Australia won the toss but history will show the decision to send New Zealand in to bat on a flat SCG wicket was the wrong one in their T20 World Cup opener.
Beaten in every facet of the game, Australia was on the back foot from the opening over as Mitchell Starc was smashed for 14 and hit for a six and two boundaries.
Matches, World Cup ones particularly, are often won in the opening overs. It sets the tone.
As Aaron Finch said, New Zealand “got the jump on us”. Indeed they did, and they never recovered as New Zealand sealed a famous 89-run win, which was set up by Devon Conway (92 not out off 58), who played beautifully and chose his moments to pounce.
Conway’s timing and shot selection was complemented by his opener partner, Finn Allen who creamed 42 off 16 to shock Australia.
Here are our player ratings from the massive loss, which has Australia in danger of not making the semi-finals.
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AUSSIES ‘ANNIHILATED’ IN WORLD CUP ‘HIDING’ AS TITLE DEFENCE ALREADY HANGS BY A THREAD
David Warner – 2
5 off 6
You won’t see a more unfortunate method of dismissal, as Australia’s opener somehow dragged the ball back onto the stumps after hitting the ball onto his pad and then hitting it back onto his stumps in his follow through. Warner smiled in disbelief.
Aaron Finch – 2
13 off 11
One huge six as Finch charged Trent Boult first ball of the third over and clobbered the left-armer over cow-corner.
The sound off the bat was as clean as you can imagine.
Unfortunately, not long after, Finch tried to hit over cover off Mitchell Santner and found Kane Williamson at cover.
It was a tough shot to pull off given Santner got the ball to drift in and targeted the stumps.
Mitch Marsh – 3
16 off 12
Marsh’s inside-out cover drive for six off Santner will be hard to top this World Cup, but one shot doesn’t make a World Cup.
The first-drop went for the big shot off Tim Southee and although he got a chunk of it, he didn’t get enough as he was well caught by Jimmy Neesham.
Glenn Maxwell – 4
28 off 20
Australia’s top scorer, but the Big Show’s innings ended in embarrassment as he was bowled attempting a reverse sweep.
The idea had some logic at least. The right-hander was clearly attempting the shorter boundary at the Bill O’Reilly Stand.
But at what point does someone ask, is the risk worth the reward? Almost a third of Maxwell’s faced deliveries were reverse sweeps and only one went for six.
Nor did Maxwell bowl.
Marcus Stoinis – 2
7 off 14; 0-38 off 4
The timing of Devon Conway meant Stoinis couldn’t settle, with the left-hander playing some glorious drives to harm the all-rounder’s figures.
Never got going with the bat, with Australia caught between needing batters to stay at the crease but hit go from the outset.
Stoinis will unlikely be forced to go from a better catch though, with Glenn Phillips catch up there with Adam Dale’s.
Tim David – 2
11 off 8
Six and out.
Requiring 139 from the last 60 deliveries, David hit the first ball of Santner’s third over for six but then tried to repeat the dose but held out at deep mid-wicket.
Matthew Wade – 2
2 off 4
Came in and needed to get going from the outset but was beaten for pace and snicked off against Lochie Ferguson.
Wade kept well.
Pat Cummins – 2.5
0-46 off 4; 21 off 18
Cummins’ figures weren’t helped by Adam Zampa’s dropped catch at short fine-leg, as Allen was put down from a one-handed hook shot from a short pitched delivery which flew.
Nonetheless, Cummins was hit for his worst figures in T20 international history, with the right-armer unable to find his line.
Mitchell Starc – 3
0-36 off 4; 4 off 7
The left-armer craved swing but only felt the force from Allen’s bat as Starc was punished for pitching the ball up.
Starc looked like finishing on a high but failed to get out of his final ball from his four overs, as he was hit to the boundary from a ball in the slot to Conway.
Adam Zampa – 3
1-39 off 4; 0 off 2
Managed to tie down Kane Williamson, but Zampa was stifled by Conway.
The left-armer chose his moments, going after the leg-spinner early in overs.
Zampa also dropped Finn Allen early on which cost Australia.
Josh Hazlewood – 4.5
2-41 off 4; 1 not out
Belted in his first over, Hazlewood came back in his second as a perfectly pitched yorker bowled Allen.
He also took the wicket of Glenn Phillips in his third over, taking a caught and bowled.
Unfortunately Hazlewood’s final over let him down, as his full-pitch delivery was dispatched for six to give all the momentum to the Kiwis heading into the second innings.
