down the above equation for all of 20 balls, progressing the score to 4-54. When Stoinis left Maxwell, their lot looked like this: RR 6.0, RRR 13.36, runs required 147, balls remaining 66. Remarkably Australia’s win probability was still at 47%.
A procession followed, and before net-run-rate (NRR) could be considered, the innings was over, Australia slipping to an 89 run loss. The Kiwi’s had parachuted into Sydney’s eastern suburbs and stole the loot without objection.
Where to now for Australia?
Captain, Aaron Finch, who looks increasingly agitated as each game passes, said when pressed on his team's chances of defending the trophy, "To be able to not look that far ahead – because you can't win the tournament if you don't win the next game – (is important),"
Also, "We've taken the fate out of our own hands to a point – we need to be ultra-positive and ultra-aggressive." I question this comment. Why is this often the default reaction to a set-back — aggression, and being positive?
Be smarter. Be reflective. Be honest. You got beat on the night — even Mike Tyson lost, eventually.
Tactically, I agree with coach Andrew McDonald; spin (Maxwell) would have been a viable option during the power play. Two-fold: to match up against Conway, and to bring Maxwell into the game early. McDonald will have plenty to ponder on his cross-continent trip to Perth. The T20 format demands resilience from players, teams, and coaches alike.
One boost for the Aussies will be having Mitch Marsh available to bowl in Perth.
As for New Zealand …
They place themselves in an enviable table position. And, as Finn Allen stated, they absolutely “landed the first punch” Saturday evening.
And their scheduling: well, they make the short commute to Melbourne (bushranger country) to take on Afghanistan tomorrow night.
So, that’s all she wrote for now. Tonight’s game is eagerly anticipated, an opportunity for Australia to right the ship. I think they will. And, I’m sure they have more than an eye on Friday night, and how to beat England.
As always, thank you for being here.
