Glenn McGrath wasn’t surprised by Australia’s early exit from the T20 World Cup but felt they could have at least made the Super Eights.
Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe knocked out Australia from T20 World Cup
Placed alongside Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Oman in Group B of the tournament, Australia managed to beat only the latter two while going down to both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe to be knocked out of the competition.
The manner of their defeats was especially alarming, with the Asian side coasting to an eight-wicket win, right after Sikandar Raza’s men had handed them a 23-run loss, where Australia were bowled out for 146 while chasing 170.
pos
team
Q
India
Q
Pakistan
3
USA
4
Netherlands
5
Namibia
MP
w
l
nrr
pts
Form Guide
4
4
0
+2.500
8
W
W
W
W
4
3
1
+0.976
6
W
L
W
W
4
2
2
+0.788
4
W
W
L
L
4
1
3
-1.217
2
L
L
W
L
4
0
4
-3.108
0
L
L
L
L
pos
team
Q
Zimbabwe
Q
Sri Lanka
3
Australia
4
Ireland
5
Oman
MP
w
l
nrr
pts
Form Guide
4
3
0
+1.506
7
W
A
W
W
4
3
1
+1.741
6
L
W
W
W
4
2
2
+1.523
4
W
L
L
W
4
1
2
+0.150
3
A
W
L
L
4
0
4
-4.845
0
L
L
L
L
pos
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Q
West Indies
Q
England
3
Scotland
4
Italy
5
Nepal
MP
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pts
Form Guide
4
4
0
+1.874
8
W
W
W
W
4
3
1
+0.201
6
W
W
L
W
4
1
3
+0.184
2
L
L
W
L
4
1
3
-1.020
2
L
L
W
L
4
1
3
-1.349
2
W
L
L
L
pos
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Q
South Africa
Q
New Zealand
3
Afghanistan
4
United Arab Emirates
5
Canada
MP
w
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nrr
pts
Form Guide
4
4
0
+1.943
8
W
W
W
W
4
3
1
+1.227
6
W
L
W
W
4
2
2
+0.889
4
W
W
L
L
4
1
3
-1.364
2
L
L
W
L
4
0
4
-2.426
0
L
L
L
L
Not sure what Australia were thinking: Glenn McGrath
The 2022 champions didn’t enter the tournament among the favourites, with all three of their famous pace trio of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc not part of the World Cup – the former two due to respective injuries, while the latter retired from the format altogether.
But few had thought that they wouldn’t be able to go past even the group stage. McGrath was one of them. The former pacer also wondered why Steve Smith, who was flown into Sri Lanka midway through the group stage on the back of a brilliant BBL season, wasn’t given a chance at all.
"I thought they might make the final eight, but to be honest I didn't feel they would progress much further," McGrath told ESPNCricinfo. "The fact that they didn't even make the final eight is disappointing.
"I think you look at no Cummins, no Hazlewood, no Starc, big gaps. Steve Smith who had been in form in Big Bash was there, [but] not selected. Matt Renshaw, 66 [65 against Zimbabwe] I think the game before, not selected [against Sri Lanka].
"Not sure what the Australians were thinking. There was a lot of things that didn't work well. You wonder about selections, missing important players. For Australia to get knocked out before the final eight, and Zimbabwe go through, [it's] disappointing, but not surprising."
Also read: Why Australia's Olympics qualification isn't in trouble yet, despite early T20 World Cup exit
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