Australia v Afghanistan Report Card
Featuring not booking things, forgetting to take wickets and unpredictability
Not Booking Things
Grade: D
Australia went into their match against Afghanistan knowing that victory would book their place in the semi-finals.
They came out of the match without a place booked in the semi-finals, as Afghanistan produced a thrilling upset, outbatting, outbowling, outfielding, outcatching, outsledging and outcelebrating their more acclaimed opponents.
On a pitch that looked to take turn, Australia were aware of the threat posed by the Afghanistan spin attack, and countered with their own change to their starting eleven, bringing in Ashton Agar to replace Mitchell Starc.
Of course, Australia wouldn’t have had to choose between Agar and Starc if they’d simply taken on board my previous proposal to create a hybrid of the two.
Give us Stagarc, Cricket Australia!
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