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Australia’s assistant coach Then Vettori said it was a “tactical decision” not to field a fast bowler Mitchell Starc in his side’s narrow win over Afghanistan at the 20-20 World Cup as the defending champions’ semi-final hopes hang in the balance.
The Australians cruised to a four-run win over Afghanistan on Friday and, after failing to increase their net run rate, the hosts’ chances of progressing beyond the Super 12 round now rest on Sri Lanka who England Defeated on Saturday.
Kane Richardson was preferred over Starc in the series and the move did not pay dividends as the 31-year-old was hit around the Adelaide Oval with the Afghans chasing victory.
“It was a tactical decision,” Vettori said of Richardson’s selection. “It was more about the effectiveness of (Josh) Hazlewood and (Pat) Cummins at the top, and their ability to take the new ball and be wicket takers.
“So it pushed Starcy into a different role, and he went up against Kane Richardson and there was thought in the hierarchy that Kane was exceptional at the death, and so to use him there as opposed to Mitch.”
Richardson conceded 48 runs from his four overs and only had the wicket of opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz on his third delivery to show for his efforts as Australia cruised to victory.
“In his first over he was incredibly unlucky,” Vettori said of Richardson’s performance.
“He could have had two goals and then suddenly the whole game turned, and that first breakthrough (Gurbaz’s goal) was a big goal for us because he played so well and was so aggressive.
“So we reflect on that, and I think Richo himself would say that he probably missed at the back of two overs.
“But other than that, the majority of his game was what we expected.”
The Australians cruised to a four-run win over Afghanistan on Friday and, after failing to increase their net run rate, the hosts’ chances of progressing beyond the Super 12 round now rest on Sri Lanka who England Defeated on Saturday.
Kane Richardson was preferred over Starc in the series and the move did not pay dividends as the 31-year-old was hit around the Adelaide Oval with the Afghans chasing victory.
“It was a tactical decision,” Vettori said of Richardson’s selection. “It was more about the effectiveness of (Josh) Hazlewood and (Pat) Cummins at the top, and their ability to take the new ball and be wicket takers.
“So it pushed Starcy into a different role, and he went up against Kane Richardson and there was thought in the hierarchy that Kane was exceptional at the death, and so to use him there as opposed to Mitch.”
Richardson conceded 48 runs from his four overs and only had the wicket of opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz on his third delivery to show for his efforts as Australia cruised to victory.
“In his first over he was incredibly unlucky,” Vettori said of Richardson’s performance.
“He could have had two goals and then suddenly the whole game turned, and that first breakthrough (Gurbaz’s goal) was a big goal for us because he played so well and was so aggressive.
“So we reflect on that, and I think Richo himself would say that he probably missed at the back of two overs.
“But other than that, the majority of his game was what we expected.”
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