ICC World Cup 2019 | Langer, Smudge, Punter, myself, and Haddin part of think-tank, says Aaron Finch
Aaron Finch said the Australian think tank, comprising Justin Langer, Steve Smith, Ricky Ponting, himself, and Brad Haddin, was at it together to dismiss the dangerous Colin de Grandhomme first ball. Australia beat neighbours New Zealand by 86 runs to register their fifth successive win.
When Colin de Grandhomme walked into bat, his side needed another 125 runs in a little more than 18 overs, with four key batsmen already gone. But, the Australian think-tank didn’t want to give the dangerous Colin de Grandhomme an inch. So they got together and sent barely a part-time Steve Smith to bowl some leg spin. De Grandhomme fell right into the trap and holed out the first ball at long off, and Australia wrapped up the game in another 10 overs.
“JL (Justin Langer), Smudge (Steven Smith), Punter (Ponting), myself, and Haddin, we all were involved in the decision (about the plan to dismiss de Grandhomme) of making Steven Smith bowl. We're all part of the think-tank,” Finch said at the post match presentation.
Earlier in the day, Australia were in a spot of bother with half their side back in the hut with only 92 on the board. Then, Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey stitched together a crucial 107-run partnership to help Australia post a defendable total of 243.
“Great partnership to get us to a competitive total by Khawaja and Carey. It was important that we get time in the middle. It was a difficult surface to play strokes on, and for Alex to get the ball off the middle was impressive,” Finch added.
Young Carey smashed 71 in just 72 balls on a tough pitch, earning the Man of the Match award for his performance. Trent Boult’s hat-trick performance for the Kiwis went in vain as Mitchell Starc & Co. bundled them out for a paltry 157. Starc picked up 5 for 26 in the match, taking his tally of wickets to 24 at this World Cup.
“It was also a good surface for Lyon to bowl, I thought, and he bowled really well. Important to bowl the part-timers too. It gives you a lot of wicket-taking options in the 20-40 over period. It helps the team so much to get wickets in the middle-overs, like Starc, who can just return and take wickets immediately,” Finch said of his bowling unit.
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