In a show of class, confidence, determination and intent to win their home Cup, England outplayed and outclassed World Champions Australia, and hammered them out of shape, to book their balcony at Lord’s Cricket ground for a Final clash with master slayers Black Caps.
England’s Thursday show at Edgbaston was huge, not just for the way Jason Roy sharpened his bat for the big final coming up, but also for the sport in England. Having been shoved into the conservatory as football and rugby entered the living rooms, a place in the Final, defeating the Australians with impunity, would mean that the cricket summer will extend into fables and extended conversations and boost its popular presence much beyond the Cup.
India lost to New Zealand in a two-dayer at Old Trafford the other day with an unexpected collapse in the beginning and the middle though a defiant show by Ravindra Jadeja saved the humiliation for them for a bit. Australia were in the same position at Edgbaston, collapsing unexpectedly with 14/3 and managing 223 at the end.
But Jason Roy and Johnny Bairstow started off on the sure foot, stitching up a 61-run partnership with one six and 6 fours in no time, nullifying any threat that either Starc or Cummins have the potential to pose. The innings was built up beautifully with measured aggression matching up with diligent watchfulness.
With all the talk of rain coming, the Englishmen made sure they were on the right side of the D/L gentlemen, with no wicket lost and a score much above Australia’s at every stage. That England reached the Finals of an ICC World Cup after 27 years seemed to have given the boys the strong self-belief which Virat Kohli has been talking about but failed to execute when needed the most.
‘It’s England’s Cup to win’ and ‘Bring the Cup Home’ have been chants that have been pushing the host team into doing good business with all-round performances and strengthened mental conditioning which has kept them away from panic which they picked up after losing two back to back matches in the World Cup before making a comeback with their match against India at the same venue as this semi-final.
Earlier in the day, the 2nd semi-final at Birmingham started with mayhem at the mouth, much like it happened at Manchester for India. The English bowlers ripped through the defence of Australia’s main run getters Aaron Finch and David Warner, following it up soon with Handscomb, giving the defending champions an early morning shock.
It was Jofra Archer who started it all when he trapped the Aussie skipper and stood tall against a referral. Then came Woakes at his swinging best, first taking the dangerman David Warner and then Handscomb, just some balls after he was hit full blast on his chin by a beamer by Archer, triggering a mid-field first aid to his ruptured chin.
It was England’s day out at Edgbaston with their bowlers living up to the special occasion. The opening spell by Woakes and Archer were searing and did the job of shaking up the champions. Though their former captain Steve Smith continued to stick to the crease with grit and determination, adding 100-run partnership with Carey, which showed how sorted the recuperation unit of the Aussie team is.
At Edgbaston, it was Roy who lit the firecrackers with the bat in the middle, carving out a colourful and crowded run wheel for himself with nine fours and an five huge sixes, three of them consequently off Steve Smith. His dismissal was wrongly picked up by umpire Dharmasena as there was neither bat nor pad touching the ball by a meter. Though he argued for an umpire review, none came, and England had already lost the one they had. He walked at 85 but it was his conviction with the bat, his flair with it and his ability to set the tone of a chase that was being called competitive to make it easy, doable and somewhat of a breeze.
Jonny Bairstow, the lesser great of this match but a great nevertheless, gave good stand to the opening antics till he walked at 34 to a Starc in swinger, Starc becoming the highest wicket-taker of all times in a single edition of the World Cup breaking the record held so far by Glen McGrath.
In defeat all feats look inconsequential as this one seemed to, to the English show in the middle. The Brits totally nullified the strength and potential of Australia, first their bat and then their bowling, to all around support from fans not just English but Pakistanis, English and of course the Kiwis who have gone on record asking for Australia and revenge at Lord’s.
“Cricket’s coming home,” the crowd sang in unison when skipper Morgan hit the last boundary of the innings to put Australia down with eight wickets with 11.5 overs left to mock the Aussie pride which had been hammered out of shape. Tom Hark and his popular Piranhas was shaping the music and the journey much to the English fans’ delight.
As the Australian reign ended, against New Zealand at Lord’s then it will be two teams fighting for a Cup they have never lifted, a Final they have never played, an occasion they have never cherished. All guns firing for a crackling Sunday Final at Lord’s just some stations away from Wimbledon, where, hopefully Federer may have by then survived Rafael Nadal to script his possible swan song.