Australia’s choice to drop Mitchell Starc for a vital group stage match towards Afghanistan has come underneath fireplace as its World Cup hopes hinge on Sri Lanka beating England on Saturday evening.
The reigning T20 World Cup champions got here into the conflict towards Afghanistan needing a large win to place the strain on England, however solely managed to eke out a four-run win over the cricketing minnows.
There have been eyebrows raised on the toss when Starc was omitted for Kane Richardson, one in every of three adjustments Australia made for the match. Steve Smith and Cameron Inexperienced got here in for Aaron Finch and Tim David and each have been dismissed for single figures.
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The absence of Starc proved particularly pricey within the Afghanistan run chase as Rashid Khan teed off towards Richardson.
Taking part in within the acquainted confines of Adelaide Oval, the place he has plied his commerce for the Adelaide Strikers within the BBL over the previous few summers, Khan hammered an unbeaten 48 off simply 23 deliveries, bringing Afghanistan inside one stroke of the best win in its cricket historical past.
Regardless of choosing up the primary wicket of the Afghanistan run chase, Richardson proved to be costly, going for 48 runs in his four-over spell, and the choice to incorporate him instead of Starc was extremely contentious.
“(Starc) has got to be injured,” former Australian captain Michael Clarke mentioned on commentary.
“There’s absolutely no way you can leave him out of tonight’s game.
“If anybody’s going to tear by means of Afghanistan’s batting, it is Mitchell Starc. I do not get it.”
Starc was dropped despite being one of Australia’s form pacemen in the World Cup, with the under-fire Pat Cummins retaining his spot in the line-up. Cummins enjoyed a strong outing against Afghanistan, conceding just 22 runs off his four overs.
Glenn Maxwell was named the Player of the Match for an unbeaten 54 off just 32 deliveries, with the knock helping Australia post a score of 168.
The result means that Australia needs England to lose its final group stage match against Sri Lanka on Saturday to qualify for the semi-finals.
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