Australia will probably have to break a long-standing Edgbaston hoodoo if they are to progress to the Champions Trophy semi-finals. By their own admission lucky to escape defeat at the hands of New Zealand on Friday, they must win both their remaining games — against Bangladesh under lights at The Oval tomorrow, and England in Birmingham at the weekend — to be sure of going further in the tournament.
Australia last won an international of any description at Edgbaston in 2001, since when they have lost six times, drawn once, and seen five matches washed out or abandoned altogether because of rain. Four of their six defeats came against England.
The last time the two sides met in the Champions Trophy, Australia’s defeat by 48 runs was quickly overshadowed by David Warner throwing a punch at Joe Root when players from the two teams met in a local bar in the evening, earning Warner a suspension that effectively ruled him out of the start of the subsequent Ashes series.
In 2004, England’s eight-wicket victory in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Birmingham put down an important marker in their bid to regain the Ashes the following year.
Steve Smith did not spare his bowlers after they were put to the sword by New Zealand’s top-order batting. Luke Ronchi smashed 41 off 17 balls from Pat Cummins and Kane Williamson took 42 off 25 deliveries from John Hastings. Mitchell Starc, playing in his first match for three months, failed to claim a wicket in nine overs.
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“I thought it was probably one of the worst bowling displays that we’ve put on for a very long time,” the Australia captain said. “Let’s hope it is rust and let’s hope it has gone, because that was pretty ordinary. Credit to them [New Zealand]. They came out hard and played well up top. Kane timed his innings beautifully, played really well throughout the middle, but we did not bowl well at all.”
Australia’s other concern is a middle-order that potentially lacks heft in batting, with Moises Henriques at four, Glenn Maxwell five and Travis Head at six. Australia could still qualify for the knockout stage even if they were to lose to England, but would need to beat Bangladesh heavily and hope New Zealand, if they too beat Bangladesh, also lose to England; it would then depend on their net run-rate being superior to New Zealand’s.
They are fortunate that none of the play in Friday’s match counts towards the run-rate calculations, as New Zealand scored 291 at 6.5 runs per over, compared with Australia’s 53 for three at 5.9.
