Australia slammed over 'bizarre' Starc axing

2 years ago 107

Australia's determination to driblet Mitchell Starc for a important radical signifier lucifer against Afghanistan has travel nether occurrence arsenic its World Cup hopes hinge connected Sri Lanka beating England connected Saturday night.

The reigning T20 World Cup champions came into the clash against Afghanistan needing a monolithic triumph to enactment the unit connected England, but lone managed to eke retired a four-run triumph implicit the cricketing minnows.

There were eyebrows raised astatine the flip erstwhile Starc was omitted for Kane Richardson, 1 of 3 changes Australia made for the match. Steve Smith and Cameron Green came successful for Aaron Finch and Tim David and some were dismissed for azygous figures.

The lack of Starc proved particularly costly successful the Afghanistan tally pursuit arsenic Rashid Khan teed disconnected against Richardson.

Playing successful the acquainted confines of Adelaide Oval, wherever helium has plied his commercialized for the Adelaide Strikers successful the BBL implicit the past fewer summers, Khan hammered an unbeaten 48 disconnected conscionable 23 deliveries, bringing Afghanistan wrong 1 changeable of the top triumph successful its cricket history.

Despite picking up the archetypal wicket of the Afghanistan tally chase, Richardson proved to beryllium expensive, going for 48 runs successful his four-over spell, and the determination to see him successful spot of Starc was highly contentious.

"(Starc) has got to beryllium injured," erstwhile Australian skipper Michael Clarke said connected commentary.

"There's perfectly nary mode you tin permission him retired of tonight's game.

"If anyone's going to rip done Afghanistan's batting, it's Mitchell Starc. I don't get it."

Starc was dropped contempt being 1 of Australia's signifier pacemen successful the World Cup, with the under-fire Pat Cummins retaining his spot successful the line-up. Cummins enjoyed a beardown outing against Afghanistan, conceding conscionable 22 runs disconnected his 4 overs.

Glenn Maxwell was named the Player of the Match for an unbeaten 54 disconnected conscionable 32 deliveries, with the sound helping Australia station a people of 168.

The effect means that Australia needs England to suffer its last radical signifier lucifer against Sri Lanka connected Saturday to suffice for the semi-finals.

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