Image Credit- Getty
It’s ended. Furthermore, it’s not just the poorest
World Cup defence in the annals of international athletics.
Australia’s fifth consecutive victory, secured in
Ahmedabad by a 33-run margin, followed England’s sixth defeat in seven games.
With this victory, Australia have pulled away from a fiercely pursuing group
and strengthened their hold on a semi-final spot. Thanks to another energetic
bowling performance from Adil Rashid and Chris Woakes, who both bravely batted
a late comeback, and another exciting but all-too-brief appearance of Ben
Stokes in #HeroMode, it was just a little less stolid than some of England’s
defeats.
But Australia’s seemingly modest target of 287 was
never seriously challenged, especially after another abject powerplay in which
Joe Root, one of England’s undeniable greats across formats, produced an
innings of such abjectness it truly deserves to be his last in coloured
clothing. Instead, Adam Zampa shot to the top of the tournament wicket-charts
with an outstanding haul of 3 for 21 in ten overs.
Australia vs. England is a comparison that usually
exists out of context, but not this time. Everything has come to an end with
Australia’s win: England’s all but nonexistent chances of finishing in the top
four; their claim to the coveted #MoralAshes, particularly after Marnus
Labuschagne’s match-winning Test-tempo 71; and possibly even their chances of
qualifying for the 2025 Champions Trophy, should other outcomes go against them
in the next few days.
England, having won the toss, bowled Australia out for
286 in the first 50 overs of the match, just as they had done in their previous
match against India, where they had lost by 100 runs. At that time, as they do
now, they were hoping that the arrival of evening dew would even out a
two-paced wicket and allow the ball to skid onto the bat more freely.
Even if it turned out to be the case in the end,
England’s abject batting collapse had long since dashed any prospects of making
their lineup depth matter. The worst-case scenario may have occurred when
captain Jos Buttler, the all-time great at white-ball, skimmed the opening ball
of Zampa’s fifth over to Cameron Green at long off and limped off for 1 from
six balls, leaving England at 106 for 4 halfway through their chase. However,
the signs had been bleak from the beginning of a tense pursuit.
England still possessed two batters, Stokes and Malan,
who, despite their seemingly different approaches, share the conviction that
good things happen to those who lay a platform. A glimmer of muscle memory
returned to England’s equation as they were hammering out an 84-run stand for
the third wicket at a pace reminiscent of how Labuschagne and Steve Smith had
rejuvenated Australia’s own innings.
Though Moeen Ali rose to the awkward occasion with a
disciplined run-a-ball 42, the entire mentality of England’s innings screamed
“Stokes or bust”, and Australia knew it too. However, Malan gave away
his innings on 50 with an overeager pull off Cummins, exposing the out-of-sorts
Buttler to a match situation that his game-brain cannot compute at this time.
Stokes’ stage presence remained unfazed by his
horror-duck against India, as he managed to reach 15 from 37 balls prior to his
first genuine shot in frustration, a powerful straight drive for four off
Starc. From then on, he grew more powerful and strong, and his innings included
the inevitable limps caused by his problematic left knee giving way under the
force of his leg launches.
Despite his Superman-like demeanour, Stoinis’ innings
at short fine leg was reminiscent of his lost-cause Ashes onslaughts at
Headingley and Lord’s. His audible exclamation of “oh no!” as he
scuffed a sweep off the unstoppable Zampa indicated that more was at stake than
just his 64 from 90. After skimming a pull to midwicket, Liam Livingstone, who
was oddly picked over Harry Brook despite his own dire lack of form, duly
lasted less than an over. After Moeen became Zampa’s third wicket in a superb
effort, the rest was all formalities.