Test Match Special - CWC Day 3: Warner stars as Australia and New Zealand win

Episode Date: June 1, 2019

Reaction to Australia and New Zealand opening their World Cup campaigns with straightforward wins over Afghanistan and Sri Lanka with Jimmy Anderson, Graeme Swann, Paul Farbrace and others. David Warner looks solid if unspectacular, is that typical of the Aussies' style under Justin Langer? Could Sri Lanka could well be the tournament's weakest side and how long before batsmen start playing the short ball properly?

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. The Dakar Rally is the ultimate off-road challenge. Perfect for the ultimate defender. The high-performance Defender Octa, 626 horsepower twin turbo V8 engine and intelligent 6D dynamics air suspension. Learn more at landrover.ca. BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Hello, I'm Trevor Bayliss.

Welcome to the TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup. There's a mix-up. Oh, there could be a runner. There will be a runner. It's a tie. Australia is in the final. Kevin O'Brien from nowhere has scored the fastest hundred in World Cup history. He's more than that's it.

The West Indies have retained the title. And India have caused one of the greatest upsets in the history of all sports. Straight towards Stokes, it takes an incredible, one-handed catch. Hello and welcome to the TMS podcast on the third day of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, Australia and New Zealand producing comprehensive victories in the first double header of the tournament. Graham Swan, Jimmy Anderson and Paul Farbrace are all on this podcast to review those victories. And despite the Australians making it one out of one and the Zaltzman has statistical proof that they won't win the World Cup. the numbers on the success so far of the short ball.

From BBC Radio 5 Live, this is the TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup. So a straightforward win for Australia here in Bristol, they rather cantered, rather than galloped towards their victory target of 208. Who knows how important that will be at the end of the tournament. If net run rate does come into play, it took them 34.5 overs to knock off the runs. And at times it looked as if they were having a bit of a net. there was Warner 89 not out from 114 balls and Steve Smith 18 from 27 balls

Graham Swan alongside me and Jeff Lemon from ABC as well what do we learn from that performance Graham from Australia from an Australian point of view not a lot to be honest they don't seem to be up with the the modern one-day game of health of leather with the bat they're playing a game that's very sensible rather than very exciting David Warner looks in good touch albeit he had a two-hour net here rather rather than, as you say, try and knock the runs off quickly. Steve Smith doesn't look in great form, despite his 100 in the warm-up game.

And Aaron Finch looks back to form. Bowling-wise, it was a very solid bowling display from Australia. Zampur took some wickets, but didn't bowl that well. Jeff? I think the main positives they can take out of it are that Mitchell Stark got a wicket early and swung the ball early, and that's something that we haven't seen for quite a while. He's barely played in 18 months,

and he hasn't bowled that well in one day cricket over the last. four years or so. So after dominating that 2015 World Cup. So if he can get a bit of confidence about that and get going, it'll help. And also that Aaron Finch scored quickly at the start today, which he hasn't done for quite a while, been battling back from a patch of bad form himself.

So again, if he can carry that through the tournament, that's a massive plus for Australia. He looked really good, Finch. So he's not been in great form for a couple of years, but maybe opposition like Afghanistan put you at ease and you don't worry about failing so much, but he got off to a flyer and he was great. Well, Finch went for him.

didn't he's the captain he's the lead and yet no one seemed to follow that lead i tell you the issue is that even if it wasn't the motivation the appearance is that it was a factor of playing for themselves it looked like warner and smith were making sure that they got time in the middle rather than worrying about how the team was going if you're in a tournament where net run rate could be an issue you're much better off chasing a small target six down in 20 overs than two down in 35 overs because that might be crucial at the end. So that just seemed like maybe it was a bit of complacency or a bit of a mist trick. But as Australia is saying, well, it doesn't matter, we'll just win all our games anyway, so net run rate won't be an issue. Which, of course, they could do. And they could

scoff us at the end of the tournament. Exactly. They could, couldn't they? They could go on and win seven, eight, nine games. But for me, it shows that Australia's batting line. Once Finch gets out, Coadra and Smith come in, and not going to be explosive in the middle. They're not going to try and play an explosive game. It's not in their makeup. So I think we can expect a lot of that, a lot of accumulation through the middle overs from Australia, rather than, as we saw with England the other day, Owen Morgan accumulated a few balls and then danced down the wicket and hit Ribaldra out the ground. So I think England are playing a much more aggressive, much more aesthetically friendly form of cricket in a minute.

Wonderful to say that as well. It feels great. Unfortunately, I couldn't agree more because this was very conventional, sensible, sort of, it was 1990s one day cricket really well, we need 200, so we'll just. make sure that we do it casually. They weren't crawling. They were going at six and over. But I would have thought there's a bit of a gauntlet thrown down from West Indies

belting their way to a small target. The previous day, New Zealand doing the same today, 10 wicket win in no time at all. Surely that then says to Australia, well, this is what's happening in this tournament. You need to take your opportunity when you can to boost your run rate. Let's have another look at an aspect of Smith and Warner. And that was the reception that they were given today.

and we saw Warner come out to bat alongside Aaron Fincher there were some booze around the ground there were some booze when Warner reached his 50 when Steve Smith came out to bat I was concerted booing around the ground Yeah well it was an hour later So a couple more points of cider down everyone's next

I've said it before I don't like it I think it's lowering yourself to their levels And I mean Smith and Warner being Boreish rather than the Australian team Don't get me wrong I just I think if it's humour like there were two guys dressed as sandpaper blocks. Very good. I like that. I'm taking the Mickey out of him for their

misdemeanors, but I don't think Buin does the English crowd any justice, to be honest. Yeah, it's an odd one that Smith is getting more of the brunt of this. We saw the same at Southampton in the warm-up match against England. Because in Australia... In Australia, Warner is considered as the...

He's the one to blame. It was his idea. He created it, and Smith is almost seen as a passer-by innocent who was dragged into the nefarious plan, which is all pretty simplistic as well. ha ha you have fallen for my scheme but here in england it seems to be well smith's the captain he's the one we've all heard about he's led the news bulletins therefore we'll yell at him and warner is wow we don't like him either but whatever yeah maybe it goes back to the australian

captain thing like back to the ponting days everyone hated ponting yeah he's lovely bloke and a hell of a batsman but and everybody respects him now that he's retired yeah you know that that antagonism doesn't seem to last it's pantomime villain stuff isn't it but it's going to continue all summer, isn't it? All deep into this world coming, every ground's going to have their go. Well, I'll tell you what, if they keep getting runs, it'll diminish. It'll get boring to boo. It's a lot of effort to boo all day.

But I also hope that we don't keep talking about it even if it does happen because it will happen. It's not a huge deal. It's not great, but it's not the end of the world. And it doesn't really need to be commented on. But I think we'll find a lot of news outlets who don't necessarily do a lot to do with sport, who'll be wanting to write articles about, you know, Australians being higgled at these grounds and all the rest.

I think you're right. Let's draw a line under it now and never mention it again. Okay, well, I'm reasonably happy with that. It's good to be here for the last time that we ever discussed, booing. Somehow I don't think it will be the last time. Anyway, what about Afghanistan today? They were exciting when they batted. I like them. They've got a sort of a youthful innocence about them, haven't they? But naive, were they a bit naive? Absolutely. I mean, after a really good partnership in the middle of a

both the set batsmen to get out playing extravagant hook shots off the front foot to a bowler just come back on and they haven't had a look at was naive in the extreme. Would you say they were Gulberdine naive? How long you've been thinking of that one? I saw him at the back with their notebook, just writing it down time and time again. But here's the point there. Those two openers, those two openers they've got, they are aggressive players.

It's sort of the way they play. We've seen that, you know, Berto and Roy going back all those years to 96, Kaliatarina and Gia Seria. but Australia have got Cummins and they have got Stark as their opening bowlers so is it worth just sitting in for a little bit I don't think you can have a go with the openers to be honest they got good balls especially on Stark

late in swing to a guy who's not faced 95 miles an hour left arm swing bowling we'll get anyone out that ball would have got a lot of better batsmen out it was after scoring a few runs that sort of it was like a child who's had too many sweets just can't calm them down just look at the scoreboard you've got another 18 overs, you can get hundreds here, lads. And I think Shazard was only looking to, you know, play a little nudge to midwicket as well.

He wasn't trying to put that out of the ground. To get out to that ball is one thing. To get out to a Marcus Stoinus bouncer at 130k an hour is something else. As Gulberdin and Najee Bula both did for 41 and 51 in the same over after an excellent partnership. Yeah, which completely took the wind out of themselves. But it is that youthful naivety and innocence that will endear them to the English public. And they've endeared themselves to me, absolutely, today. I'm going to look forward to every time they bat during this World Cup.

Not so much when they bowl. They haven't got the same vervin vigor in the field, but they've only got Rashid Khan who can really perform at this level. But with the bat, I think they're very exciting. It's an interesting contrast because a lot of those players are real grizzled old veterans as well. They've been around for a long time and played an awful lot of cricket. But there's no containing them. They're out there saying, well, we're here to play, we're here to hit sixes and fours,

and this is what we're going to do. You mentioned Rashid Khan, but eight overs, one for 52. went for 14 in his first over. Have we sort of talked him up too much, or has he got too much to do? You know, he's got too many other players to carry, really. I said this early on. If they don't get Rashikam bowling at people in the middle order who are new to the crease, then he won't have much effect.

If he's forever bowling at Batsun who are set, then it's a very difficult proposition for him. You need as a spinner, new men coming to the crease who you can dismiss and tie down, that's when you get your good figures. And he's Oltsman. On that subject, did Afghanistan make a mistake by Tuesday? using to bat first. The stats at this ground say it's a good ground to bat first. Afghanistan's history in ODI cricket, they've been better when they've bowled first.

Do you not want to get your strength into the game? We've seen how successful their spinners have been and had a very good Asia Cup last year. And they got through the qualifying tournament bowling first and chasing relatively low totals. So do they get it the wrong way around today? Possibly. We can say in hindsight, absolutely. But I know what they're trying to do. That Wicked look green early on so they think if we bowl first the spinners will be completely negated but the sun's going to stay out all day

it might dry and help the spinners later on scoreboard pressure might play into our hands I don't they wouldn't have won the game had they batted or bowled let's face it after witnessing that display they're not as good as Australia but yeah you could argue that they should have bowed first I enjoyed it I thought it was aggressive

it said we're not just going to be a you know bit part player in this game we're going to try and take it to the Aussies and I enjoyed it two for five was a disappointing start from that point of view. Yeah, I mean, the other thing as well about that is, if you're going to win against a top side, your best bet probably is to bat first. I mean, in a way, it was a big gap, but they could have taken the conservative view, let Australia have a go, and then, you know, Australia get 350, 380 and you get 2.30 in reply, you know, not a bad game, but they saw, they had a go

by batting first. Absolutely. And, you know, if you get 280, and then you get a couple of early wickets, and the pressure builds, Australia, thinking, oh, we're going to lose a game, we should win here. Well, that's it. The position they were in, they could have got 280. Those two guys set after a big partnership, both getting out on the same over with still 18 overs left on the board. They could have got up to 280. But also the way Australia went about their chase, it looked like a batting order that wasn't sure of itself. So if they were having to bat first, that could have been interesting.

What would they have done? What would they have decided was enough? And if they'd had to force the pace, would that have created mistakes? They'd have been more exciting to watch. I'll tell you that much. Like watching paint drive, the middle part of the Australian innings. Yeah, there was some great excitement. Rashid Khan actually excited us more probably with the bat than the ball today, the way he played, came out and whacked 27 in no time at all.

11 balls, I think it was, and there was one pull shot for six that just cracked off the bat. The ball disappeared first of it, and I think I've ever seen one off the bat. It went flying over the stairs. Simon actually picked that in common. She said, this next ball will be six or out. Everyone in the ground knew it. This will be about. So he's going to take it on.

And the, you know, the happy thought was that he would hit it for six and he did. It was glorious. It was one of those shots that you see it happen and your body does strange physical twitches and you start contorting. It's all going to happen. So what about Afghanistan in this tournament then? I mean, in a way, they've started better than Sri Lanka and Pakistan, both of who absolutely thrashed. Afghanistan have been well beaten rather than absolutely thrashed. Do you think they could cause one or two upsets?

Do you think they could, you know, take down Sri Lanka or Pakistan or Bangladesh? I think they're the games they'll look forward to. They're their big cup finals, if you like, in this tournament. They're not going to win it. They're not going to beat the better teams unless they have a really bad day. But, yeah, I think they'll have watched Sri Lanka, Pakistan after the warm-up victory. I definitely think they've got one or two surprises up their sleeves. Yeah, I think Afghanistan could win three games at this World Cup

and do it quite comfortably really. Finished just ahead of Australia in the table. It was just the willingness to fight. You know, we saw Pakistan and Sri Lanka just give up, just give it away, except for Karina Ratna, the Sri Lankan captain, who was the only one who had some backbone. And in this performance today, every time we thought Afghanistan might collapse

and might be bowled out for 60 and then might be bowled out for 120 and so on, they managed to find a way to fight back into it, at least for a while, not for long enough, but they showed that spirit. Well, Australia's next game is a fascinating one against West Indies at Trent Bridge. Next week, next Thursday. Afghanistan's next game is against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Tuesday,

and we'll bring you ball by ball commentary on that on the BBC. So earlier today, New Zealand did hand Sri Lanka a real thrashing in Cardiff. Kane Williamson didn't even need to bat. His side recorded a 10-wicket win with just the 203 balls. in front of Alison Mitchell. Well, it was an emphatic 10-wicket victory for New Zealand here in Cardiff. In fact, the first 10-wicket win in a World Cup since England lost to Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2011. I'm sorry, Paul Farbrace to have to bring up that stat.

I wasn't there on that day, so I'm off the hook. I was looking at Jimmy, actually, thinking it was another tough day for Jimmy in a World Cup, unfortunately. Yeah, yeah. It was. Conditions, though, I mean, as a bowler, Jim, me and the New Zealand bowl is there. I was sort of lit up, when the coin went up, Kane Williamson had the chance to bowl,

given there was that tinge of green. Absolutely. Yeah, I'd have been sneaking the double-edded coin to my captain for today. Definitely one to win. Although it didn't do a huge amount, it did enough. Yeah, I think it was a good toss to win, and especially with New Zealand's bowling attack.

I think they're going to be a handful through this tournament, especially if they get conditions like this. so Jeremy Coney it was a fine performance from New Zealand wasn't it all round in terms of ball in the field and then polishing off the runs but with the ball in particular and making the most of that advantage yeah that set the game up didn't it 10 wicket wins 34 over's remaining it's hard to be more comprehensive than that you say emphatic it's a good word to use emphatic because it's the anagram of our producer today

is it really yes it is I think not that's important to our particular program at the moment. But it's been noted. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, quite a good toss to win, you're right. But I didn't think it did

a tremendous amount. It was a bit of nibble and that suits someone more like Henry than it does Bolt, who relies more on swing. Bolt actually wasn't at his best today, I didn't think. Ferguson was quite aggressive, particularly once wickets fell. Three wickets falling in the first

ten always puts a team under a bit of pressure. And Sri Lanka nearly, they just didn't recover from that. And when Ferguson came in at that point, you know, he sort of polished off a few more. And whether it was from sidelon, as you were saying, Paul, about, you know, that may have in some ways intimidated the remaining Sri Lankan batsman. But I mean, the catching was quite good. There was a good catch from guttel at second slip. There was a very good catch from Santner, which was not given. The others were more regulation, but the fielding generally was kind of accurate. And so the whole fielding performance, but it was the wicket taking that always puts pressure

on teams, you know, to, and there was no really, there was nothing to sort of bind the whole thing together, only that little partnership Pereira and Karuna Ratna was really the only thing that you felt, hmm, that could have gone on a little bit longer, but it wasn't to be. So, and then the batting, I thought, you know, that was comfortable, wasn't it, really? Very much so. And Karina Ratna, Paul carried his bat, so half century for him as captain. And, you know, given that his Sri Lanka will look to take what crumbs they can from a defeat like this. But given all the turmoil that has happened behind the scenes, the captain, he sort of stood up and batted through.

He was something of a rock for them. He was. And on one hand, it was actually, you know, the fact that he showed the bravery, he showed the commitment to bat through. and try and get his team a score, that the other side of that is that, you know, that's how he can, that's how he plays. He hasn't got a lot more there. So in terms of the other players that come in and play around him,

they're very tentative today, very half-hearted in the way they play. They've got to be a lot more positive. They know that they've got demurth to bat like that. It does allow the others to come in to be a bit more positive. And I think as much as, you know, we've said New Zealand did bowl very well. They're very aggressive. I'd still like to see some of the Sri Lankan players be a lot more positive in the way that they play.

take the game back to the opposition because that's what they're good at. And today they just never really got going. They got stuck at the crease. The foot movement was very poor. And they just looked like they were intimidated by the New Zealanders all the way through their batting innings. And as the former Sri Lankan coach, you do know a lot of these players very well. Was this a bad day in the office for a lot of them? Or is this indicative of a team who are down at number nine in the world in ODIs at the moment?

In many ways, it sums them up. And I think it's a great shame. I think that they could solve a few issues very quickly. I think they could get their batting order in a lot better position. I think that would give them a better chance. You know, Angelo Matthews is their senior player. He shouldn't be coming in at six. You know, that they will be thinking today, keep him away from the new ball.

That's how they, when they're under pressure, panic gets into the team, gets into the dressing room. And they make, they make strange choices. And today, to send Angelo in at six was a strange choice. He has to bat at four for me. and I think Calasel Pereira who batted at three probably has to bat at six in these sorts of conditions and then I think they give themselves a chance in a building a decent total

and as we saw today you know, Demith Caroon or Atney is a fine player but he isn't going to blast big scores he's only ever going to score you know sort of a run a ball max even if he gets 80 or 90 but they do need to sort of their batting order out but you know they've just been blown away today very disappointing and it's quite hard to analyse the Sri Lankan bowlers

Jimmy, given that they were only what made to work for what, just under sort of 20 overs today 17th over the runs were scored in but you know still with Malinga Lackmal there is a core of experience there isn't there that Sri Lanka should look on and think

you know we should be able to defend those okay not maybe 136 yeah I think they were on a hiding to nothing today you can't defend 137 it doesn't matter if you know on a green seamer or which it wasn't but even on a poor pitch you'd expect a team back in second to be able to must have won 3-7.

But yeah, they've still, I mean, the Malinga's probably coming towards the end of his career, but he's still, I think, got that something that he can still take wickets, he can still bowl, decent pace. Lack mal swung the new ball today, which is a positive and something going forward, if he can exploit that at other grounds against other teams, he might have more success, especially if they've got a total on the board or they've bowling first, So, yeah, I don't think they should worry too much about the bowling. I think that'll take care of itself.

As Paul said, the batting, getting the line up right, which, I mean, it's not an ideal scenario. You're coming into a World Cup and you've not got your top six in the right order, but it's something they've got to sort out very quickly if they're going to progress in this competition. Well, they've got another opener, haven't they? They've got Fernando there. Yes, Avishka.

Now, why can't he bat at number three when you drop, you know, Pereira down the order a little bit? And it also, you've got to also say that the selectors are a wee bit complicit in this. You know, wouldn't they like Chandermal here today who's had 40-odd i's, you know, ODIs or more than 140 ODIs and he's scored 3,600 ODIs, where is Dick Weller who breaks, he's an inventive player, he breaks a bowler's rhythm up, he's hitting the ball in all sorts of places, he's got an average of over 30. you know if those two players are there suddenly it looks a slightly different side to me completely agree and they're two big losses for their team not just their skill but their character as well as dick weller is someone who gets in the opposition faces he's someone who gets

under the opposition skin he did that to the england team in the winter in the test and the one day he was the guy to get out he was the bloke you want to get once you got him out you felt you had a chance of going through them and he's a dangerous very dangerous but he you know he's a combative he's a in-your-face cricketer. And you need people, you need character in your side. Chandimau, the last time Sri Lanka played in England, he was their best play in the one-day international series. And it just seems a very, very poor decision to leave those two at home.

Well, especially in the context of, I mean, there's no Sangha-Caras in that lot. No. There's, you know, there's no Aravindas, there's no Atapatu's. There's none of those Jaya Warden. They don't have, they don't have those players of that skill and craft and experience to call upon. So they need players like Chandemarle, I think, in the script. Anyway, they're not there. That's the selectors problem.

And Sri Lanka, they're in a strange position, aren't they now, in terms of selection, where the coach doesn't actually have a say now on tour. The structure has changed. This is Sri Lankan politics, of course, coming into it around the cricket board. But it's the selector or manager on tour and the captain who choose the team. That makes it tough, doesn't it? I mean, you know, when you have that going on around you, that does make it tough. And yet, you know, they've always thrived.

on when things have been a little bit in turmoil the players actually respond quite well to that they're used to it, they do get used to it but you've got to give yourself the best chance you've got to pick the best players in the first place and you've got to get your order in the right place and if you do that you give yourself a decent chance but you need the character that's the key thing

you need characters in your team who want to be involved in the big games and that's someone like a you know Jimmy Anderson when you play for that length of time you have the right character to play that you look at the Shalankan team that there's a lot of people that have only played a few games and they're in and out. So they doubt themselves

and therefore they lack the confidence when it comes to tough situations like today. Back to New Zealand though, Jimmy. How good on this evidence today are they? Are they semi-final contenders in your book? Of course they are, yeah. I think they were before the tournament started for me. The beating finalists last time round, I see them as a really strong outfit. I like their bowling attack. As Jeremy said, I don't think Bolt was on it hitting his straps today

but game one, we're not too bothered about that. You know, going through the tournament, I think he'll be a key bowler for them. Saudi's out injured at the minute. If he comes back in then it's a really strong bowling attack and with the likes of you know, we've talked about potentially going through the tournament, the wicket's

getting a little bit drier, a little bit more used and then they've got Ish Saldi to come in to back up Santner in the spin department so i just think they've got all bases covered in in their bowling attack and then we've not even seen for me the two best players with the bat williamson and taylor we've not even seen them today because of the destructive nature of gupta and monroe at the top so um exciting things i think from new zealand and and they've gone slightly under the radar as well everyone's talking about england india um australia

everyone's talking about other teams but new zealand uh definitely will be there thereabouts Whether that is sort of force of personalities and if you like, sort of glitz and glamour of, say, the Indian side that gets us all whipped up into believing that these are the big teams that will always be there. But yet New Zealand are historically always there in the semi-finals, six semis and a final they've made in the world. They're just very shrewd, aren't they? Whenever you play against the New Zealand side, you always think they've got the game worked out. They get the best people in the right places. They always have a balance of their team. And, you know, you talk about Salty, Bolt, you know, Taylor Williamson. That's the core. of a fantastic team. Any team would love to have those four in your team.

Goptill at the top of the order. The only one, and he got runs today, but Monroe for me, I'm just, he is my question mark in the side, and I just wonder whether they could get Latham at the top of the order whilst he's keeping as well. He's a top quality player,

and I just wonder whether that might be the only change they would make. Having Southie come into the tournament at some stage later in the series, I think will be a real good addition for them because he's going to play a big part. If they're going to get to the semi-fine, Bolton South are you going to be there two big players.

Right. Very important task we want to do before we wrap up, which is, now, I don't know whether you know this, everyone who comes on the Test Match Special podcast gets to draw a name out of the hat. Well, it's not a hat. It's a cardboard coffee cup, actually. But we are doing a bit of a sweepstake in terms of who will be the highest run scorer in the World Cup. So just to fill you in, Michael Vaughn picked out Imam al-Hak, Pakistan. Agus has got Aaron Finch, Australia. So if I take off the lid here, I'll get you each to draw a name. It's a lucky dip.

Paul Fibrease, you go first. So Jeremy, you can reveal it, Paul. Yes, I will pick one as well. Oh, is that I... I could pick a lap now. Oh, okay. Yes, you're not going to get lack now. Rest, rest of sure.

I'm trying to feel the writing on the paper. It's not in frail. You're not going to have any lack. There you go. Right, Jimmy, Jimmy Anderson pick out at Topwater Bats. Okay, the big reveal then, Paul. Who have you got? You're looking enviously at Jeremy.

I just got a quick look to see, I was going to say his if he's was better than mine. Shikad de Wan, I've got. Oh, okay. Well, I've got an opener as well. I've got Tammy McBowal from Bangladesh. Okay, he's a dasher. Jimmy, who have you got? I've got Quinton de Kock.

Oh, that's actually a very good shout. I've got David Warner. Well, that's not bad either. No, exactly. Okay, well, we were reconvene further down the line in the tournaments in compare and contrast. Come on, Tammy. our batters are doing. Paul Firebrace, Jeremy Coney, Jimmy Anderson, thank you for your company

and I'll see you very soon on the TMS podcast. The TMS podcast, available every day during the Cricket World Cup. Well, it's very early days, but Michael Vaughn with his pre-tournament tip for top scorer. That was Johnny Bairsto, out first ball, his sweepstake pick, Imam alhack, two off 11 balls in that defeat to West Indies on Friday at Trenbridge, and he picked Pakistan to reach the semi-finals. But just on that match, Pakistan and Westin's, one of the real features of it was the effectiveness of short-pitched bowling. We've seen that in this competition so far, and these Zaltzman alongside me, Graham Swan, and Jeff Lemon still with me as well. How effective has the short ball been statistically so far in this World Cup?

Very effective. So from that pace bowlers, the balls categorised on the Crook Info database as short or short of a good length have taken 23 wickets out of 400. 154 deliveries, good length balls, 13 wickets from 445. Short balls are averaging a wicket every 20 runs. So we've seen a huge number of wickets to short balls and they've been more effective than old-fashioned good balls, I guess. Yeah, well, I think that's more the shock tactic of the way the West Indies bowled up at the Mecca at Trent Bridge.

Andre Russell started it by bowling well and it was interesting actually to listen to the other West Indies bowl were saying it wasn't a preconceived notion to go out there and bomb people. It just, it worked for Russell, so they copied him. But having done that, surely they're thinking, hang on a minute, this has sparked a few memories. Certainly the West Indies

supporters at Treadbridge were loving it. They were hailing back to the days of holding, Marshall, Croft, Patterson, Bishop. I'm getting hairs on the back. How long have we got? Actually, it goes through about 25 names fastballers. I wouldn't be surprised if the West Indes continue with that. But if it's a sustained short-pitched

ball and attack throughout the World Cup and people are ready for it, it won't work every game. Well, the surprise element will just go, you think? If people are ready for it, better players, better players of the short ball will hammer it. Another thing as well, of course, is which ground do you bowl the short ball on? Because on some of the smaller grounds, I think Taunton, for example, you could be absolutely smashed a million miles. Yeah, absolutely.

You could be getting 500 in no time there. I think it's also a matter of the bowler and expectation, you know, Fafter-Plessy said that Geoffrey Archer got a lot of wickets with the short ball, largely. because they hadn't faced much of him and they didn't realise that his short ball is a fair bit quicker than his other deliveries

so having faced him they might not make the same mistake again so it can work on a day you can have a run and get some momentum with it but it doesn't mean it's going to work every time yeah and then we go on use pitches as well and then you

I mean you probably have to change your spinners coming to play on used pitches I think the fact the sun's out and the fact that the weather seems set to be quite fair for a while the spin definitely will come into it and the longer this tournament goes

on. Let's face it as well, if you run up and bowling bounces, it's hard on the body. And there's a lot of games. There'll be a lot of fast balls getting injured very quickly. And if it doesn't pay off straight away, if you've not got two or three wickets with the first 10 bounce at your ball, you're not going to do it for much longer. So what are you going to expect then

from Thursday, West Indies against Australia? You think they'll really go for it again? I think they will, and I think Australia's ego of their batsmen will mean they have to take it on. Australia do not like being on the back foot. They'll look to attack it to say, look, you're not you don't do that to us, pal. I think it could be a fascinating encounter because of that.

So this game in particular, I think it will be used by the West Indies, but some other games I don't. I'll tell you what, whoever they pick, Usman Kowager, compulsive hooker, David Warner, compulsive hooker, Sean Marsh, compulsive hooker. They won't be able to resist it. It's going to be brilliant. Small boundaries as well.

It's going to be amazing. Yeah, great occasion. Australia have won nine in a row now after going two nil down in India earlier this year. And before that, they'd have their worst ever 25 match sequence in the history of their their one-day international side and it's only the second time this decade they've won nine on the spin the previous sequence included the World Cup

final four years ago so a great return to Australian four if that's your bag that's enough from you Andy thank you very much but will it end on Thursday at Trent Bridge against the West Indies, a rejuvenated West Indies I saw enough of them in the Caribbean

over the winter in that series against England to think they could hurt one or two teams Well, they've already seriously hurt Pakistan, and I wonder if they can do the same to Australia on Thursday. Fingers crossed. This is Trevor Bayliss. Make sure you're subscribed to the TMS podcast on BBC Sounds or your usual podcast app.

You'll get a new episode each day throughout the tournament. You can also email the team on TMS at bbc.co.com. Well, now let's move on. If you subscribe to this podcast from the very start of the tournament, you'll know we've been asking for people to email with the least crickety places they're listening from. Some of the best from Saturday. Charles Moulton,

maybe not the most unusual place to follow cricket and the ICC World Cup, but I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin in the United States. This is the hometown of the NFL team Green Bay Packers. So cricket is not a sport that gets any attention here. I've never played the game and came to it through hearing the comedy of Andy Zaltzman. Takes all sorts,

combined with a few programs on Netflix. I now follow the Ashes. the ICC World Cup and the IPL. Thanks for a great podcast. And I look forward to many more years following this interesting game. Great to hear from you, Charles. Ben Siddell listening in Lilongway in Malawi, says, Come on England. Tom Khalard, I'm currently listening to the podcast in Camp Tajina, Baghdad, Iraq.

Not the biggest cricket in country, maybe because I haven't seen a blade of grass since I've been here. Nicholas Hercules, loving listening to the TMS podcast while walking to work with an our UN camp in June. Cuba in South Sudan, long gone of the days of a crackling reception coming through crystal clear in Equatorial Africa under the beating sun. Keep those coming in with accompanying photos as well. TMS at BBC.co.uk is our email address. Love to hear from you during the tournament. You can also head to the cricket page, the BBC Sport website, to make your prediction

to the four sides who'll advance from the league stage where everyone plays everyone and moves through to the semi-finals. Who have you gone for, Jeff? Who are your four teams for the semifinals? I've flip-flopped a bit, but I had the West Indies in there and New Zealand and England and India, I think. The current user picks are England, India, Australia and West Indies. I suspect West Indies have sneaked in there after there.

They've firmed all these bandwagoners I was on three weeks ago. Well, the one of the thing about that, though, is that sometimes the first games are sort of given too much importance, aren't they? And if you win a game in the middle of the tournament, It's not given as much importance as the first game. It has a massive impact. But it was also the way West Indies played, I think, that it was such a superb all-round performance.

They were exciting with the ball, and then they came out and whacked it as well. So they put their game together. In a way, actually, they didn't always do against England and the Caribbean. They were very strong with the bat. They looked a bit lackluster in the field. And with the ball, they looked quite hitable. But goodness me, at Trent Bridge, they were absolutely fantastic.

I think also the fact that they almost didn't qualify. You know, they were one correct LBW decision away from missing out to Scotland for a World Cup place in the qualifiers. So it does underline once again what a nonsense it is that so many teams are not here. Yeah. I went for England, India, Australia and don't know. Having a clue for my fourth team. New Zealand, of course, winning today. So they've made a strong start.

The tournament, I just thought Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, no chance. That's the definition of fence sitting, though. I'm going to pick the three biggest teams and then say, I'm not sure. Well, I really am not. But there we go. But I mean, having seen the West Indies, then they clearly have got a decent chance.

Perhaps I'll go for them now. Now, Sunday's match comes from the Oval with South Africa back in action. It's not curiosity with this tournament, actually, that South Africa, their third match is India's first match. And that comes up later this week. But South Africa back in action against Bangladesh. TMS on air at 9.30 before a game that starts

at 10.30, I thought looking at South Africa middle order on Thursday, it did not look the strongest. They've got some very good cricketers, South Africa, but I really wonder whether they've got a strong all-round team. Well, you just look at how massively they were disrupted by Hashim Amla being struck on the helmet. He had to go off early, retired hurt, and suddenly the rest of it just didn't work, really. I mean, Aidan Markrams are tremendously exciting batsmen and watching him in his first few test matches against Australia last year. It was extraordinary the hundred he made at Durban in the second innings. You know, he's a huge talent.

So if he can come on in this format, he'll do a lot for them. But, you know, Fafta Plissi ends up having to put out a lot of fires himself. Rassie van der Dusk and I like the look of. He's got that bit of fight. He's a pretty punchy sort of player and made an important 50 against England. But they just feel like a team that's not entirely put together right. No, I absolutely agree with you. And if they lose their first two matches and that's big pressure,

Bangladesh coming into the tournament. I saw them play last week in a warm-up game against India. Solid. You know, they've got some decent players. Question mark about Tamim Ikbal's fitness and he clearly is a very important player to them. So experience.

I wonder if Bangladesh can buck the trend of Asian sides struggling early on. Pakistan have lost and Afghanistan have lost and Sri Lanka have lost. But of course, in recent tournaments in England, the Asian sides have really come through. Pakistan and India winning the last two champions trophy here. Pakistan also winning the world.

20 here. So, you know, if it does dry out, the spin has come into play, then that can change. Again, it just comes back to that point I was making about putting too much emphasis just on the first match. Yeah, I think it's just that this Bangladesh team in the last four years have become a much more solid outfit. They're confident that they can beat good teams. They've done it often enough and regularly enough. You know, they're usually underdogs going in against bigger sides, but they don't feel overwhelmed by that anymore. They've played enough cricket. They've beaten big teams in big tournaments and so they will have

a degree of confidence I think that they can match it Well England's next match is on Monday against Pakistan at Trent Bridge and they are going to play on the same pitch that produce those record scores Pakistan's bowlers potentially could be under a bit of pressure again although we saw in that one day series

they played against England that their batsmen are capable if it's their day How magical and powerful is a pitch to say this is the same pitch that they made 481, they made 444. I'll tell you why that story's popping up in the press, because it's come out from inside the England camp. They're the ones who pushed that around saying, oh, just wanted to let any journalists know that this is the same pitch. So they're definitely hoping to get a bit of a rev up out of this. We've fallen for it. We've taken the bait.

Yeah, you've still got to go out there and make them again. From BBC Radio 5 Live, this is the TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup. Well, I mean, clearly Australia are not going to win this tournament. We talked about this On air early during the day, there's a further piece of evidence. So, firstly, both are openers scored 50. Whenever that's happened in a World Cup, Australia have not gone on to win it, so they're basically doomed.

And also, the last four World Cups have been won by a team scoring 300 in their first innings of the tournament. So by only having to chase 200 and eight to win today, they've basically ruled themselves out. One positive thing for Australia, a stumping for Alex Carey, their first stumping in a World Cup since the 2007 final. against Sri Lanka. Kerry's had four stumpings in his last seven matches. Australia had just

two in their previous 91 day internationals. There you are. You've heard it from Andy Zaltzman. Australia are not going to win the World Cup. On the day they win their opening match, on that uplifting note, I think it's time to say goodbye. If you haven't already subscribed to this podcast for new episodes every day throughout the tournament, plenty more special features with the England team to come. Check back to day two's podcast for Josh Butler interviewing. Adi or Rashid about the psychology and secrets of leg spin. You can also watch match highlights as they happen via the BBC Sport website and app. That's it.

Speak to you soon. The TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup. Download and subscribe via the BBC Sounds app for a new episode every day. So Trevor, can I just get you to say, like, you're listening to the TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup. Make sure you're subscribed on BBC Sounds. You're kidding, aren't you? What's a podcast? BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.