Under-Fire Australia Relying on ‘Luck of The Irish’

Melbourne: Australia’s white-ball heavyweight aura has all but faded after two disastrous defeats in the T20 World Cup, where the absence of champion fast bowlers was brutally exposed.

After a miserable 23-run defeat to world No.11 Zimbabwe, Australia were pushed to the brink of a humiliating exit as they slumped to an eight-wicket defeat against hosts Sri Lanka in Kandy on Monday.

Mitchell Marsh’s side must now rely on 12th-placed Ireland to save themselves by beating Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

Even then, Australia will need to knock out Zimbabwe on Thursday as Sri Lanka qualify for the Super Eight stage to survive their final group game against Oman.

“There’s still a chance,” Marsh told reporters in Kandy.

“But yeah, what do you say? It’s the luck of the Irish.”

Australia, winners of the 2021 T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup winners, have long prided themselves on their ability to defy all odds and come out on top in major events.

But without senior players to support their success, their usual swagger is gone.

With left-arm great Mitchell Starc retiring from T20 internationals and fellow pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood sidelined through injury, this is Australia’s first World Cup without at least one of their champion pace trio in over a decade.

While the reserve seamers, led by Nathan Ellis, struggled to establish themselves, experienced leg-tender Adam Zampa was punished in two heartless displays by the batsmen in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Australia’s batting, meanwhile, repeatedly failed against spin, losing 10 wickets for 77 runs against Sri Lanka after Marsh and fellow opener Travis Head made 104 runs in 8.3 overs.

From queries

Although injuries did not help much, Australia’s hasty preparations and selections confused former players and fans.

As Australia’s domestic Big Bash League (BBL) moves towards the end of the summer, the players arrived late for the warm-up series against Pakistan and were duly beaten 3-0.

Some of those uninjured brought remaining queries to Pakistan throughout the World Cup.

Veteran batsman Steve Smith was not included in the squad in Sydney Sixers’ spectacular run in the BBL despite averaging just under 60.

The selectors ignored calls to include the aging great until injuries forced them on Sunday.

Even then, fans will be wondering why Smith was left out of the 11th order against Sri Lanka along with Matt Renshaw, who was dismissed after scoring 65 against Zimbabwe and 37 against Ireland.

Marsh, who returned to the Sri Lanka match after two matches due to a testicle injury, said that Renshaw is making progress to return.

But fans may wonder why others are holding their ground.

None of the trio of Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis and Tim David managed to score single figures in the defeats against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Former Australian test player Mark Waugh said the entire campaign was “doomed from the start” due to injuries and selection.

“I think they got the selection all wrong and to bench your best player by 100 meters from Steve Smith… I think it’s an insult to Steve Smith, to be honest,” Waugh said on SEN radio on Tuesday.