Test Match Special - CWC Day 38: Rohit shines at Headingley and Australia lose their final group game

Episode Date: July 7, 2019

Rohit Sharma became the first man to score five centuries in a single World Cup as India chased down 265 with 6.3 overs to spare at Headingley. We hear from Charles Dagnell, Prakash Wakankar and Jerem...y Coney on their assessment of the match. Meanwhile Australia fell 10 runs short in the competition's final group game at Old Trafford. We hear from former England cricketer Graeme Swan for his thoughts ahead of England’s semi-final against Australia, and England women all-rounder Natalie Sciver ahead of their third and final ODI.

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Starting point is 00:00:36 You've never seen anything like this all around the ground. Bonfires are going in the sand at the far end. He puts his bat up to the crowd. A wonderful moment in cricket history in the World Cup. Oh, there could be a runner. There will be a run out. It's a tie. Australia is in the final. Australia have won the 1987 World Cup. The captain has scored the winning run for Sri Lanka, who have won the World Cup for the first time in their history. I'm Jonathan Agnew. Welcome to Old Trafford, where we still the conclusion of the Cricket World Cup group stage.
Starting point is 00:01:10 Later, we'll have more on the penultimate group match where India cruised a victory over Sri Lanka at Headingley, India won by seven wickets, after surpassing Sri Lanka's target of 264. But first, we're reacting to Australia's shock defeat to South Africa. Well, a consolation win. I don't know how you accept that, Natalie. The best they could have done to finish the tournament.
Starting point is 00:01:33 You've got to a stage, obviously, where South Africa couldn't go through to the semi-finals, and all they could do then is make sure they win the rest of the games, and they did that. It's disappointing, I would think, for South African supporters, that they just looked at a different team today. I mean, I've seen them two or three times during the course of the last few weeks,
Starting point is 00:01:49 and they were just so much more on their game today. Rabada running in, bowling with genuine pace and hostility. Admittedly on a pitch, bounce than we've seen, but just generally, they're just a lovely hundred from Diplassi, obviously. Fanda Dusen, 95, de Kock 52, some lovely glove work from
Starting point is 00:02:07 him behind the stumps with the run-out with flick back and the wonderful catch as well. I mean, he just seems to be buzzing a bit more today than they have been. Yeah, the intensity was up there in the field, right from the start, which was really good to see. It felt like Fafte d'Ipc really led the team very well.
Starting point is 00:02:23 Enjoyed his captaincy today. He was put under pressure, and yet he still managed to bring out a very, very good performance and he brought out the best in his players as well. His player management for me today was really good. It was really spot on. Yeah. Well, Jim Maxwell, we'll hear from FFTA Plecena in a second.
Starting point is 00:02:39 What do you make of all that then? Well, I think a week off for Australia didn't help them on the way they started this game. They weren't accurate and controlled enough in the early part. That's why they obviously went to Nathan Lyon very early on the proceedings, because
Starting point is 00:02:56 on this excellent surface, we've again seen why. There seems to be 60, 40, almost 70, 30 advantage to the team that bats well first up and controlling the game. Let's join Mark Nicholas, who's with Fafthiplice. And Alex Kerry, for the Australians, Fafthuplecy, and of course Rassi Vanda doesn't for the South Africans. But given South Africa, good excellent victory here and the fact that he held it together in the field with his team.
Starting point is 00:03:25 Today's player of the match is Faf Duplice here to present him with the award. David Hudgekiss, the chairman of Lancashire. Faf, well done. You've shown a lot of promising form in this World Cup, but today you were somewhere near your very best. Yeah, I mean, it's been a tournament where I felt like I was hitting the ball while throughout the tournament, but unfortunately couldn't convert those 50s and 60s into big scores,
Starting point is 00:03:50 and I've managed to do that the last two games. But what a game today. It's always a pleasure playing against Australia. It's fantastic two teams competing it. And a nice close game is the last game for us. I mean, we wanted to at least go home with a smile or a small smile. And today we got that as a team. I'll talk you in more detail about the match when you come back as one of the two captains.
Starting point is 00:04:13 But on the batting front, Rassie van der Dissentl is proving to be a valuable ally for you. Yeah, I mean, today is just a great example for young batterers out there. that if it's tough for you in the middle and you're struggling to get away, it's about just being composed, being clear in what you need to do. I think he was like five or 30 balls or something. But it was just the case of just hanging in there,
Starting point is 00:04:36 just wait to lead one or two in the middle, then you trust your game plan to get through that. And to hang in through a period like that shows great maturity for a young batter. I want to ask you about one shot, the Swedish strike straight down the ground of Pat Cummings. Yeah, I normally play it more to guys that are like 130 to 138
Starting point is 00:04:55 when you it's obviously a pre-matted that it's shot but when the guys steaming it at 1.45 the heartbeat does beat a little bit quicker when you double step down the ground but it is a shot that I practice so back myself to connect it finally before we address the campaign
Starting point is 00:05:10 overall a bit later a word for two guys who are retiring important players for you for so long J.P. Dumony and Imran Tahir absolute champion of human beings in our team they've been great cricketers I mean, I mean, Emmy the last two, three years, price has been exceptional.
Starting point is 00:05:26 JP's had a fantastic career, but for me, the space that they will leave in the team is more the people that they are, the person that they carry themselves with. Emmy is like the big heartbeat of the team and JP is the father figure of the team. He loves a deep conversation just to get deep with the players in the team.
Starting point is 00:05:45 So we'll miss them, but extremely happy that you could send grades like them off with the win. All right, we'll talk again in just a moment. Congratulations on your terrific performance today. Thank you, Mark. Fafth to see, the man of the match, and we're hearing from him with Aaron Finch too,
Starting point is 00:06:00 which seems to see what he has to say about that. It won't be too long, but they can make history, Jim, Australia. They can be the first ever team to lose their final qualifying match and win the World Cup. Well, they've won five World Cups. I want to find another way to do it. You've got to be optimistic,
Starting point is 00:06:19 but as you suggested, they'd be down. bit because they were very determined obviously to win this game but they didn't put in the effort that they needed to get on top of a South African side who was as motivated as any other team who was trying to qualify over the semi-finals and this was clearly South Africa's best performance of the competition and Rabata ran it ran in with an enthusiasm we haven't seen in the last couple of matches. And given the fact that they didn't have Amlar, they had a very short batting order.
Starting point is 00:06:54 They somehow got away with it, thanks to that big partnership. They've done extraordinarily well. For Australia, they've got a few injury problems to think about it. Well, they've got a couple of extra days. Yeah, well, they have to do that. I can see Aaron Finch. And then we'll hear from him in a second about those injuries. But, I mean, if England did have to take a snapshot of this evening,
Starting point is 00:07:17 it would have been at the end because the two bats were sort of consoling each other looking really disappointed the team was a whole of hands in pockets standing on the edge looking dejected
Starting point is 00:07:27 I mean they've got to lift themselves up now how swiftly momentum can swing in sport it's extraordinary after the game at Lords when Australia bit England so convincingly who would have thought it'd come to this
Starting point is 00:07:40 and playing them in a semi-final with you'd have to say now the psychological advantage at Edgebiston, one of England's favourite grounds. There'll probably be a few spectators there who might boo Warner again today as they did on Thursdays
Starting point is 00:07:57 as they did today. But didn't he play well? I mean, that was one of his finest innings. Yeah, I mean, apart from the runout, he should have been run out for naught, but you, okay, you gloss over that, and the rest of his innings was, you know, the rest of the 120 runs that he did score, I thought it's a fantastic innings today. His innings
Starting point is 00:08:13 and the performance of Kerry, which are very nearly got Australia you're in a position where they might have been able to win the game at the last gasp. But the others have to do more. Maybe Stoianis has got an injury problem and goodness knows, do you
Starting point is 00:08:28 get a hamstring right in a couple of days? If he's torn a hamstring coadja, Hanscombe you would think he'd be taking his place in the side. Well, the fact of he was there, they'd come out at a bat. It says one of two things. Either he's actually not too bad. Or it just shows how
Starting point is 00:08:44 desperately Australia wanted to stay here and play New Zealand in the semi, just to try and get them over the line? Yes. Well, it has certainly opened things up in terms of the final. It probably hasn't made any difference to New Zealand, who are always going to be the outsiders of the four coming into the semi-finals. But it's probably made India sleep a little bit easier tonight, knowing they're playing New Zealand and not England in the semi-final.
Starting point is 00:09:13 Let's join Mark Nicholas with Aaron Fritz. It's satisfying for you. No, absolutely. We would have loved to have got the win. I think some real positive from those, how deep we managed to take it with a bat there. We fought ourselves out of a bit of a hole. And Davy Warner, obviously, in a magnificent hundred. And Alex Carey played a brilliant knock to get us close, but not quite good enough on the day. Not at your best with the ball first up.
Starting point is 00:09:33 Yeah, I think at times we're either a little bit too full or a little bit too wide. We just didn't really hit our areas consistently enough. And when you're Quinton Cox, a magnificent player and Marker played beautifully up front as well. So you give them guys half a sniff and, and, you give them guys. they'll take it. How frustrating to have played such good cricket for a period and then tail off? Oh it's obviously a little bit frustrating but I think it's also a time when when we can learn from it as well and you look back and think what we could have done different what we could have done different to get out of that a little bit quicker so
Starting point is 00:10:02 still plenty of the learn from and I think a real positive is like I said we still managed to get really close while not playing our best cricket. Give us your injury update. Doesn't look ideal for Usman Kowager at the moment. So I I'll have to wait and see. He's going to have a scan in the morning and we'll make a call based on what the results are there. Marcus Stoenis?
Starting point is 00:10:23 Not sure. At the moment, it feels okay but again, until you get the definitive scans, it's tough to know. You've got Australia Ray here, so there are guys you can call on who are in form.
Starting point is 00:10:36 Yeah, there's the whole Australia race courts here as well, the four-day guys and the one-day guys. So, yeah, if they need to be replaced, which I imagine, Usman will. There's plenty of guys who've been playing some good one-day cricket to come in now you would have settled into your hotel but you've got to pack your bags and get down to Birmingham and it's England yeah it's going to be a blockbuster it doesn't get much
Starting point is 00:10:55 bigger than that Australia England in a World Cup semi-finals so hopefully it'll be a great game you enjoy Edgbuston absolutely it's a beautiful ground of play and the fans are they're always they're always entertaining down there so it's going to be a great atmosphere we know that World Cup semi-final what more can you want then she you enjoying the captaincy and the whole experience? Absolutely. It's been wonderful and it's such a great place to play. We've seen packed houses for every game that's been played. There hasn't been a dull game in terms of the crowd and the atmosphere. So just looking forward to getting down to Birmingham and getting our preparation started for Thursday.
Starting point is 00:11:31 Can't wait, hey, the old enemies. Go for it. Thanks, pal. Thanks. Right, today's winning captain, Faf Duplacie is back with me. That really was a good performance, exactly what you've been looking for for five or six weeks. Yeah, I mean, that's frustrating, obviously. The last two games we've done that, as we said, you know, from a batting point of view, it's about getting guys making sure they're back through and score hundreds. We've done that the last two games, or 96 and 195 again today.
Starting point is 00:12:03 So when you do that, you give your bowlers a chance to bowl it, and obviously vice versa. Today we saw KG back at his best, again running in and bowling quick. But it's different when you've got runs on the board. Like I said earlier, we've been batting well. It's just the case of we haven't converted into big scores. And with the ball, so we haven't had guys continuously getting four fist, five fist. If you look at someone like Starkey, he's been chipping with a fiffer almost every game. So that helps you tremendously when you have individuals laying it up.
Starting point is 00:12:32 Can you think what wasn't right late May and early June and is right now? That's too much of a magic secret. That's the big after the tournament. That's when we start scratching eyes and trying to figure it out. inconsistent cricket to be in the semifinals especially now with this new four team format
Starting point is 00:12:53 you need to be at your best for most of the tournament and if you're not you need guys to lift a team through and win games almost on their own and we weren't at our best as a team and we had guys
Starting point is 00:13:05 not doing enough to get us over the line Australia sure bring out the best in you yeah I do like playing against you do but it's I don't know I mean, I've actually tried to figure out why it is that I, I mean, I bet quite nicely against him to try and get some of that when I play against other things, but I can't put it down. It's just, it's just reflecting the night before when you play a game and you go like, you know, I've done this before, I'm confident that tomorrow I can do the same again. Give us a reflection on the big picture going ahead.
Starting point is 00:13:35 It's India and New Zealand here, Australia and England at Ashbyston. Here's your tip. Sure. I think India would be very happy that we won today. And probably all the three, if I call them the big three teams, the teams have been playing really well. But of looking at New Zealand's form the last three games, dipping a little bit.
Starting point is 00:13:56 I would probably say an England, India final. Okay, and who do you tip to win that? I know you want to say England, but I think India and Australia are teams that play big games very well. So I would back one of them two in the biggest stage of all. great faf thank you nice to see you play well today well done can't really argue with that actually put on the spot but I think I think he's right India and Australia are used to playing big games
Starting point is 00:14:24 and England not so so anyway they've got the big game on Thursday you've got to play Australia Jim I was a bit surprised that Aaron Finch there seemed almost to draw a line under Usman Khawaja didn't he yeah I'm if he's got any kind of hamstring injury he can't play he can't run and even with a runner that doesn't help
Starting point is 00:14:50 and he can't take an injury into the game and so on but no Hansom's got Hansom's got to play yeah that's for sure and the Stoinus one I mean he didn't actually specify what it was but I it looked like a side to me when he was down there or side back hip by that sort of area
Starting point is 00:15:04 and again he wasn't didn't sound terribly confident about that well it'd be an extraordinary thing I mean a couple of weeks ago Stoinis was out of the World Cup So it seemed with something that looked similar to what we saw today. And Mitch Marsh was ready to go. And then Stoinus made a recovery, but was it a recovery?
Starting point is 00:15:24 Yeah. So as he says, it's not as if they're short of replacements. No. They've got two teams on the fringe, really. Yes. So Mitch Marsh could come in, I suppose. But it upsets your rhythm a bit at this point of the tournament to be making changes forced on you by injury.
Starting point is 00:15:42 Well, two cold players coming to play a side. semi-final against England at Edgebast then that's that's that's pretty tough yeah well the Australians are pretty resilient as you know Agnes and they can they can turn up with some surprises but uh yeah they've got to pick themselves up and because they've been playing some outstanding cricket uh and today uh they were as was suggested in that interview they were i thought pretty ordinary with the ball early on and it sort of gave away the initiative. South Africa were 79 in the
Starting point is 00:16:14 12th over and Duplice went on with it with the Vandadis and so a very good effort from South Africa and Australia again bits of the like the Kirits eggs, some of it was very good and most of that was Warner
Starting point is 00:16:30 play very well today Natalie last word with you because we're going to lose you from the World Cup now but you'll be back of course for the women which is fantastic women's ashes and so that's really good Shall I do a Mark Nicholas to Fafter-Plessy on you then? Okay, I'm ready. You've seen lots of games.
Starting point is 00:16:48 What's the final? I think India, and I'm going to go with England as well. Are you? Yeah, I just feel like England are now gaining momentum, and it's sort of coming together. And I think Australia, with their injuries, it's a bit of a problem. It's causing a few holes and disrupting the balance a little bit of their side.
Starting point is 00:17:08 so I'm going to go with England, India and then all bets are off Yeah, it's going to be interesting to see what the pitch is like at Lords for the final I think that could be crucial in the final The TMS podcast available every day During the Cricket World Cup Well we're making very good progress
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Starting point is 00:19:11 UK to tell us what corner of the world you're listening from. Available every day during the Cricket World Cup. This is the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Now let's focus on today's earlier group game where India comfortably beats Sri Lanka by seven wickets. Rohit Sharma became the first man to score five centuries in a single World Cup, as India chased down 265 with 6.3 overs remaining.
Starting point is 00:19:36 at Headingley. Well, thank you very much, Jonathan. Yes. Welcome to Leeds here where we're reflecting on what was very much a comprehensive victory for India over Sri Lanka. And the winning margin pretty much tells a story of such dominance for India. Seven wickets, 39 balls remaining. Sri Lanka 264 for seven. India 265 for three. We saw Angela Matthews century for Sri Lanka. We saw two centuries for India, including a record. breaking one as well from Roeth Sharma scored 103 becoming the first batsman to score five centuries in one World Cup Kael Rahul also scored a century made 111 the massive
Starting point is 00:20:20 Indian crowd yet again in a wonderful atmosphere here in Leeds at least got to see Verac Koli score 34 not out 41 balls just over an hour for them to scream in delight at the Indian captain with three fours there as well to Wakanka and Jeremy Coney alongside me. I suppose such a comprehensive victory is we're looking ahead now to the knockout stage, whether it was almost too easy and whether that really was what India were looking for today.
Starting point is 00:20:50 Because I wonder what you learned about India from what we saw here today. Prakash, to begin with you. Well, to my mind, I think, yes, you make a good point. Would they have liked a tougher workout, if you will? That's one way of looking at it. The other way of looking at it is if we're doing well, we've won most of our games, just the one loss, the one washout, of course.
Starting point is 00:21:11 And another very, very comprehensive, arguably the most comprehensive victory that India had in this tournament, just about the perfect preparation to go into the knockout stages. Jeremy, not a great game for the neutral, but one certainly for the Indian supporters to enjoy, but what did you take from the game itself? I thought that probably India got more out of the game. Not because they won, but because they're bowling restricted early on by taking wickets. They then had to fight to try and remove a partnership between two experienced players who are playing, you know, on basically subcontinental conditions out here today
Starting point is 00:21:52 and playing against the subcontinental side. So they had to work hard to do that. They managed to subdue their range of shots. they restricted the areas that a good player like Matthews was able to really a lot of his shots were having to be you know created because of the change of pace by the Indian bowlers so I thought that they got a lot out of it they found out about Jadasia I think about for the for the remaining games what do they find out well they found out that he was a very useful A in the conditions with the ball stuck in the surface a wee but He got a bit of turn, he got a stumping of a top order player.
Starting point is 00:22:35 He looked good in the park at Backward Point, which is a critical position in the field. And he's also, he wasn't required to bat, I know, but we know that he can bat. So he's got all the components. A little bit like Pandia has also those same kinds of three strings to the bow, which are very useful. Ran in and took a lovely catch, bowed his variety of deliveries as a sort of a semi-seamer, if you like. And he's busy and he looked capable with the few runs he had to mop up to get the victory as well. So we know that Bumra again went for very few runs, picked up early wickets in the first 10 over. So I think they've got their, the field setting was difficult for the Sri Lankans to get away.
Starting point is 00:23:20 So I thought that that's where the part of the game they'll take a lot from. Cool Deep perhaps may have played himself out today, I think. if he had a come back in with some very good turn and using the whole body in creating dip and spin swerve making it awkward for batsman but he didn't really do that I don't think and so that counts against him for me if I was an Indian selector I'd say
Starting point is 00:23:49 not so sure about that one you know Kordip so I think that's my main stuff from the fielding but there definitely wasn't a test for the middle order batting here. No, there was. So what are India taking from that? Because there do seem to be a few question marks of what's going on there. Yes, I mean, I have called it or maybe someone else did, and I've just picked up on it. The middle-order muddle is what it's being referred to generally.
Starting point is 00:24:13 And yet I thought during commentary, we had a very interesting conversation with Jeremy, and we talked about the fact that is it possible that 4, 5, 6 and 7 really is a floating 4 in the sense that unless there is a crisis at the top and you've lost 2 for 30 or something, which is where you really need your number four now to come and do pretty much what Angelo Matthews and Tirumani did here in this game today, forced to Sri Lanka, more often than not, you're in a decent position. And then depending on the tempo, whether you're chasing, you're setting a goal, you want to send in Pandya.
Starting point is 00:24:45 We saw Pandya come in at 4 if memory serves me right in the Oval game against Australia when India had set a big pedestal. When it was a little tighter, we saw Tony come in. Now, Pant is the designated number 4, but will he come in at number 4? but will he come in at number four every time? I don't know. So I think the way the Indian team will look at it is to say 45, 6, if not 7,
Starting point is 00:25:05 floating 4, we've got 4 people, we've got Pandya, we've got Dhoni, we've got Panth, and we can always play around with it the way we need it. And are comfortable to do so, because that's the question, isn't it, if players are comfortable too? Absolutely. I think from what I know of these players
Starting point is 00:25:20 and these boys themselves, given the way modern cricket is being played, the T20 format is, of course, perfect for it, where everybody virtually plays wherever they're required to. I don't think that's a problem at all. I think, therefore, from that point of view, they will be comfortable. Yes, they weren't tested. They haven't got time in the middle.
Starting point is 00:25:39 Karthik really hasn't played any balls at all. I think Zadav is out of the reckoning because of both performance or the lack of it and not having played enough. And I think the point that Jeremy makes about Kuldip Yadav could mean that the right arm leggy could get a look in ahead of him. Rowett Chalmers, it's terrific. We must make mention of this. One World Cup tournament, it has not yet finished.
Starting point is 00:26:02 Already he has scored five centuries, an amazing effort. But it was the way that he scored them as well. It's not just the runs, Kevin. I just thought, I mean, he normally plays to take time, and that's been the Indian style over the last year or so, in my interpretation, is that they've taken their time to get the run rate established. They don't want to lose wicket.
Starting point is 00:26:25 early on in the innings and then they blossom out from that sort of perspective of being cautious but he wasn't today I just thought he played aggressively right from the start today maybe it was the fact that this surface
Starting point is 00:26:39 was getting a little bit dry and they didn't want to get themselves into a hole to put the middle order into a hole if they lost wickets then so he played aggressively while the ball was still coming on anew so did Lokesh Rahul and they just
Starting point is 00:26:55 they sprinkled the ground with boundaries, didn't they? They just spread them like largesse around the ground, you know, as you do when you go down to breakfast. So I just thought that there was a very strong performance from the Openers. If they happen to lose wickets, I think they'll send in Pandia at 4. And then I think they'll send in Doni at 5. And then you can get a youngster in with an older head and they can work the partnership of Matthews and Tirumane, as they did.
Starting point is 00:27:25 then you send in punt if it goes okay they've got somebody left to hit and then Jadasia so I think they can cope with that but temperament is important because we're moving into the knockout stage aren't we so temperament is very important and how they apply themselves an approach
Starting point is 00:27:41 they will feel a lot more pressure all players not just Indian players all players will feel a lot more pressure and they won't be able to play so freely I don't think I think they will their scores we might see will come down a little and so as players are just a little bit tighter
Starting point is 00:27:59 and not wanting to take quite so many risks unless they get away to a flyer that's the only circumstance I can see that happening same applies to all teams I suppose Prakash but do you have any concerns on that front no I don't think so I think from a temperament perspective if anything this this team as individuals and collectively
Starting point is 00:28:19 I think has very little problems on temperament I would not for a moment think that they will be under any kind of illusions. It is a World Cup semi-final. For some of them, it will be the first time. For some, it's the second or third in the case of Virad Koli. And Doni, I think, is probably his fourth. But the fact is that they know how to cope with it.
Starting point is 00:28:40 I think conditions will determine a lot of what goes on. Batting first, not batting first, kind of wicket, moist, not moist, overhead, opposition. All of this will come into play. but I think as professional athletes, these blocs are now used to this kind of stuff, I'm sure. Just a quick word about Sri Lanka as well. Their tournament is now over. Angelo Matthews with a century today, a mention of that.
Starting point is 00:29:09 And Lassith Malinga, for whom one has to presume, this will be the last time he leaves the field in the World Cup. So maybe start off with yourself on Angela Matthews, what we saw today, what we've seen from him and Trulanka for you in this tournament, So Sri Lanka for me I think came here
Starting point is 00:29:26 with probably the team with the least expectation because there's been so much turmoil in Sri Lankan cricket. We had a new captain appointed just before the tournament we knew that Angelo Matthews who'd served Sri Lankan cricket
Starting point is 00:29:40 for so long, led the side had been taken off from that role but was going to be a member of the side never a good combination. Their recent performances hadn't been very good at home. Sri Lanka very strong but England beat them South Africa have beaten them
Starting point is 00:29:54 so it wasn't a very good side that came here they had the poorer of the weather in terms of losing two games early they could have argued that they probably would have won
Starting point is 00:30:05 at least one of them and then they ended up with that big upset win over England which I think came a bit late in the game in the tournament for them and as a result I don't think they really
Starting point is 00:30:17 got going if you will like South Africa from what we've seen at Old Trafford, is it just the lack of any pressure and any expectation, nothing to lose? That's been their best batting performance by far. So maybe Sri Lanka will consider the root of the problem needs to be fixed. But I think they've, in Angelo Matthews is a phenomenal cricketer. He served Sri Lankan cricket very well.
Starting point is 00:30:45 He's had problems with injuries. I only hope he remains fit for Sri Lanka's case because like they lost Jaywardena and and Sangakara, around the same time, they definitely don't want to lose these two within the same period of time. And one hopes, as Mahila said when he spoke to us on Test Match Special, he thinks that the younger players are coming through, Sri Lankan cricket will fall into place and the talent is very much there. That's Heath Malinga, Jeremy.
Starting point is 00:31:12 I mean, gosh, what a character, iconic figure because of the bowling action, the hair colour, the whole thing, the whole package we got was Well, the first thing, of course, just as a bowler, I think. The fact that you don't have to be orthodox, that you can do different things and still be very, very effective and be right at the top of the game. And to have that level of accuracy from basically bowling at shoulder height and get the pace that he had as a young man and still be able to, even as an older and more comfortable looking gentleman down. at fine leg can still deceive the highest level of batting
Starting point is 00:31:57 in the game. That says a lot and I think for youngsters you don't need if you do something a little bit different bowling off the wrong foot bowling with both arms and looking the wrong direction give it a crack you know because you know if you keep at it and do it well enough there is an opportunity there for you I think he's been an extremely creative
Starting point is 00:32:20 and thoughtful and hard-working player and Sri Lanka must be thrilled that they had to call upon his services. And we won't see his like again, I don't think. And I love that haircut. I mean, there was the power, beyond the power of any unduant you could possibly provide
Starting point is 00:32:38 and it lived, and it will live in my memory forever. So, you know, just part umbrella down there as well, and that's useful in the tropics. So I think, yeah, he's been a wonderful player. Sri Lanka have had an eventful journey. They were one of the weaker sides, I think, on paper.
Starting point is 00:33:02 They've had all that chaos in the background going on for some time. Which they're used to. I mean, that's pretty much the Sri Lankan story all the time, isn't it? And often they overcome that, but too much this time. Yeah, I think so. I think so. But I was very pleased to see them fight the way they did with the bat today. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:33:20 Well, the other quick mention, it shouldn't really be that quick, but Ian Gould, the umpire standing down today from international cricket he retires. And some of the umpires and some of the umpires who've presumably been elsewhere in the country came today. I did. It's given him a bit of a send-off as well. And again, a wonderful character is Ian. He will be missed by the players because he seems to get on with them. They get on with him.
Starting point is 00:33:43 Yes, absolutely. I think one of the things that India's people like Gunagul, two players is that they're like the friendly headmaster. They will enforce the discipline. You cannot take chances with them. They will follow the rule book, but they'll do it almost disarmingly. And therefore, that relationship, the confidence that you will be fair, the confidence that you understand and you appreciate and that you've played the game at the highest level
Starting point is 00:34:11 yourself, I think all of that is a package and then just a personality, a personality that is somebody who's smiling, somebody who looks human. Doesn't look like a robo standing there behind the wickets and just signaling force bison and dismissals. I think he will be missed sorely. I can tell you, just watching, I will miss the figure of Ampai Gould because he was one that you could spot from a mile away. Okay, well, thank you very much to Prakash and to Jeremy. Let's hear from one of the players involved today, shall we? A century in a losing cause for Sri Lanka, Angela Matthews, has been talking to Anka-Dessai.
Starting point is 00:34:47 Angela, just your assessments really are on the tournament as a whole, I mean, disappointing way to finish from a team perspective, but there's been some highs as well along the journey. Yeah, it was. I mean, obviously not getting selected to the semifinals, he said, you know, disappointment itself. But we had our opportunities along the way. I thought in the Australian game, the middle order collapsed.
Starting point is 00:35:12 You know, in the first game as well, we didn't fire. And again, in the South African game, we had the opportunity, but unfortunately something went wrong, you know, either batting, bowling or fielding. So, yeah, we had our opportunities. I mean, obviously we can't control the weather we had those two, you know, washouts as well. It could have gone either way. So those two points would have been extremely vital.
Starting point is 00:35:37 But nevertheless, we had some positives, you know, beating England, playing good cricket against Western days in Afghanistan. Yeah, it's unfortunate, but we had lots of pluses. From a personal point of view, a great 100 today, especially when you were 55 for 4, and also the pride of getting it against an attack like that with the likes of Jasput Bomra as well, who's on real fire at the moment.
Starting point is 00:36:01 Yeah, I mean, they are a pretty good team, to be honest. They are a very, very balanced team, and they've been playing their best cricket. So, you know, it's quite pleasing to get 100 against them. But, look, I'm really disappointed. I couldn't do it more often in the tournament. and especially in the first three games, which is very vital, but unfortunate.
Starting point is 00:36:23 You know, we try our very best. We go out there to try and score runs, get wickets, you know, take those catches, but, you know, mistakes do happen. And at the end of the day, I'm quite pleased. At least I was able to do it, you know, today. Finally, just going forward now, what's the next phase now for Sri Lankan cricket? How do you kick on and improve and start competing again at the latter end of tournaments? Yeah, I think continuity is going to be a big thing for us going forward.
Starting point is 00:36:52 I think they've got some fantastic young players. So the selectors are doing a wonderful job as well. I'm sure that they will continue with the talent that they've picked because we should start planning now itself for the next World Cup so that there will be those guys will have played a fan. number of games running up to the World Cup so you need some continuity and I'm sure that you know it'll happen so the result for India seeing them into the semi-finals they were already through of course but the one that they get sent off from the group stage with is a massive
Starting point is 00:37:29 win it's a seven wicked victory 39 balls remaining here in Leeds against Sri Lanka today right now it's back to Jonathan at Old Trafford so today's results confirmed he'll be playing who in next week's semifinals India will play New Zealand on Tuesday here at Old Trafford and Australia will face England on Thursday at Edgebaston. Here are the thoughts of Graham Swan. Well, if you're South African, imagine how annoyed you are back at home watching this World Cup. They've played some pretty average cricket. They've not really turned up.
Starting point is 00:37:57 And then today, you know, they were sensational. Old Trafford really did play some good cricket, bat and ball, and to turn over the Ausses and give England. I think probably the semi-final thereafter. You think so? I think so, yeah. Just because they played Australia at Lords earlier in the tournament and lost, I think that sort of sits at the back of the player's mind a little bit
Starting point is 00:38:16 but they love Edgebaston they've got a very good record at Edgebaston over the last few seasons England so I think they'll be delighted and of course Australia now not going in on the back of six straight wins which they would have done I don't know if it jolts any confidence or not
Starting point is 00:38:31 but it's perhaps just brought them a little bit up short do you think? Absolutely I think it will jolt the confidence a little bit it's just the wrong time to lose a game and Andy Zaltzman pointed out on air when we were there that no team has ever gone in to the knockout stages having lost their last group stage and won the tournament.
Starting point is 00:38:49 So I'll be reminding every Australian I know of that. And there's some injuries too, aren't there? I mean, they've got Coager with a hamstring. Stoinesis doesn't look right, maybe they've done that side again. Mitchell Stark, of all people, we saw hobbling around a little bit as well. But I suppose, well,
Starting point is 00:39:03 it does buy a little bit of time for the Australians, a couple of extra days to get them right. It does, especially Stark, because he's brilliant. Leading wicket-taker with the ball for the tournament, understandably so as well.
Starting point is 00:39:12 So he's probably the fastest of the bowlers out there. And he's so good at the death. So I think if, per chance, he were injured, I think that would be a massive blow for Australia. Coager, I think you could carry a bit. He has had a good tournament, but he's fairly pedestrian when he bats. Stoinus is the sort of the joker in the pack, isn't he? On his day, he can be completely disruptive and win a game for Australia from anywhere.
Starting point is 00:39:36 But he's not had a brilliant World Cup either. So I think the one is Mitchell Stark. They are beatable Australia, aren't they? I mean, you know, I've seen them two or three times now, and I was frustrated with the England match at Lords. I remember saying to Ian Morgan the day before, you know, they're very beatable. They wasn't quite that depth. Berendorf looks vulnerable, doesn't he?
Starting point is 00:39:55 I mean, they haven't quite sorted out that attack either, I don't think. I was obviously better with the lion now in the side. Yeah, they do look better with lion in. He was the standout bowler for me at Old Trafford. I think between Berendorf or Coulter Nile, you've got a bowler low on confidence. Berendorf will obviously be happy that he took wickets against. against England in the group stage. But England should look the way South Africa
Starting point is 00:40:17 batted against Australia as a blueprint. You do that, you attack them from the world go, not by playing crazy shots, by playing the sort of shots that Jason Roying and Johnny Besto play. Big booming cover drive, stand on top of the bounce. You can post a formidable total against them. And then India, New Zealand just look well off the boil,
Starting point is 00:40:35 I thought. I mean, they had that rather flattering start to the whole tournament, didn't they? But then they, well, they've lost three, three matches on the bounce, their confidence can't be very high. Well, they must be completely bereft of confidence. And I think the way they finished their game against England at Chessler Street sent all the wrong messages throughout their squad. If you're happy to sort of start back for run rate and things like that,
Starting point is 00:40:57 it just takes away that little edge that you need, that cutting edge for a big game. I can't see them winning. It wouldn't surprise me knowing New Zealand, knowing the quality of someone like Ross Taylor or Kane Williamson to turn up on the day and make a good dash at it. but I can't see India losing that fixture. I think it's going to be an England India final. And again, would England like that? Yeah, I think they would. I think they'd really enjoy it.
Starting point is 00:41:21 I think the country would like it as well. I think going into this tournament, that's the final that people probably expected and hoped for. They are the two best teams in the world at the minute, I think. And with a newfound confidence or the rediscovered confidence that England are playing with, I could see England winning that game as well. Honestly, I guess I've never felt so confident,
Starting point is 00:41:38 and that's worrying me a little bit now. the TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup Now if you're thinking there won't be any action until next week No fear the women's ashes continues tomorrow As England women's cricket team will look to salvage their pride on home soil As Australia took a 4-0 lead into the third and final One Day International on Sunday England all rounder Nat Siver
Starting point is 00:42:00 previewed the match with Henry Moran Well Nat what's been said in the last couple of days After that second defeat in the ashes Well pretty much that we're not far away really We've put in two OK performances, certainly with the ball and in the field we've been doing really well and being fighting really well, which everyone in the team is really pleased with. Yeah, just a couple of changes needed really with the bat and obviously Tammy played brilliantly and pretty much on a different wicket to anyone else like the other day. So we just needed someone to stay with her and build a partnership together. So, yeah, close but not quite yet.
Starting point is 00:42:37 What are those changes batting-wise? I think just extending the good things that we're doing, just doing it for longer. Me personally as well, just making sure that in the middle overs, I'm taking the easy runs and not, you know, taking any risks that are unnecessary, really. But, I mean, all of the batters have been doing really good stuff, just need to do it for longer. Is there any frustration at times things haven't quite gone? Those close decisions, at least Perry's stumping, Fran Wilson giving out LBW. It's like controversy in the first game, that those decisions haven't quite fallen your way so far.
Starting point is 00:43:09 Yeah, I mean, that's cricket, isn't it? You sometimes get the luck on your side and you sometimes don't, but yeah, hopefully we don't get another one in the third game. Obviously, it kind of kills a bit of momentum as well when me and Fran were in a good position and we were on top in the field on the last game. But, yeah, I mean, it happens to teams. It happens in cricket, so, you know, hoping the luck turns around.
Starting point is 00:43:32 Speaking of bad luck, Catherine Brunt celebrating twist her ankle. One, as a teammate, what have you said to her, and two, how is she? Well, I think at the time she was very shocked. So I couldn't really say anything at the time. But, yeah, obviously she's annoyed at having done that, to say the least. So, yeah, she's been up and walking around today and she'll be assessed tomorrow before the game. In terms of the series, Australia four points ahead.
Starting point is 00:43:58 But this isn't unfamiliar. This is exactly how it played out last time and finished drawing the series. Is there confidence in the camp you can turn it around tomorrow? I think so. I think in the two performance that we have had, we can certainly take confidence from there and just know that we're close we're not far away from that perfect performance
Starting point is 00:44:16 so yeah I'm hoping that we can do a bit more tomorrow you can hear live ball by ball commentary of England versus Australia and their third one day international of the women's ashes on five live sports extra from 1045 we have another podcast on Sunday as we look back at the highs and lows the shock winners and the best performers of the group stage of the World Cup along with reaction from that final women's action one day international. Finally, a treat for you. Definitely the highlight of today's commentary,
Starting point is 00:44:43 Andy Zaltzman, being corrected by Sir Kirtley Ambrose on none other than statistics. Have a listen. 42 over's gone, 25 for two. Duplessie is on 97. Van Edison is on 55. If you got the filters right? I now have the correct stand. I'd left a World Cup filter. Are you sure? I'm absolutely sure, yeah. Okay, let's hear it. He's trembling now. I promise I will never get a stat wrong in your place. the seventh player to have seven or more 50s in his first 14 in the ODI cricket.
Starting point is 00:45:15 Navjot Sidu had eight and the following had seven. Imam al-Hat. Tom Cooper of Holland, Majid Khan, for Pakistan in the 1970s. Jonathan Trot for England and Ian Chappell. Just go like this. Just wipe the sweat from your brow. You had Ambrose
Starting point is 00:45:30 I think making your sweat for a little bit. I felt like Mike Atherton on a spicy pitch in the 1990. Oh, there you go. that's a stats for you he's always on cue but I have to give him a bit of a bashing when he slip up which is hardly
Starting point is 00:45:46 you know so it's nice and have a little fun with him but he's so efficient he's always on the ball on the wicket in towards Fana Dissanit comes down the track and slaps it up towards long on with no real timing 251 for two he's only the sixth player to make seven or more
Starting point is 00:46:02 50 plus scores in his first 14 innings in ODI cricket Satchin Tendulka had eight in this stack might I need to revise this step I put the wrong filter on it sorry I will get back to you with how many players have done
Starting point is 00:46:17 that's very unlike you Dave I mean you're tumbling us tuttowing what's going on duplicacy on 96 from 87 and he's driving towards the bowels just to get a hand down on it being sledge by Kurtley Hammo
Starting point is 00:46:30 I thought you only did the glare oh there's a first time for every thing, isn't there? 41 over's gone, 251 for 2, dupercine 96, van of disson 51, and you never want to put the wrong filter on anything because you will get yourself into a bit of trouble. Oh dear, we're having a lot of fun here in the TMS box.
Starting point is 00:46:53 The TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup, download and subscribe via the BBC Sounds app for a new episode every day. Thank you.

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