Andy Bull's match report
The latest World Cup standings
That’s all from me. Thanks for your company throughout the course of a pulsating World Cup clash. We’ll be back tomorrow in Bristol. Goodnight from Trent Bridge.
That’s a fine win. To salute at a World Cup you need to find a way to win ugly on days when the top order folds, as Australia’s did so spectacularly this morning when the board read 38/4 then 79/5. But through Smith, with support from Carey, they got back on track. Then Coulter-Nile arrived. In more ways than one. He’s closer to 32 than 31 now - it has been a long time coming - but he repaid all that faith, shown through all those injury layoffs, today at Trent Bridge. His 92 from 60 deliveries at number eight will be remembered for a long time.
With the ball, it was a frenetic first power play, where Gayle was twice reprieved by DRS before Starc finally had his man leg before. Indeed, DRS saved the Windies on four occasions during their ill-fated chase. They should have done it easy. They were doing it easy. But then Starc was brought back at the perfect time by Starc on two occasions, good enough to force an error from Russell to open the window. Back again for over 45, Brathwaite and Holder completed a matchwinning burst.
Coulter-Nile has been rightly named man of the match, but it was Starc (and Finch) wh stuck the landing. After all that has gone down in Australian cricket over the last 18 months, this will be viewed as an important day on their way back. Helluva win.
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AUSTRALIA WIN BY 15 RUNS!
50th over: West Indies 273-9 (Nurse 19, Thomas 0) Target 289 Nurse pulls then lashes then hoicks then drives four boundaries off Coulter-Nile, which is a tad unfair given how important the West Australian was to this Australian victory. But it mattes little, as they have got the job done. A fantastic fighting win for Australia.
49th over: West Indies 257-9 (Nurse 3, Thomas 0) Target 289 For reasons that make no sense to me, Nurse is turning down singles until the penultimate ball, where he is denied a boundary by a super bit of fielding from NCN and Maxwell on the rope. He needs to hit 32 off Coulter-Nile’s 50th over, in case you’re wondering.
48th over: West Indies 256-9 (Nurse 2, Thomas 0) Target 289 Starc at his best, reverse swing so lethal at his pace. Thomas somehow keeps out the last couple but the job is done 10-1-46-5 is his final analysis. 33 from 12 balls is the highly unlikely equation for the West Indies now. They’ve had a shocker at the death.
WICKET! Cottrell b Starc 1 (West Indies 256-9)
Bowled him! Five or Starc! Three at the death. Cottrell backed away to try something but the full yorker was on target, bending back his middle stump. Another World Cup bag for the man of the tournament four years ago.
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47th over: West Indies 255-8 (Nurse 2, Cottrell 1) Target 289 Marcus Stoinis is back on now, which isn’t unusual - he’s bowled plenty of death overs for Australia in the last year or so. Nurse is having a terrible time of it, unable to make meaningful contact at any stage, saved from a lbw dismissal with an inside edge. The new pair manage to scrape three singles from it, leaving 34 to win in 18 balls. Oh my, how the West Indies have thown this away.
These are the sorts of games Aust found ways to win in India. Scrounging out results without playing consistently well across the day. #AUSvWI
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) June 6, 2019
WICKET! Holder c Zampa b Starc 51 (West Indies 252-8)
Holder out hooking! Starc’s follows up another slower full toss with a quicker bumper, the West Indian captain taking the bait and helping the ball on its way to Zampa at short fine leg! Two wickets in the over; two wickets with the score on 252. Holder walks off slowly, gutted, realising that his team might have tossed this all away in the space of five deliveries.
46th over: West Indies 252-8 (Nurse 0) Target 289
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WICKET! Brathwaite c Finch b Starc 16 (West Indies 252-7)
Starc takes two balls to get the breakthrough! Great captaincy from Finch to bowl him out now rather than waiting. The wicket comes from a low, slower-ball full toss aimed right at the base of middle stump - nothing wrong with that. Brathwaite can’t get it over Finch, running back from mid-on to take a safe chance above his head. What a wonderful game this has been with twist after twist.
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45th over: West Indies 251-6 (Holder 50, Brathwaite 16) Target 289 Cummins starts his final over and Brathwaite takes him on with a horizontal bat down the ground, clearing mid-off and reaching the rope. He’s up and about now. There is a run out chance when he picks out Warner at mid-on and gallops to the danger end but the Australian opener can’t execute an unlikely direct hit. Cummins doesn’t stop, banging in short to Holder with a rapid bouncer to finish. 10-3-41-2 is his return - a fine job across four spells. West Indies need 38 from 30.
Holder to 50!
44th over: West Indies 243-6 (Holder 50, Brathwaite 9) Target 289 The captain pulls hard to midwicket for one, raising his half-century in the same number of balls, giving the strike back to Brathwaite... who breaks the shackles with a GIANT SIX! Coulter-Nile went for the bouncer with three men back but Carlos took him on anyway, not all that far from hitting it out of the stadium. What a time for it!
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43rd over: West Indies 233-6 (Holder 47, Brathwaite 2) Target 289 Cummins turn for a frugal over, just one from it. They are fighting back really well here, showing all their experience with the ball. What a competitor Cummins is. Menawhile, Brathwaite is 2 off 10 balls, really stuggling to get down the other end. Holder might have to consider milking the strike a bit here. But they have ample time.
“Brother Collins.” I’m a bit late on Robert Wilson’s second email, but I am going to publish it anyway. “Bold prediction time. If they don’t get Holder out in the next five overs, they’re done. I know I risk coming off all creepy and stalker-like with my outsized Holder-love but I need your guidance. I know it’s fine to admire, to esteem and to approbate, but how bad is it that I am now starting to idly doodle his name on my schoolbag and wistfully wondering if he ever thinks about me?”
42nd over: West Indies 232-6 (Holder 46, Brathwaite 2) Target 289 Excellent over from Coulter-Nile, using his changes of pace wisely to prevent Brathwaite or Holder freeing up their arms, beating the bat twice along the way. The seven runs an over West Indies require should not be an issue... but still. Starc next?
41st over: West Indies 230-6 (Holder 45, Brathwaite 1) Target 289 Zampa has been shuffled back to the pavilion end for his tenth and final over of what has been a wild ride for him today. Holder makes sure it is a good one for the Windies, leaping into a full delivery, smacking it to the short boundary at extra cover. Whaddashot! Zampa gets back into the over and wins a genuine outside edge but there is nobody at slip, so another four runs are added to the total. So close for Australia. Instead, their task gets that little bit tougher. The spinner finishes with 10-0-58-1.
That extra-cover drive from Holder was Laxmanesque.
— Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) June 6, 2019
40th over: West Indies 221-6 (Holder 37, Brathwaite 0) Target 289 Dot, dot, dot, dot... SLAP! It’s been the order of the day, the West Indian batsmen electing to go at the fifth an sixth balls. Holder’s pull shot off NCN gives the sweeper at midwicket no chance despite only having 15 metres to make up. Still, four off works for Finch and co. MIDNIGHT OIL playing over the PA at the end of the over.
“Wonder how many of these decisions would have been made in favour of Aus if WI had no reviews still available?” ponders Brian Withington. “Gayle’s third (unsuccessful) review was only retained on a narrow margin, so we might have been looking at a clutch of shockers if the umpires are genuinely not influenced by such considerations. Not sure I’d trust this pair with directions to the pavillion though.” Fair point. Very different game today if DRS isn’t involved.
39th over: West Indies 217-6 (Holder 33, Brathwaite 0) Target 289 A lesson for Starc: aim at the woodwork. If he can direct 10 of his remaining 12 balls there, well, you do the math. 72 needed from 66 balls.
Maxwell taking a catch too good for the cameraman to follow. #Maxwellball
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) June 6, 2019
WICKET! Russell c Maxwell b Starc 15 (West Indies 216-6)
WHAT A CATCH! Glenn Maxwell! Running back with the flight, into the sun, a million miles in the air... and he’s pouched it! Starc aimed at the stumps to force the error, Russell making room and miscuing. But WHAT A CATCH! The Australians celebrate accordingly, realising that with that wicket they are alive!
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38th over: West Indies 210-5 (Holder 32, Russell 11) Target 289 Zampa to Russell, can he force a false stroke? Not from the first ball, the West Indies all-rounder heeeeeeeaving it for SIX! Nothing wrong with the ball but Russell is just too good; too clean. He goes again, one bounce over the rope straight down the ground. 12 from the over. Forget 50 overs, if Australia can’t break this partnership in the next over or two, the Windies are winning this in 45 and collecting some NRR.
37th over: West Indies 198-5 (Holder 31, Russell 0) Target 289 Starc has to hit some stumps with yorkers. He has to find the 2015 version of himself and slip through the gate of the lower order. Surely, he has to do that. Now. Nup. Not this over. After a couple of length balls, he goes for the bumper and Holder says I’ll have a bit of that. Sure, it’s a bit top-edgey, but it’s easily over the rope in front of us in the press box... SIX RUNS! Right, back to Starc who surely will go for the toes this time and... No! It’s another bouncer! Happy with his lot from the previous delivery, Holder gets ducks under it. This doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
36th over: West Indies 191-5 (Holder 24, Russell 0) Target 289 Holding is also annoyed with Zampa/Australia for multiple appeals. After being denied the wicket, Zampa holds his nerve for the remainder of the over, Holder grabbing a single but nothing further. That helps. Russell opts not to try and smack the first ball out of the ground. He looked quite sore earlier today in that right knee, but I’m sure his job will be clearing the rope rather than galloping between the wickets.
NOT OUT! Would you believe it! Yes, Zampa’s toppie is pitching in line with leg stump but it is sliding down! That’s four overturned decisions and a fifth where Gayle was confirmed as out but the review was retained. It must be a record. “The umpiring in this game has been atrocious,” says Mikey Holding on TV.
IS HOLDER LBW TO ZAMPA? Once again, he has been given out. One again, DRS has been called upon. Can it save another Windies batsman? Let’s find out!
WICKET! Hope c Khawaja b Cummins 68 (West Indies 190-5)
Ooooh, no. Shai! A nothing delivery on his pads to end the over, a nothing shot - a lazy shot - the ball the landing in the hands of Khawaja at mid-on. A leading edge, the end of his long stand. Game on again, which is entirely right given the way this contest has jumped around all day long. Enter Andre Russell. Whoa.
35th over: West Indies 190-5 (Holder 23) Target 289
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34th over: West Indies 188-4 (Hope 67, Holder 22) Target 289 That really hurts Australia, Holder launching into the first ball through cover for four and enjoying it so much that he repeats the shot from the next delivery with the same result! With eight off the first two, they’re happy enough with a couple of additional singles on offer to the sweepers down the ground. I suspect Zampa will be back next from this end. They have to find a way through soon... or this is over.
This has a similar feel to England on Monday @collinsadam. Early breakthroughs, followed by sloppy bowling and fielding. 4 down batting, with both results possible, but wickets will likely mean the end of the Windies chances. They're under less pressure, but not a lot.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) June 6, 2019
33rd over: West Indies 178-4 (Hope 66, Holder 13) Target 289 The story of the middle overs for Australia, Cummins doing it nicely until ball five when Hope finds a way to find the rope. It is resourceful batting, jumping around in his crease across his stumps to open up the legside. This is Hope’s match to win from here.
I missed this earlier. No good. WHEN WILL NO-BALLS BE AUTOMATED? The ICC have the tech, they used it in a bilateral series between England and Pakistan in 2016. They say that they can’t afford it. But for a World Cup? Hmmmm.
Have you seen this? Should have been a free hit when Gayle was finally out. Surely so egregious they should send Gayle back in. If you’re going to have replays let’s go the whole way. pic.twitter.com/YEQAKf7lKY
— Tom Barneby (@TomBarneby) June 6, 2019
32nd over: West Indies 173-4 (Hope 62, Holder 12) Target 289 Six from Maxwell’s over, collected with three twos from Hope, to deep point then extra cover then fine leg. Clever batting, striking just wide of the sweepers. Maxwell is through five overs for 21. He might need to bowl a few more yet. In saying that, I doubt Finch will assume this is going to 50. Australia will have to win this with wickets.
31st over: West Indies 167-4 (Hope 56, Holder 12) Target 289 Speaking of Cummins, he is back into the attack from the pavilion end. Going short at Holder at the first opportunity but the 6’6” skipper isn’t so worried, timing it beautifully off his hip through midwicket for his second boundary. Three singles makes seven from the over, the required rate still hovering around a comfortable 6.5 an over.
30th over: West Indies 160-4 (Hope 54, Holder 7) Target 289 Would you believe, a maiden for Maxwell. It wasn’t the best over early on but Holder failed to make the most of it before his close-call lbw moment. What happens next?!
“I’ve got a soft spot for Pat Cummins,” emails David Nottingham. “He’s bowled well and he’s been signing autographs in the outfield. Not such a fan of Starc seeing as I was looking forward to a Gayle masterclass.”
Yep, you’re spot on with your character assessment of Pat - he’s a wonderful fella. Mind you, they’re all pretty good with autographs and selfies these days, I reckon.
NOT OUT! DRS shows it is just pitching outside leg. Holder survives. It looked out in real time - Holder missing his sweep with Maxwell operating around the wicket - but he’s been saved. West Indies have used DRS four times today and still have the chance to use it again if they need it later. Wonderful drama.
HAS MAXWELL PICKED UP HOLDER LBW? He has been given! But the West Indies captain is taking it to the DRS!
29th over: West Indies 160-4 (Hope 54, Holder 7) Target 289 Spin twins, with Zampa now the third Australian bowler to begin at the broadcast end only to shift to the pavilion end. He took some tap from his previous over and does again here, Holder getting deep enough in the crease to carve away a marginally shorter delivery. After that start, five further runs are taken without risk to the sweepers. A run a ball for 21 overs won’t bother the Windies. Australia must bowl them out.
28th over: West Indies 151-4 (Hope 51, Holder 1) Target 289 In comes the skipper. Hopes gives him the strike and he’s off the mark with a push through cover to keep the strike. This is anyone’s game. Don’t go anywhere.
WICKET! Hetmyer run out Cummins/Maxwell 21 (West Indies 149-4)
From NOWHERE! Maxwell into the attack and from his second ball Hope strikes hard off the back foot to Cummins at mid-off on the circle, prompting Hetmyer to charge down towards him. Realising there isn’t a single there, Hope sends him back but it is too late. The Cummins throw to Maxwell sees him short by metres. Goodness me, what a pulsating game of cricket this is!
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27th over: West Indies 149-3 (Hope 50, Hetmyer 21) Target 289 Another big over, two boundaries added for Hope off NCN! The first is a simple glance off his pads from a ball without much on it, the next is an outstanding straight drive with the man up inside the circle at mid-off. Hope to 50 off 76 balls with one to midwicket to finish. 38 runs from the last five overs, 11 from this one.
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26th over: West Indies 138-3 (Hope 39, Hetmyer 21) Target 289 Ooooh! Zampa is bowling googly after googly at Hetmyer, beating him twice with balls that evade the outside edge. In response, to the final delivery, the left-hander gets down low to sweep the wrong’un and makes great contact - another four! Smith at slip has his hands on his head, suggesting that this was hit-and-hope stuff. But it doesn’t matter because they are keeping the board ticking heathily during every over now.
25th over: West Indies 133-3 (Hope 38, Hetmyer 17) Target 289 Coulter-Nile does replace Starc, which feels like a good idea. But it doesn’t change the trend of the last few overs, Hetmyer smacking a short delivery to the rope at midwicket after the pair rotated the strike easily enough to begin. Boundaries in six of the last eight overs, by my quick scan. That’s all they need to do.
“Regardless of the result of this game, it is evident that the Windies have got their mojo back,” emails Nuggehalli Nigam. “They always had talent, but is there a precise point of time at which they got their self belief back?”
It is worth noting that they didn’t qualify for the last global tournament, the Champions Trophy, and only made it into this one the hard way with Afghanistan. What a remarkable story it would be if they found a way to be there on the final day at Lord’s on the 14th of July. A lot might hinge on the next hour.
24th over: West Indies 126-3 (Hope 36, Hetmyer 12) Target 289 Changing fortunes for Hope and Zampa, the former successful in putting away a full toss then a half-tracker. His gains have been hard won this afternoon so far, those just his third and fourth boundaries from 66 balls in the middle, but they’ll help plenty. For Zampa’s part, between the two four-balls he was up for an enthusiastic lbw appeal but an inside edge was clipped on the way through to the right-handers’s front pad.
23rd over: West Indies 116-3 (Hope 27, Hetmyer 11) Target 289 Starc again, going short to Hetmyer, who needs no second inviation to climb into a pull shot, creamed into the boundary! Love that aggression. I suspect the attack-leader might be given a break, four overs up his sleeve to burst through the lower order.
22nd over: West Indies 111-3 (Hope 27, Hetmyer 6) Target 289 Outstanding middle-overs bowling from Zampa, his fourth over here going for three runs as well. His approach of attacking the stumps with plenty of overspin is working perfectly, neither batsmen willing to take on that kind of accuracy at this stage of the chase.
“Ad.” Paris Bob! “As always, classical myth shows us the way. Now that absurd statistical outlier (and destroyer of all moral narrative), Gayle is out, this becomes a classical Quest Story, an ordeal both hortatory and allegorical. It’s all a bit zippy and dragonish out there and if the West Indies Argonauts get something out of this, it will be due to their very own Jason’s wily and exemplary leadership. Of course, this means that Warner or Smith are the Golden Fleece in this analogy but judging by the crowd, everyone’s very much up for a bit of post-match skinning.
Starc looks up for it though.
21st over: West Indies 108-3 (Hope 27, Hetmyer 3) Target 289 Starc for a second go, his earlier spell of four overs including the wicket of Chris Gayle after twice having him given out and overturned in the space of three balls. As usual when the left-armer is on, plenty is happening. Initially, four leg byes from a yorker that isn’t quite on target, Hetmyer getting his boot in the way. Next, a brilliant bumper that floors the new man. Then, a very wide ball down leg that isn’t far away from beating the ‘keeper for the second time in this innings. This is how it works with Starc in 2019 - take what you get, knowing his best is just about unplayable.
20th over: West Indies 102-3 (Hope 27, Hetmyer 2) Target 289 One young gun replaces another, Hetmyer off the mark first ball with one to square leg. Zampa busts out his biting wrong’un to both batsmen before his successful set is done, nearly sneaking through Hope’s gate then beating the new man’s outside edge by a long way. Three runs and a wicket from it. Zampa has 1/9 from three.
“Hope the Windies opener out in the middle stops being Shai and starts scoring the elegant runs which we know he can,” requests OB Jato. “At some point, he’ll start to more of a hindrance than an efficient anchor if he can’t score the runs at a SR of 80+” He’s doing a good job in the Steve Smith role for now, but you’re right, he has all the shots and I’m looking forward to him rolling them out soon.
WICKET! Pooran c Finch b Zampa 40 (West Indies 99-3)
Excellent cricket from the Australians, Zampa drawing Pooran into a miscued drive that the captain Finch takes running back with the flight at backward point with both feet off the ground. They give it big in the celebration, knowing that they needed to see the back of the classy left-hander.
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19th over: West Indies 99-2 (Hope 26, Pooran 40) Target 289 Six added from Stoinis’ second over thanks to another Hope boundary, once again taking on the short ball successfully, pulling behind square into the rope. He’s going very well.
18th over: West Indies 93-2 (Hope 21, Pooran 39) Target 289 Zampa is right on top of Hope initially, attacking the leg stump line with his overspinners while mixing up his speed. But the moment he drops short, after four dots, Hope jumps back to crunch the legspinner into the gap at cover. There isn’t much of a gap between the two sweepers there either - he’s timed the pants off it.
17th over: West Indies 88-2 (Hope 16, Pooran 39) Target 289 Marcus Stoinis gets his first go of the day. He has an important role to play as Australia’s fifth bowler, in combination with Maxwell. Pooran has a pop at the first short ball he sees from the all-rounder, a top edge off his big bat floating over the rope for six! Not the most convincing stroke but it is the first big one for the West Indies in their chase. They are right back on track now after a tough start. Stoinis recovers, two singles coming from his final four balls.
16th over: West Indies 80-2 (Hope 15, Pooran 32) Target 289 This is a big day for Adam Zampa, the first choice spinner. He does well to get down low to Pooran’s straight drive, deflecting onto Hope’s stumps but the third umpire confirms that he has made it back to his ground. Pooran went hard at him again later through cover and was (kinda) dropped! The reality is, Maxwell somehow got one hand to it and saved three runs. The replay confirms as much. Nice start from the leggie.
15th over: West Indies 78-2 (Hope 15, Pooran 31) Target 289 NCN has the final over before the drinks break and it is his best yet: three dots, three singles. We’re right into the accumulation phase now. Australia needs another wicket soon, though.
“There are many things on which I dwell,” rhymes the ever thoughtful Abhijato Sensarma. “What is the meaning of life? Why are we all here? And how do I keep loving Maxwell? This entire Australian team is the biggest mystery I’ve ever seen. There are lots of podiums, lots of headlines, and lots of controversies in which they’ve been. Finch, Starc, Cummins, Zampa, Khawaja, Warner, Smith and Tim Paine. One learns to admire them, then hate them, then love them again. About this side, a billion people have a billion things to say. But even at the end of the day, when it comes to the Australian cricket team one can never simply look away.”
Linked only to your chosen form, I participated in a rap song about India’s search for a World Cup No4 the other day. I’m sincerely hoping that it doesn’t actually surface anywhere on the world wide web. The things we do for love cash.
14th over: West Indies 75-2 (Hope 13, Pooran 30) Target 289 Better from Maxwell, squeezing out an accurate over that cramped up Hope initially, the sweepers on posh side each found with three singles to complete the set.
“Those stumps are a sullen lot aren’t they?” according to Aditi Prabhudesai. “If a 147 kmph delivery can’t sway them, what can? Perhaps the bowler, at the beginning of the run-up, can whisper some sweet-nothings to the ball. The white ball can then be the bearer of the glad tidings to the ruby stumps.”
It does seem to defy the laws of quantum physics (let’s not pretend that I know what that means, but I was heavily influened by watching Quantum Leap as a kid) that it is possible for Starc to hit the stump only for the bails not to dislodge.
13th over: West Indies 72-2 (Hope 11, Pooran 29) Target 289 NCN’s turn to be spun around to the Pavilion End, which must be the one the Aussie quicks fancy. And he prompts a false stroke immediately, the roar of caaaaaatch going up around the field before Hope’s top edge falls in front of the man at long leg. They exchange singles to the man on the short boundary to finish; square leg for the left-handed Pooran, deep point when Hope is on strike. They need 5.89 an over from here.
“The Win Predictor algorithm is going to need to lie down in the shade with a cool flannel after this game is done,” Brian Withington adds. “Possibly with a brace for whiplash injuries, too.”
Shaun Pollock noted during the previous over that WinViz has the game level at 50/50. Nice. Of course, never forget that it is a backward-looking measure, contrary to the misleading Win Predictor name that it has when used on telly.
12th over: West Indies 68-2 (Hope 9, Pooran 27) Target 289 Glenn Maxwell into the attack from the same end that Nurse bowled for the West Indies, operating around the wicket from our broadcast end. Pooran responds to the introduction of spin a pair of delightful shots, cutting hard to the short boundary - just beating Zampa - then driving inside-out for three out to deep cover. Really good batting. Hope isn’t far away from getting four himself from the final delivery, just picking out the man at short cover with a well-struck crunch off the back foot. 10 runs off it.
“All quiet on the Trent Bridge front,” Brian Withington quips. Something like that.
11th over: West Indies 58-2 (Hope 7, Pooran 19) Target 289 Cummins gives up two runs in the middle of this over but they aren’t off the bat, drifting down the legside at Hope then misdirecting a bumper too far over the right-hander’s head. He’s back locating that nagging area around Hope’s ribs before sending a third wide of the over down, again beyond leg stump. That makes ten wides for the West Indies.
10th over: West Indies 54-2 (Hope 6, Pooran 19) Target 289 NCN sends down the final over of the power play, this time able to keep Pooran quiet with a much fuller line than in his first crack at him. When he does go short, the Windies young gun turns him around the corner with ease, Hope then timing two off his pads through midwicket. Nice batting. Oh, less so from the final ball when trying to repeat the stroke, a leading edge lucky not to go to hand behind the wicket.
9th over: West Indies 50-2 (Hope 3, Pooran 18) Target 289 Cummins has been swung around to the pavilion end to follow Starc. And races through a third maiden to go alongside the over where Gayle took him for three boundaries. Hope is the man down the business end, happy to play the Australian superstar with respect whether he’s at the stumps or his helmet. One jumps off a length and whacks him in the thigh pad off the inside edge. That doesn’t tickle. Top contest.
8th over: West Indies 50-2 (Hope 3, Pooran 18) Target 289 Nathan Coulter-Nile replaces Cummins, presumably to squeeze a final bit of swing out of this still newish ball. But he doesn’t do himself any favours to begin here, the star of Australia’s batting innings twice giving Pooran a chance to free his arms, the No4 twice flogging him over midwicket for boundaries. He’s 18 from just 10 deliveries.
“What an interesting game so far!” emails Damien McClean. “I’m watching with interest from a cold Melbourne. Great fight back from Australia, I was about ready to switch off after Maxwell’s dismissal. I am an avid Maxwell fan; as I know you are, but like most of those you love they have a way of hurting you. I was desperate for him to have an impact, and at that point of the innings it was such a perfect opportunity. I suppose if we love it when he pulls it off we have to accept it when he doesn’t.” Well summed up. It did sting. But he’ll be back.
“Looking forward to see how the Aussies defend this total now! Should be fascinating. Thanks for your work, and looking forward to your podcast recap tomorrow!” Oh, you mean this? Thank you. We won’t be short of material.
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7th over: West Indies 41-2 (Hope 2, Pooran 10) Target 289 Very nice start from Pooran, driving Starc through cover with a nice high front elbow to get off the mark, racing away for four. He collects another boundary to the other side of the park, squeezing a full ball into the gap where the rope is only 60m from the bat.
“What figures are available for ODI records of a batsman’s successful DRS reviews in a single over?” asks John Starbuck. I know that CricViz keep that very stat. I’m sure they will have it up on their social media feed soon. I’ll keep an eye out.
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6th over: West Indies 31-2 (Hope 2, Pooran 0) Target 289 Mikey Holding is not a happy man on the TV comms, believing that the ball to dismiss Gayle, while clipping the leg stump, was not hitting flush. “DRS saves the umpire not the cricketer,” he says. Cummins gets a chance at Hope, a man who knows all about playing a matchwinning innings in this country. The Australian quick is accurate with his short ball after attacking the stumps early in the over, but the Windies No3 is good enough to get under it. Cummins has the unusual analysis of 3-2-15-1.
5th over: West Indies 31-2 (Hope 2, Pooran 0) Target 289 Take a breath, yeah? Pooran is the new man, Starc hitting his bat with a straight, full ball to finish.
“Afternoon Adam,” Hello Nick Parish.” I’m desperately supporting the Windies. Partly because, y’know, we all want Australia to lose as a matter of course, don’t we? But mainly because the only match I have tickets for is the last group game between the Aussies and the Saffers. If Australia wins this, it looks as though Australia could go into that match already through to the semi-finals, and South Africa already eliminated, which would be the very deadest of dead rubbers. Up the Windies!”
Don’t be so sure. I reckon this is going to be an egalitarian scrap, the final four resolved on the final day with NRR determining all semi-finalists. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, I think we might have a classic on our hands.
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WICKET! Gayle lbw b Starc 21 (West Indies 31-2)
Gayle is gone! Starc has done the job for Australia, his delivery projected via DRS to be hitting enough of leg stump for the decision to be upheld.
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IS GAYLE LBW THIS TIME???? Once again he is given and reviews! Will Starc win this battle at last? Let’s find out.
4th over: West Indies 27-1 (Gayle 19, Hope 1) Target 289 Boom! Boom! Boom! Three fours for Gayle in the Cummins over to put a nice early dent in this chase. Given the strike from Hope early in the over, the veteran middled a swat down the ground to begin, muscled the next one over Warner running back with the flight before pulling with authority to finish. 15 from the over. “We could be looking at one of the all time great games,” writes Alan Synnott and I couldn’t agree more.
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3rd over: West Indies 12-1 (Gayle 5, Hope 0) Target 289 Boooooo roar the crowd as the players go back to their positions! I’m not sure how the Australians can be blamed for going up for either of those but these aren’t normal circumstances. Before the mayhem, I should note that Starc bowled a beauty at Gayle, spitting off a length and finding the outside edge, flying over the cordon for four. Oh, and he nearly spooned a catch to cover. The most eventful over of the World Cup so far!
NOT OUT! Missing leg. By quite a long way, too! Umpire Gaffaney has had a shocker there.
Updated
GAYLE IS GIVEN OUT LBW! He is reviewing again! IT IS ALL HAPPENING! We go through the process for the second time in three balls...
NOT OUT! It is not an inside edge, the noise the ball looking to nick the off-stump on the way through, explaining the noise! But no bail movement. BLIMEY!
IS GAYLE CAUGHT BEHIND? He’s been given out by the umpire and decided to send it upstairs. Stand by. This is a huge moment.
2nd over: West Indies 7-1 (Gayle 1, Hope 0) Target 289 To think the strife that Australia were in a couple of hours ago. Now, they are probably one further early breakthrough away from a commanding position. The new man Hope gets a half volley on leg stump first up but picks out square leg. Oh, then the final ball keeps very low going under under his bat, no more than an inch away from off-stump. That’s one benefit of bowling last on a pitch used twice in a week. That ends a wicket maiden to start for Cummins.
WICKET! Lewis c Smith b Cummins 1 (West Indies 7-1)
Edged and taken at second slip. That’s the perfect line and length angling across the left-hander. Cummins is in the book and Australia are away.
Updated
1st over: West Indies 7-0 (Gayle 1, Lewis 1) Target 289 In the very same way that the West Indies started with the ball this morning, they have been gifted five wides from Starc from the first delivery of their reply, the opening bowler spraying well down the legside and well beyond the ‘keeper Carey. Gayle is off the mark from the first legal delivery to square leg with one, Lewis following suit with a glance a fraction finer, stopped well by Zampa who is sweeping on that rope. Starc’s first short offering is well outside the off stump, left well alone as a result. Gayle defends the first ball on his stumps, the last one then nicely directed in the channel around fifth stump with Gayle shouldering arms again. 94mph says the radar. Sharp.
Thanks, Sam. Smashing job. What an entertaining first innings that was. Australia would have surely taken 200-ish when they lost their fifth wicket. Instead, they have set West Indies a total that will be the biggest successfully chased in this tournament if they get up. As for Nathan Coulter-Nile, talk about repaying the faith. Right, the players are back on the field with Chris Gayle preparing to face the first ball from Mitch Starc, who is running towards me from the Pavilion End. Strap in. PLAY!
West Indies rip through Australia’s top order, Australia recover
Hard to know where to start here - some wonderful individual performances on both sides, and some eyebrow-raisingly bad ones on both sides, too.
A bouncer barrage was promised, and it was delivered. That said, it was a huge surprise to see the majority of Australia’s top order succumb so meekly to it - each of Finch, Warner, Khawaja and Maxwell were worked over and dismissed in a manner that will jar coach Justin Langer. As they say, there is now a blueprint.
Khawaja and Maxwell’s dismissals will specifically grate. For Khawaja, the image of him backing away after two bouncers will not please the purists (or anyone), while Maxwell’s decision to hook his second ball will sadly (and you’d have to say, validly) reinforce a number of views about his temperament.
For the West Indies, it was a ferocious period of bowling, that harked back to the days of old - Fire In Babylon and all that. OShane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell and Andre Russell tore the batsmen asunder, and left Australia teetering at 79-5.
Steve Smith, however, looked assured throughout, and held it together, which is what he does. Alex Carey was bright in his 45, and he was followed by Nathan Coulter-Nile who may well have tipped this back in Australia’s favour with an exhibition of power hitting that lifted him and Australia to a height not earlier foreseen. In Coulter-Nile’s case, his 92 from 60 deliveries is the highest score made at a World Cup from a batsman listed from 8 to 11 - just underscoring the scale of the innings.
While this was happening, Sheldon Cottrell was able to snaffle one of the game’s greatest ever catches, running to his left and ensnaring Steve Smith’s bullet-like whip over square leg, that was comfortably going for six, and possibly taking somebody’s head off. You will see highlights of this for years. Was it better than Stokes’ catch? Do we have to compare? It was absolutely brilliant: 10/10.
Catch aside, there’s no doubt the West Indies’ fielding fell apart, as did their bowling. Whether or not they chase down this total, that will be a talking point for them - as will Andre Russell’s fitness - as he was forced to leave the ground on multiple occasions to tend to his knee.
After the innings, Coulter-Nile said: “It’s the sort of wicket where you have to take your time, and get used to the bounce. I’m not sure if it’s the wicket, or them ... but it definitely took time to get used to it.”
Is 288 a good score? In the context of 79-5, it most definitely is. The Windies will have to bat well to get there, but whether Australia can effect the same devastation with the short ball remains to be seen. You can stick around for that with Adam Collins, who joins next.
A big thanks to all who’ve joined me around the world. The emails and messages were sensational - even the multitude of grammatical corrections. Sorry to those I didn’t get to - this was a very hurried affair. Catch you next time.
Updated
Australia all out 288
Starc now caught at long-on, so another one for Brathwaite. An incredible recovery from Australia. Will follow with some end of innings thoughts.
Wicket! Coulter-Nile c Holder b Brathwaite 92 (Australia 284-9)
He falls short! Coulter-Nile holes out at long off, caught by Jason Holder. It was an excellent, excellent knock from the West Aussie. He’s changed the entire rhythm of the match with his clean hitting. Comfortably the most notable contribution he’s made to the national side.
Updated
48th over: Australia 282-8 (Starc 4, Coulter-Nile 90)
Coulter-Nile misses out on the first two balls from Thomas here, and can only get himself a single following a top yorker. Agreat first half of the over from the young quick. He gets a look at Starc, and gets another dot. Starc finds two doubles to finish, but it’s an altogether good over from Thomas, all things considering. His spell comes to an end - what an enigmatic package it was. He finishes with 2/63 from 10. He started the early rot.
Interesting from John Catchlove here:
“The WI aren’t fit enough. Play too much 20/20. Russell couldn’t bowl 8 overs. After 30 overs they fell apart. Wides, bad fielding, bowling all over the shop. One spectacular catch won’t stop the rot.
They won’t make the finals.
John Catchlove
Melbourne Aus”
Hard to disagree after the back half of this innings.
47th over: Australia 268-8 (Starc 0, Coulter-Nile 89)
An extraordinary innings from Coulter-Nile here. Following Cummins’ dismissal, Coulter-Nile goes four (lofted cover drive, four (pull shot), then single, bringing Starc on strike. He sees out the over. 18 balls remain...
While we’re talking about destructive innings’, check this piece on news of AB De Villiers’ proposal to play for SA this World Cup, 24 hours before the team selection.
Wicket! Cummins c Cottrell b Brathwaite 2 (Australia 268-8)
Cottrell is in the game! This time Cummins skies a shorter slower ball to deep backward square, and Cottrell takes a comparatively simpler catch. It leaves Coulter-Nile on strike. Starc is the next batsman.
Updated
46th over: Australia 268-7 (Cummins 2, Coulter-Nile 80)
More Gayle jester-ism. He falls to his right to stop one at short fine leg, and prevents a boundary to be fair. Soon after, Coulter-Nile hammers a boundary, and then cleanly hits a pull shot that ... checking ... hits the rope on the full and is six. It actually hits Brathwaite’s hand, and the ricochet changes the trajectory sufficiently to help it onto the rope. Win some, lose some. It’s technically a dropped catch, but Brathwaite was never in with a shot. Next ball, Coulter-Nile smashes Cottrell over mid-on for another six! He’s on 80 - the highest score for a number 8 at the World Cup, commentators tell us. Can he go all the way? Cummins gets a single from the last ball. Sixteen from the over. Some fightback, this.
45th over: Australia 252-7 (Cummins 0, Coulter-Nile 66)
Here we go. Smith lofts Thomas over mid-off (why is he up?) for four to kick things off. And then. And then. A ripsnorter of a take from Cottrell on the rope. Cottrell v Stokes. Stokes v Cottrell. It’s worth of comparison. I’ll leave it with you guys. It came at him fiercely. Smith got every piece of it. It will be a global highlight transcending cricket news.
Anyway, a few wides follow and Cummins sees out the over. Seven from it. Five overs remain.
Wicket! Smith c Cottrell b Thomas 73 (Australia 249-7)
What. A. Catch! Smith whips Thomas from middle stump flat and it’s going for six. Cottrell moves to his left, outstretches his left hand and it sticks! But the work’s not done. Momentum is taking him over the boundary. In a nanosecond he’s flicked the ball in the air, leaves the field of play, gets back in and takes the catch. It arrives to him faster than Stokes’ did, he moves laterally, deals with the boundary rope, and ends the innings of Australia’s senior batsman. Could be huge in the scheme of things. What a catch.
Updated
44th over: Australia 245-6 (Smith 69, Coulter-Nile 65)
Coulter-Nile executes a delicate little lap from Nurse’s bowling for a boundary from the first ball. There’s the requisite wide for the over, before Coulter-Nile is dropped at deep midwicket! He rocked onto the back foot at hit it hard. Hetmyer stormed in, overran it, and it and split it. There’s then a single, a two to extra cover, another single, a wide, and a single to finish. Twelve from it.
They surely can’t get 300 after being 38-4?
43rd over: Australia 233-6 (Smith 67, Coulter-Nile 57)
And now Australia gets moving. First, Smith throws his bat at one and gets a lucky slice fine of third man for four, before a single brings Coulter-Nile on strike and he unleashes. A skied two brings up his fifty, before he launches a huge six over long on and into the crowd. It’s a full toss, and it looks like the Windies are dipping rapidly.
Updated
42nd over: Australia 218-6 (Smith 62, Coulter-Nile 48)
Nurse getting through his over at great pace as the West Indies are behind their over rate, and finds himself more economical than his team-mates. Meanwhile, Coulter-Nile closes in on a maiden international fifty.
41st over: Australia 214-6 (Smith 60, Coulter-Nile 46)
Coulter-Nile gets another in the arc early this over, and lifts Brathwaite for a boundary. This has been an extremely valuable innings, and probably underscores why he bats above Cummins. It’s singles otherwise, and eight off the over.
Why is Andre Russell allowed to go off the field after he bowls when he goes into the game with this chronic knee injury.
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) June 6, 2019
Junior on ‘the front stool’, as they say.
40th over: Australia 206-6 (Smith 58, Coulter-Nile 40)
Ashley Nurse takes up the reigns; concedes only four. At one point Chris Gayle chases a ball - the crowd erupts. He extravagantly doffs his cap. Says a bit that this over felt like the Windies stemming the tide, rather than searching for a seventh. Although the partnership is now sixty, I think they need to keep searching.
Andre Russell has left the field
His knee does not look great. Hope he’s okay.
39th over: Australia 202-6 (Smith 56, Coulter-Nile 38)
It’s Russell again, he must really want Coulter-Nile’s wicket. He is declining in penetration, and now mixes his bumpers with slower balls. Just as Michael Holding scolds his compatriots for failing to place two men correctly behind square, Coulter-Nile then lifts Russell for six in drop-kick fashion. The ball cannons into a poor guy’s lunch too. That’s not a euphemism - his lunch went everywhere. It’s the fifty partnership for these two, of which Coulter-Nile’s hit 38!
Sixty balls remain in the innings - how many can Australia glean from it?
Updated
38th over: Australia 195-6 (Smith 56, Coulter-Nile 30)
Signs of this drifting for the Windies, some sloppiness creeping into the fielding as point and cover leave it to eachother to claim a ball, allowing Smith to gather two. Cottrell concedes yet another wide later in the over, and in between there’s three singles. Six from the over.
37th over: Australia 189-6 (Smith 53, Coulter-Nile 29)
If Australia continues at the same rate, they make 255, which would be a commendable effort after being 38-4 and 79-5. Here Coulter-Nile takes seven from Russell’s over after Smith took his single, punctuated by another top-edged hook for four that pierces deep backward square and long leg.
Must be hard to find some elbow room up on the high moral ground in England.#ICCWorldCup2019 #stevesmith
— Greg Baum (@GregBaum) June 6, 2019
36th over: Australia 181-6 (Smith 52, Coulter-Nile 22)
Two singles bookend this over, but in the middle there’s a boundary for Smith (an edge from the toe of a huge slash outside off), and it brings up Smith’s fifty. He’s the only guy who’s looked consistently capable of handling the short barrage, and though it’s taken 77 balls, it’s been critical to keeping this innings together. Of course, there’s boos.
This from Phil Withall:
“Evening Sam,
As nice as it is to see the Australian batsman struggle, and it is very nice indeed, there is always the nagging realization that the Australian bowlers are more than capable of destroying any batting lineup put before them.
It’s a little bit like sharing a chocolate bar knowing that the last piece is someone else’s. Satisfying yet ultimately disappointing.
Cheers”
It’s interesting. I wonder if they have the same ability to bowl that consistently menacing shorter length. While they match and may occasionally outstrip the Windies for pace, there’s something a little more conventional about their method.
Updated
35th over: Australia 175-6 (Smith 47, Coulter-Nile 21)
The short stuff continues to Coulter-Nile, and he rides his luck. It’s Russell who continues (I worry for his body), and Coulter-Nile is able to top edge a hook for four. Then there’s two more wides, before Coulter-Nile takes Russell over mid-wicket, where the shot achieves more height than length, but lands safely at deep wicket. Two from that. A yorker follows, which Coulter-Nile digs out. This is great cricket, I have to say. A single to finish. Commentators make the point that Coulter-Nile doesn’t look in full control, and that “something will happen soon.” I’d agree, but how many more overs can Russell manage?
Another note from our friend, Robert Wilson.
“I’m losing my mind here. It’s very worrying. They’re just immense, this team. crawling out from under the weight of that cricketing legacy is an incredible effort. Doing it while being likeable, is something else entirely. If they were on Free-to-Air TV, cricket would abound in over-excited ten year olds and would thus be healthy for decades.”
Quite.
34th over: Australia 166-6 (Smith 47, Coulter-Nile 14)
Thomas looks likely, but he concedes plenty, too. Twelve from this one. Thomas zeroes one in at the stumps early and Coulter-Nile squeezes him for four down the ground. There’s a two, a wide, and then a half-volley on leg stump is lifted by the West Australian behind square for another boundary. There’s a single to finish.
33rd over: Australia 153-6 (Smith 46, Coulter-Nile 3)
Michael Clarke tells us that Coulter-Nile and Russell know each other well from Kolkata’s IPL unit - though who that benefits, I’m not sure. Coulter-Nile drives hard but can’t beat mid-off; still, he gets off strike. Smith, after being hit on the hand, is now waiting back for that short one and misses a drive as a result. Russell - what a fantastic cricketer he is. As I type that, he drops short and Smith punches through the off-side for three, so will face up next over. Four from this one.
Updated
32nd over: Australia 149-6 (Smith 43, Coulter-Nile 2)
Great change from Holder, OShane Thomas straight back into the attack. Coulter-Nile looks ill-equipped for Thomas’s pace - real tail-ender stuff, at least at this stage. There are four men square in the ring waiting for one to pop up. A full ball then tails in and Coulter-Nile somehow gets bat on it and gets off strike. But then Smith is not immune! A ball kicks up off the surface and wraps him on the hand very hard - looks like his finger might be in trouble. Physio’s out on the ground.
Life's certainties: death, taxes and Australia possessing a wicketkeeper who can bail them out at number seven.
— Marc Higginson (@marchigginson) June 6, 2019
31st over: Australia 148-6 (Smith 43, Coulter-Nile 1)
Dre Russ is back, and the body looks extremely creaky to start with. But of course, he provides the X-factor and knocks over Carey, bringing Coulter-Nile to the crease. Coulter-Nile leaves the first one and how has it missed!? Dre Russ wheels away in agony. The next one is quick and Coulter-Nile is about a quarter of the way through his pull shot when it hits the splice. It pops up but neither Hope nor the man at backward square leg can get there in time. Put it away man!
Wicket! Carey c Hope b Russell 45 (Australia 147-6)
Dre Russ gets the breakthrough! Carey’s caught on the crease as a fuller ball tails away; it takes the edge and Carey has to go. Important innings from Carey, but a sense he missed out on something significant.
Updated
30th over: Australia 146-5 (Smith 42, Carey 45)
Nurse continues around the wicket to the right-handed Smith. He’s wearing Mark Waugh Oakley/Bolle glasses while he bowls, too. He drops short a few times early but both Smith and Carey fail to put him away. They keep ticking it over, three from that over.
Drinks.
@sjjperry wasn’t this meant to be a World Cup dominated by the bat? 18 innings so far at an average of 225 an innings. Partially down to low totals to chase, but on the whole the bowlers are dominant - which may explain England’s problems as they’re so reliant on the batsmen.
— @BunnyCorcoran (@FinbarSaunders6) June 6, 2019
29th over: Australia 143-5 (Smith 40, Carey 44)
Brathwaite is back, and concedes six. As he warms up, he starts banging them halfway down the wicket. It bothers neither batsman. The Aussies are growing in confidence here.
I’ve been waiting for a quieter over to post this wonderful email from Robert Wilson (thanks Robert). Here it is:
“Dear Sam, I love Australia like you should love puppies or children but the West Indies are the bright, clear dawn of all cricket love. Of course, they may not win this match but, notwithstanding, I’m getting slightly worried about how happy and rejuvenated this is making me. All euphoria is intrinsically hazardous. Especially that which makes you feel like a teenager and start humming Wham! songs and shouting random anti-Thatcher slogans in your sleepy Parisian neighbourhood. Nothing could come close to the embarrassing and age-inappropriate awe I feel for Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards but Jason Holder is, at the very least, making me check the placings. He’s the best captain in world cricket by whatever a country mile actually is.
Robert Wilson
PS, Would you like to hear my courageous and inspiring a capella version of Kajagoogoo’s ‘Too Shy’?”
Will not sully this prose with my own comments. Thanks again.
28th over: Australia 137-5 (Smith 39, Carey 39)
Ashley Nurse’s offspin is introduced, and Smith attempts to hit the cover off his first ball through cover. He succeeds only in French cutting the new bowler, the ball missing the stumps narrowly. Carey then bravely reverse-sweeps Nurse for four - the first ball he faced from him. A few singles finish things off. Carey has raced to parity with Smith, both on 39. Can Australia keep this going for another ten overs?
27th over: Australia 129-5 (Smith 37, Carey 33)
Seven from this over, headlined by another cracking cover drive from Carey. Smith missed out on a boundary with an off drive earlier on (but found a run), while Carey tucks one around the corner for two to finish.
Brian Withington with a solid suggestion:
“Hi Sam,
Lovely to see a bit of statistical precision entering the OBO with your 19th over assessment of Steve Smith’s relative comfort level measured at ‘four standard deviations’. Can I volunteer that we introduce the ‘confidence interval of uncertainty’ as another measure of batting prowess (outside off-stump)? I’m not sure what it means yet but I like it’s aura of spurious precision. DRS decisions are of course a natural application of hypothesis testing, and I suspect Bayes would have had a field day with the a priori umpire’s soft call.”
I have suspected so, too. *Looks up Bayes immediately*
Updated
26th over: Australia 122-5 (Smith 36, Carey 27)
Cottrell continues, and it’s one, dot, one, dot, one, dot. Australia steadying slightly, but far more work to do.
Andy Tyacke with something relevant:
“Since, as I type, wides are the fourth highest score for Australia today, should they not be rewarded with their own run rate on this occasion?
Seriously: I can’t believe that bowlers at this level are gifting so
many unnecessary runs - even against as suicidal a gang as Australia on this day!
Andy Tyacke
Bockhorst
Germany”
18 extras, 15 wides today. The bouncer tactic will leave a team open to more wides - but not that many. Great point.
25th over: Australia 119-5 (Smith 34, Carey 26)
Missed chance! Holder changes ends and aims straight to Smith’s helmet. Smith hooks and immediately lets out a pessimistic groan. Cottrell comes around but takes a poor angle, and eventually slips. The ball bounces in front of him, then over him, rolling into the rope. If he judges it correctly, it’s a definite chance. Smith then whips Holder through midwicket for three next ball, before Carey steals another single later on. Their running is excellent.
Updated
24th over: Australia 110-5 (Smith 26, Carey 25)
Carey counterpunches. Cottrell comes back into the attack and Carey goes dot, four, four, single. The two boundaries were back foot slashes through the offside, hit hard. He then follows with the obligatory quick single, which typically elicits cries of “good batting.” This time M Slater did the job on comms. Smith then gets Carey back on strike before Carey finishes the over by gracefully depositing a wide half-volley through cover for four. Must be the first time in the match Australia has ‘won’ two overs in a row. 24 from the last two overs.
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23rd over: Australia 96-5 (Smith 25, Carey 12)
More sternum material for Carey, this time from lynchpin OShane Thomas. This time, an Australian batsman succeeds. He leans back glides one over third slip for a boundary, and then crunches a fuller delivery past mid off for four. Smith then pinches a single running to the danger end to finish the over. Ten from the over.
Spare a thought for the West Indies’ batsmen, who probably haven’t seen a half volley in the nets for a month
— Ian Higgins (@1an_Higgins) June 6, 2019
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22nd over: Australia 86-5 (Smith 24, Carey 3)
The squeeze is on now; a maiden from Holder. Most balls would have been rising past his chest.
Carey is 3 from 25 balls. Of course, you can always catch up.
Geoff Wignall with a point: “Hi Sam, unfortunately the Windies could be creating a problem for themselves if current trends continue - unless they get to bat first, their batsmen are going to have scant opportunity to find any kind of form. Nice to see them back though.”
Nice.
21st over: Australia 86-5 (Smith 24, Carey 3)
Another run for Carey before Smith gets Katich-esque, crabbing across, and rocketing an overpitched ball on middle stump to the man at deep square. Carey then hits uppishly over point, gaining one to third man.
20th over: Australia 83-5 (Smith 23, Carey 1)
Another quiet over, while Carey works his way into his innings. There’s a Bronx cheer for him as he gets off the mark - he’d faced fifteen balls. Smith saw out the last.
An email from Tom Adam:
“Does that review count as a rush of blood to the head? They could regret that when Smith’s plumb on 150!”
Ha, it wasn’t too far away, I thought.
19th over: Australia 82-5 (Smith 23, Carey 0)
So Oshane Thomas comes back into the attack. He started the damage, and still looks likely in his second spell. Still he has to get past Smith, who has looked more comfortable than his compatriots by about four standard deviations. Thomas concedes a few wides, and Smith gets through.
A brilliant opening spell, evoking wonderful memories of that great West Indian attack of the 80s that I wasn't around for but definitely won't mind bullshitting about for an extra 400 words #PaceLikeFire #FireInBabylon #RandomClipsDuringRainDelays #BabylonZoo
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) June 6, 2019
18th over: Australia 80-5 (Smith 23, Carey 0)
Smith starts with a single down the ground, before Brathwaite causes Carey some trouble...wait for it...on the front foot. Can you believe it? Carey is half-forward and survives an LBW appeal, before a similar ball grabs an inside edge, whereupon the ball pops up - falling just short of Brathwaite. He otherwise survives - cue firmly in rack.
Updated
NOT OUT
Well, it was in line, but travelling over the top. Carey survives, the West Indies lose a review.
REVIEW
An LBW call against Carey. Given not out, the West Indies review. Carey coming forward. First thought was it hit him outside the line...
17th over: Australia 79-5 (Smith 22, Carey 0)
Right, another gone, and now Carey joins. A wicket-maiden for Holder. We surely won’t see a rush of blood for the next fifteen overs, at least. S-surely?
Wicket! Stoinis c Pooran b Holder 19 (Australia 79-5)
Well! Stoinis tries to heave Holder over mid wicket, but instead hits it straight to him. Another error from one dug in. It hits the splice, and balloons to Pooran. He was looking okay, but now joins the highlight reel.
Updated
16th over: Australia 79-4 (Smith 22, Stoinis 19)
More Smith time, and while the 129km/hr offerings don’t rattle Smith, he does bop and weave once or twice to deliveries that just jump or nip back in. But the former Australian captain has the last laugh (of the over), back foot punching Brathwaite through cover for four.
Important to note that Andre Russell has left the field, and not returned for some time. Big miss if he’s unable to make it back.
15th over: Australia 75-4 (Smith 18, Stoinis 19)
Smith takes the majority of Holder’s over, is subject to the short stuff again, and comfortably works to leg when needed.
Updated
14th over: Australia 72-4 (Smith 16, Stoinis 18)
Steadier from Brathwaite. Continues the shorter length and straight lines, and both Smith and Stoinis are happy to work to leg for three singles. Throw a wide in there (there’s been a good number), and there’s four from the over.
More contributions. This one from OB Jato:
“First Pakistan, now Australia. This is too much Dark Horse-ry from West Indians to go unnoticed any longer... Most underestimated pace attack of the tournament?”
Good point. If they were underestimated, they won’t be any more!
That’s drinks. Wow, we can breathe.
13th over: Australia 68-4 (Smith 14, Stoinis 17)
Jason Holder’s into the attack, and while he too is a little slower than his colleagues, he bowls from about 9 feet, so bounce will be a factor. Even so, Stoinis executes two of the most sumptuous drives down the ground for boundaries - the second especially graceful.
Dave Adams with an email (g’day Dave).
“Morning Sam,
Just checked in on the score. Nearly laughed myself sick. Is there a more enjoyable sight in cricket than Australian failure?
Cheers”
I can see how that would be the case!
12th over: Australia 60-4 (Smith 14, Stoinis 9)
Brathwaite is gentler, and both batsmen look eminently more comfortable. Both pick up singles before Smith cuts hard through point for four,
So many emails - they’re all great. David writes: “Hi Sam, I’m sure you have millions of gloating English and unhappy fellow counterpersons sending you messages but why if Maxwell thrashes for six on considering we’re three down gets no mention of “that shot” and poor old Khawaja “will get dropped”?
Well, I think Khawaja will get dropped, and Maxwell probably won’t. Take your point that Maxwell is equally culpable, but his dismissal didn’t expose weakness as thoroughly as Khawaja’s did. And the manner of Khawaja’s response to that issue is probably not befitting of a top order Australian batsman, in my view.
Updated
11th over: Australia 54-4 (Smith 9, Stoinis 8)
Russell is attempting bouncers and yorkers. It’s extremely fun. He’s off line on ball one and Smith punches his full toss down the ground for four. It takes Australia past fifty (waheey). A single brings Stoinis on strike. He’s bumped immediately - though it’s a wide. The second is also short and Stoinis is hopping - always a good sign for the bowler. The last sees Stoinis jumping and ... backing away? Incredible to see these techniques exposed at this level. Good on the West Indies.
While we’re talking about the West Indies in the UK, a bump for this piece ahead of the Womens’ series between England and the Carribean outfit.
10th over: Australia 48-4 (Smith 4, Stoinis 8)
Carlos Brathwaite’s introduced, and his short stuff at 80mph has slightly less effect. Stoinis is able to crunch a full toss down the ground for four, before hooking another - with control - behind square for four.
9th over: Australia 40-4 (Smith 4, Stoinis 0)
Russell to Smith. No problem. Here’s Smith’s technique to the short stuff: back and across. Duck. Weave. Work to leg. Get inside the line. Leave for a wide. He fails to flick the fifth ball full toss for four, but otherwise sees out the over - as he needed to.
Beautiful day. Beer in hand. Australia getting battered. I've had worse Thursdays @TrentBridge #AUSvWI #CWC19 #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/1kn8en8p2h
— Ashley Worthington (@almostashley87) June 6, 2019
8th over: Australia 38-4 (Smith 4, Stoinis 0)
Cottrell’s on fire. He grabs Maxwell, then hurries up Stoinis before finishing by beating him all ends up. Doubt Stoinis will have faced a situation like this - we’ll find out about him here. Smith, as ever, looks like he can manage it. You can feel the national conniption here.
The salute is fantastic, too.
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Wicket! Maxwell c Hope b Cottrell 0 (Australia 38-4)
Another short ball, another wicket! Maxwell, on his second ball, with his team three down after seven overs, tries to pull Cottrell for six. He skies it straight in the air to Hope.Australia are in all sorts. We are learning that they are technically deficient against this bowling.
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7th over: Australia 36-3 (Smith 3, Maxwell 0)
Andre Russell’s introduced - OShane Thomas has left the field. He gets five balls at Khawaja, who remains jumpy on the back foot. he slashes and misses the next, before executing a duck-pull that screams past leg gully (who’s in a helmet). Khawaja gets hit again, missing a pull shot. And then, he backs away, slashes hard and nicks behind. There will be lots said about that shot. Unfortunately for Khawaja, it will be remembered.
Wicket! Khawaja c Hope b Russell 13 (Australia 36-3)
Khawaja gives himself room/backs away, and tries to mow Russell over mid-off, but nicks it and Hope takes a wonderful sprawling catch to his left. It followed a peppering of bouncers from Russell. I think we can say quite comfortably that Khawaja will be dropped after this. He was incredibly found out here.
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6th over: Australia 33-2 (Smith 2, Khawaja 11)
Smith looks most comfortable against this pace, unsurprisingly. He’s back and across on most occasions, and able to work the quicks to leg. That said, there’s only one from the over, as both batsmen attempt to get their bearings.
5th over: Australia 32-2 (Smith 1, Khawaja 11)
Khawaja sees out a few dots before a Hope fumble behind the stumps enables a bye. Smith tucks one to deep square and is stopped from gaining two via great fielding from Cottrell. Khawaja looks unsettled against the bouncer on ball five, before paddling the next for four, against the backdrop of “catch it!” cries to the man at leg slip.
Captain @SaluteCotterell dismisses Warner 🥁#Celebration 👌#AusvWI pic.twitter.com/VapWdATupX
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) June 6, 2019
4th over: Australia 26-2 (Smith 0, Khawaja 7)
It was a quiet over before Cottrell struck. He maintained a tight-enough line to concede only singles, letting himself down with a high wide on ball six. But the wide paved the way for Warner’s demise. Australia’s batsmen look like Wallabies in the headlights here.
Thanks to all writing in to me, too. I’ll get to it - this fast start has me scurrying.
Wicket! Warner c Hetmeyer b Cottrell 3 (Australia 26-2)
Caught! Warner slashes at one that is not at all there to slash, and scoops it from the splice to backward point, where Hetmeyer takes an easy catch. The salute follows, the boo’s for Warner ensue, and they continue for Steve Smith. There’s something in the air here - Australia are in trouble.
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3rd over: Australia 22-1 (Warner 2, Khawaja 5)
Thomas does Finch all ends up, bringing Usman Khawaja to the crease.
There’s a super aggressive field for him. Of course, he got knocked down in the Windies’ practice match - and now finds himself dealing with shoulder-level bowling and a leg slip. No mid-on allows Khawaja to push one through the vacant region for four. Two balls later and Khawaja is hit - a nasty ball that slams into his helmet - with a bit of glove beforehand. The Doctor comes out to see if he’s okay - he’s smiling, and looks fine. The next one is full, Khawaja is equal to it, and runs it down to third man. Great over from Thomas.
Wicket! Finch c Hope b Thomas 6 (Australia 15-1)
Beautiful delivery! Thomas has Finch pegged on his crease, and nabs a classic fast-bowler’s wicket: on a great length, with great bounce, just nibbling away. He grabs Finch’s edge and Hope does the rest. Helter-skelter start here.
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2nd over: Australia 15-0 (Warner 2, Finch 6)
It’s Cottrell from the other end; Finch flicks his first ball firmly and uppishly to deep square. It bounces once to the man out there. Incidentally, Michael Clarke is on ICC comms here - he’s speaking at five words a second and is clearly overexcited. Will need Ian Bishop’s voice to calm him (in the way it calms me). Later, Cottrell delivers a waist-high full toss - it’s on Finch quickly but he squeezes it behind backward point for two. The next one’s at Finch’s chest and he rolls his wrists on it easily for one. No short stuff yet! Still looking for swing.
1st over: Australia 10-0 (Warner 2, Finch 2)
OShane Thomas takes the first ball, as that stiff breeze blows through his maroon guernsey. He starts with a rank, full, leg side wide, that evades Shai Hope and rolls away for four. Five from the first ball. A few singles follow and then Thomas hits Warner dead in front, but it’s a no-ball! Replays show Warner gained an inside-edge, and the ensuing free-hit is slapped toward airily toward mid on, where it’s ‘dropped’, and Warner gets one. Finch grabs a single to finish. Think Thomas hit about seven different lengths there; possibly a little nervous
A little bit of cloud overhead, and some wind
Kerry O’Keeffe suggests that wind negates swing, and I suppose bluster will do that. On the other hand, a smooth breeze like the Fremantle Doctor aids swing immensely. Either way, this Kookaburra Duke apparently swings for about three balls before deferring to something closer to gun-barrell.
Also, just registered the first boo for Warner.
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Anthems now
Have always wondered if it was fractionally disappointing for those opening batsmen, who join their compatriots arm in arm for the anthem, with pads.
We briefly hear Australia’s team singing it. It’s in an octave lower than necessary, out of tune, and I think Zampa is trying to make Stoinis laugh. Nothing new there.
Warner and Finch v a five-pronged pace attack
I can feel the energy surging through Brendon Julian, Andrew Symonds and Kerry O’Keeffe on Australia’s Fox Sports coverage, as they discuss the Windies’ quintet of speedsters. Kerry reserves specific praise for O’Shane Thomas - a kid from a tough part of Kingston, who Chris Gayle identified and brought through the system. In the Australian lingo, he bowls “145 plus” and can be deadly on his day.
Just on O’Keeffe, if it’s not already apparent, he really does leave his colleagues for dead in terms of his preparation and knowledge. When you get past the colour and schmaltz of that particular production, his analysis is extremely sharp.
Teams - West Indies
West Indies Playing XI: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope(w), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Jason Holder(c), Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas
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Teams - Australia
Australia is unchanged.
Australia Playing XI: Aaron Finch(c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(w), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
West Indies have won the toss, and will field
Holder calls correctly, and says he thinks there might be a “little bit in it early,” and that it should become flatter as the day goes on.
Finch says “I probably would have had a bat first anyway,” citing pitch dryness.
Zampa will come into play massively as a result. Interesting that Finch wanted to bat anyway - classic Australia.
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Lots of talk 340-350 is in sight today
Small boundaries, third/fourth day pitch, sunny skies. Does Australia have the power to get there? Great test for them today.
Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters
Sunny-ish...
Holder says Gayle and Russell will be good to go...
Both looked in some pain v Pakistan. This from Cricket Australia’s official page, earlier today (AEST):
“We’ve had a few days off, they’ve been recovering quite nicely,” Holder told reporters. “We expect both of them to hopefully be fit and ready to go tomorrow. We’ve still got some time to go, so we’ll make a final call in the morning.
“The beauty about both of those guys is they’ve both played enough cricket. We just tend to trust them, take their word and make a final determination.”
Amazing to think Gayle is almost 40.
An email...
From friend of the show, Abhijato Sensarma.
“Batman and Maxwell are both caped crusaders,” says Abhijato, “who go to any lengths to help their people; they’re constantly under scrutiny despite all of their achievements; they defy odds as well as laws of physics every time; finally, both their stories are a source of inspiration and belief in oneself. Cheers Maxi! Him being in-form, there’s a strong chance we’ll see heroics from him throughout this tournament.”
Another Maxwell devotee, I see! Would be fantastic to see a big innings from him today.
Not sure I can remember a build-up so solely focused on the explosive elements of both sides.
Will be very interesting to see how Australia’s middle over bowlers cope with a flat Trent Bridge pitch and short boundaries. If Gayle and co come out the other side Cummins and Starc’s opening spell, there will be a real test for Zampa and Stoinis especially.
Still, bouncers to Gayle will be good viewing.
Here’s Brian Lara and Dean Jones shadow boxing
Normal stuff. Again, the muscular motif.
I'm battling in a different weight division similar to our boys today but one good punch 🤜 could put @ProfDeano and the Aussies to the ground today.
— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) June 6, 2019
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.#ICCWorldCup2019 #SelectDugout #StarSports #CWC19 #AUSvWI #CricketWorldCup2019 #MenInMaroon #Windies pic.twitter.com/qB5roCsOIG
Earnest team news coming soon. Toss around 15 minutes away too.
Sunny conditions in Nottingham, too
So no rain, though rain is forecast for the remainder of the week.
Trent Bridge looking 👌 ahead of #AUSvWI! #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/seOYGIju3Y
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 6, 2019
Loving the entire muscular motif to this...
A couple of big hitters sizing up the Trent Bridge boundaries 🤔 #AUSvWI #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/1aiEqqzEn2
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 6, 2019
There’s almost zero doubt this match will be settled by a spinner, or a neat catch, or precision batting.
Preamble
Welcome to an old-fashioned Alpha Showdown! (not really)
“Obviously no one likes a ball 140-145kph at your head.” Brathwaite, C.
Hello everyone, and cheers for joining our coverage of the bouncer summit, aka the ICC World Cup fixture between Australia and the West Indies, from Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
I kid (do I?), but the 10th fixture of this World Cup has largely been billed as the Bouncer Battle, as two cocks of the short-bowling walk face off to decide who will become the second team to two wins, after New Zealand scraped home against Bangladesh yesterday.
Taking a step back from benign bumper talk; it’s been fantastic to see the West Indies roar back into form of late – their Test series win against England and manhandling of Pakistan providing another glimpse of the revival everyone in world cricket wants to see.
They meet an Australian side on an impressive winning streak, though how meaningful that streak is will be determined in the next few days. They now play four fixtures in ten days, the result of which will provide a far clearer indication of where they’re at in ODI cricket terms.
There’s a distinct feeling that today will provide the first real insight into the true form of both units. While there’s no do-or-die element to it at all, both sides bring credible designs on winning. Legacy would suggest Australia retains the stronger reason to expect victory, but there are enough question marks within the canary-wearing outfit to suggest it’s not a foregone thing. The Windies will test that out today, no doubt.
All up, it all points to a pretty mouthwatering fixture. Would love your views, insights, love letters, grammar corrections etc, so if that takes your fancy I’m at sam.perry.freelance@theguardian.com, and @sjjperry on the Twitter Bazaar.
Will have team + toss news for you shortly. In the meantime, get in touch at the above details, and check out Moeen Ali’s piece in the Graun today, for a bit of insider stuff:
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