Depending on whether or not you listen to and agree with everything Shane Warne says, Australia played the perfect game to the conditions and the opponent last night in their victory over Bangladesh, and win that sees them as an almost certain semi-finalist in this year's World Cup, something that up until two months ago seemed a near impossibility.
I take issue with much that Shane Warne has to say, simply because it all becomes white noise after awhile. Once he gets stuck on something he refuses to let it go. Even if he is proven wrong, he will find a way to turn it around so that he is actually right – in his own way of thinking. Somehow over the last few years he has been raised to god-like status among the commentary panels around the world, and given his amazingly massive ego he has soaked all of it up and allowed the hype to continue to push his ‘credentials’ to the point that he just says whatever he believes over and over again, ignoring all other facts or actions that may be to the contrary of what he is saying, and just belligerently pushing his own agenda. His motto is “if you say enough things, eventually you will be right”, and when he is he is the first person to look around and make sure everyone knows that he said that, while his commentary mates slap him on the back and tell him and the viewers how amazing he is. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their opinion and they can push it as hard and as often as they like. I’ve no doubt most people think that of myself when it comes to certain things, perhaps even about Shane Warne himself.
He was a great bowler and he changed the way the world thinks about leg spin bowling for which I am grateful. But if you are a commentator – and you want to be considered a GOOD commentator - you cannot just go around and publicly heckle those cricketers you have a grudge about being selected, and then constantly push for those who you think should be in the side. You have to show some sort of balance in what you say, and Warne certainly does not do that.
I’m sure you all know as well as I do that the players he does not want in the Australian team are Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Starc. He has plastered them publicly whenever given the opportunity, and even when they have done well he grudgingly acknowledges it before suggesting that it is not before time and that they would still be better served selecting *choose a player* in their place. It’s plainly obvious he doesn’t rate them, so much so that the players themselves have been forced to defend themselves in interviews because the media picks up on even the slightest thing Warne says and runs with it. Both Khawaja and Starc have been excellent in the way they have handled Warne’s constant badgering, and continue to show on the field why Warne is so often wrong about them.
On the other hand, in case you didn’t know, Warne thinks that Marcus Stoinis and D’Arcy Short should be playing every form of cricket for Australia, and will use any opportunity to push their cause when asked about selections. That’s fine, it's his opinion, but once again there needs to be a balance. As Stoinis has gone through a lean period with bat and ball, not once has Warne called for his sacking from the team, nor has he had a go at him leaking runs or not taking wickets in the same way he is happy to berate Starc about. Prior to the start of the World Cup, no one had scored more ODI runs in 2019 than Khawaja, and yet because he didn’t immediately set the world on fire Warne has constantly questioned his place in the team.
Last night, Australia batted the way that they have discovered works best for them in securing victories in 2019. They have tried to copy England’s bash-at-al-costs method and it hasn’t worked. They have tried India’s tactics as well, and that hasn’t worked. What has worked is a simple method of building the rate of the innings without losing wickets, gradually increasing from five runs an over to six runs an over, and then launching at the back end with wickets in hand. This method last night allowed them to reach 381 off 50 overs. Not many teams are beating that, no matter what size the ground or how fast the outfield.
Warne wasn’t happy. His four tweets during Australia’s innings last night were as follows:
“Big game in the World Cup for the Aussies against Bangladesh. I’m very surprised that S Marsh has been left out & Khawaja kept his place at 3, plus Lyon isn’t playing instead of Zampa. High scoring ground Trent Bridge & the Aussies need to show that they can post a score of 375+”
“This very conservative approach by Aust is very odd, especially on a small ground with a super quick outfield & as the ball hasn’t spun or seamed. Leaving way to much for Maxwell, Stoinis and Carey to do. Only a wicket down, Aust should be going after the bowling big time !”
“Ps I still believe Australia can challenge India & England for the World Cup trophy, but not with this game style or batting order. Australia have fire power but have decided not to use it & gone with playing conservative cricket ! Not sure why followers, it’s very strange !!!”
“Awesome from Maxwell & a stunning 100 from Warner too. Khawaja doing great, but ridiculous he didn’t run. Why wasn’t this happening 20 overs ago. As I said in previous tweets, Aust has the fire power but have decided to play conservatively till the last 10 overs ! Why ?”
Conservative cricket totalled 381 runs, and Australia won by 48 runs. It was the perfect plan for the conditions and the opponent. If they had done any differently and lost wickets, and only made 320, what would Warne have said then? Probably blamed Khawaja I guess.
Is 380 enough to beat England and India in the modern day World Cup? Or New Zealand for that matter? To be honest, that’s not the question. The question is, can AUSTRALIA beat England or India? Each game is a different scenario and needs to be played to the conditions. Australia did that last night and won the game. That’s all that is required. When Australia plays England on Tuesday, they may score 400 and get beaten, or they may score 280 and win, just as they did in the warm up game. Australia batted and bowled to the conditions last night and won. The score is irrelevant, playing as a team to the position of the game is. And no doubt Warne will be able to twist his words to show that he actually was very supportive of the team last night, because in the long run that’s what he is best at – manipulating the conversation to make it about him.
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