‘Never used to miss those’: Steve Smith’s glaring problem after unwanted World Cup first — Australia vs Sri Lanka Talking Points

ZAMPA GETS HIS GROOVE BACK

Adam Zampa has finally arrived.

After a slow start to the tournament, the leg-spinner announced himself with a game-changing performance against Sri Lanka, taking four wickets at Ekana Stadium.

The New South Welshman ripped through Sri Lanka’s middle over in a damaging eight-over spell, finishing with his best bowling figures in World Cups.

It comes after Zampa endured a torrid run of form in the 50-over format, taking seven wickets at 61.42 with an economy of 7.41 in his previous six ODIs. He infamously equalled the all-time record for worst ODI bowling figures, leaking 113 runs during the fourth ODI against South Africa at SuperSport Park.

Zampa was also outclassed by part-time spinner Glenn Maxwell during Australia’s first two World Cup fixtures against India and South Africa, where he struggled to find a consistent line and length.

Even his first spell against Sri Lanka was less than ideal, with the New South Welshman conceding 22 runs from his first three overs.

“His line and his length have just been so inconsistent from what we’re used to,” former Australian captain Aaron Finch muttered in commentary.

However, Zampa bounced back when he returned to the attack in the 28th over, removing rival captain Kusal Mendis and the dangerous Sadeera Samarawickrama in back-to-back deliveries.

“He stands up so often for Australia when they need him most,” Finch said during the innings break.

“He hasn’t been at his best, he would admit that, throughout the start of this tournament.

“But sometimes it just takes one wicket, one delivery … from there on, he was back to his absolute best, bowling straight, bowling a good length, mixing his pace.”

Former England captain Nasser Hussain continued: “Australia wanted their leg-spinner to regain some form, and he’s certainly done that.”

Speaking in the post-match presentation, where he was declared player of the match, Zampa confessed he’s not been at his best in the early stages of the tournament.

“Particularly last game, I could have bowled a little bit better,” Zampa said.

“My role’s to take wickets, and I haven’t been doing that … I feel like I could be doing better.

“It’s nice to be on the better end of the result today.”

However, Australia will be sweating on Zampa’s fitness after the spinner pulled up sore following Sri Lanka’s innings in Lucknow.

“I’ve been sporting a bit of a back spasm for the last couple of days,” he continued.

“Tried to get through this one … my back was pretty sore.”

SMITH’S GLARING PROBLEM AFTER UNWANTED FIRST

Steve Smith used to be impenetrable on his pads.

It was a trademark of his heroic 2019 Ashes campaign, repeatedly walking across the crease and flicking England’s seamers through mid-wicket with ease.

His hand-eye coordination was unrivalled, but it seems to be fading.

Ahead of the recent Ashes series in England, all three of Smith’s dismissals in the County Champions were leg before wicket — albeit featuring a couple of dubious umpiring decisions. He was also trapped on the pads by England captain Ben Stokes during the first innings of the Ashes opener at Edgbaston.

And Smith’s LBW problem isn’t going away.

The right-hander has been dismissed leg before in three of his four most recent ODI innings, toppled by pace bowlers on all three occasions.

Last week, Smith was left stunned after South Africa successfully overturned an LBW decision, falling victim to Proteas speedster Kagiso Rabada. Then during Monday evening’s run chase in Lucknow, Smith played all around a hooping inswinger by Sri Lankan quick Dilshan Madushanka, wisely electing not to review the decision.

Hawkeye confirmed he was absolutely plumb.

It was Smith’s first duck in World Cups. He also became the first Australian to suffer three ODI ducks in India in a calendar year.

“It’s just something I never thought I’d see (from Smith) in the last 12 months or so, getting out LBW,” former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson said in commentary.

“When I had troubles getting out LBW, Steve Smith was someone who I thought, ‘How does he never miss them?’

“It’s happened a bit more for Steve Smith in the last little while. He never used to miss those.”

Smith has registered scores of 46, 19 and 0 in the World Cup thus far; Afghanistan’s Rahmat Shah is the only other No. 3 batter yet to reach fifty in the tournament.

Australia will need Smith firing on all cylinders for the remainder of the group stage for them to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

CUMMINS STANDS TALL

Cricket legend Michael Clarke dropped a bombshell on Monday morning, claiming Australian captain Pat Cummins was set to be dropped for Monday’s clash against Sri Lanka.

“I heard last night that Pat Cummins is not going to be selected for this game,” Clarke declared on his radio show.

Cummins had taken only a solitary wicket in Australia’s first two World Cup games, while in the 2023 calendar year he has only collected three wickets at 69.00.

However, Clarke’s call was debunked when Cummins walked out for the toss at Ekana Stadium.

While Sri Lanka looked to be in the box seat, with both openers reaching half-centuries, Cummins proved the difference and stood tall when his team needed it most.

He dismissed Pathum Nissanka on 61 to break up an opening stand of 125 before snaring Kusal Perera’s (78) wicket five overs later.

Up until the 27th over, Cummins was the only Australian wicket-taker, but luckily leg-spinner Adam Zampa chimed in with two quick wickets.

However, Cummins injected himself into the game again in the 35th over to dent Sri Lanka’s hopes of posting a competitive total. After picking up a bobbling ball cleanly at mid-off, Cummins threw the stumps down at the bowler’s end to dismiss Dunith Wellalage.

The moment left former Australian opener Aaron Finch stunned, hailing the skipper who proved the difference during Sri Lanka’s batting innings.

Cummins finished with impressive figures of 2-32 from seven overs in a timely return to form.

‘OUTSTANDING’: INGLIS CEMENTS ODI SPOT

Josh Inglis has repaid the selectors’ faith with a match-saving fifty during Australia’s run chase in Lucknow on Monday, validating his shock selection.

Last week, incumbent wicketkeeper Alex Carey was axed from Australia’s starting XI in a bombshell selection call, replaced by Inglis ahead of Thursday’s loss to South Africa.

After the West Australian dropped a catch and registered a single-digit score against the Proteas, it seemed as though the gamble had backfired.

However, Inglis has proved his worth with a gutsy half-century against the Sri Lankans, scoring 58 (59) to help Australia chase the 210-run target with 88 balls to spare.

The 28-year-old feasted on Lahiru Kumara’s wayward bowling in the 25th over, dabbing a delicate late cut through third man before blasting a hook shot into the stands.

He only needed 46 deliveries to reach fifty, his second in ODIs and first in World Cups, passing the minor milestone with a glorious straight drive past mid-off.

Inglis combined with Marnus Labuschagne for a crucial 77-run partnership for the fourth wicket before falling victim to spinner Dunith Wellalage in the 34th over.

“Josh Inglis tonight was outstanding,” former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson said in commentary.

“He repaid the faith of the selectors and his captain to come in at No. 5 at a crucial time for Australia in this World Cup.

“He looked so content and comfortable at the crease, in only his second game in a World Cup.”

Inglis, after serving as a touring reserve for more than 24 months, has all but secured his spot in Australia’s starting XI for the remainder of the tournament.

AUSTRALIA’S DIRE DRS RECORD

Australia’s horror run with DRS continued against Sri Lanka.

After reviewing the very first ball of the innings, which was unsuccessful, their success rate worsened to zero from three attempts during their World Cup campaign in India. The Australians were desperate for the ball to have collected pad first, but Mitchell Starc’s inswinging yorker was deemed to have struck the bat of opener Pathum Nissanka.

When Glenn Maxwell was bowling to Kusan Perera in the tenth over, the off-spinner delivered a huge appeal after striking the left-hander’s pad.

Skipper Pat Cummins opted against reviewing the on-field decision of not out, instead saving his review for further chances in the innings.

Hawkeye later showed the Australians had made a grave mistake, and the decision would have been overturned if reviewed in a hammer blow.

“Glenn Maxwell was very confident, it was the double appeal as well,” former Australian captain Aaron Finch said.

“Maxwell should have had a wicket … hit Kusal Perera on the pads and decided not to review.

“I think that was more a reflection of the one they burnt first ball of the day, big inside edge … it shows their desperation to get into the contest, they wasted it.

“It can often happen when you’re searching for something, but often you aren’t 100 per cent sure what you are searching for.”

Cricket pundit Geoff Lemon also labelled Australia “all over the shop” and slammed Cummins’ initial review.

“Bad review in the first over means they’re not game to use the next review that would have yielded a wicket,” Lemon wrote on X.

The initial failed review proved costly for the Australians, with Sri Lanka’s opening pair combining for a 125-run partnership before Nissanka fell for 61.

Australia’s DRS fortunes improved in the run chase when Marnus Labuschagne avoided a dreaded golden duck by successfully overturning an incorrect caught behind decision.