World Cup 2023: Australia were tactically outstanding in the final – Ravichandran Ashwin

Indian veteran Ravichandran Ashwin believes Australia was tactically outstanding in the final against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday. Australian skipper Pat Cummins decided to bowl first after winning the toss and went against the narrative of ‘bat first in the final and put runs on the board’.

Cummins also gave the ball to Glenn Maxwell in the 10th over and the off-spinner was able to get the big wicket of Rohit Sharma, who was looking dangerous after scoring 31-ball 47. Travis Head also took a fine catch while running back.

Australia were also magnificent in the field and they saved more than 25 runs with their agile fielding. Moreover, Cummins led from the front as he returned with impressive figures of 2-34 in his quota of 10 overs.

“Australia were tactically outstanding in the final. I was shell-shocked to see their tactics during the final. Cummins was struggling in ODIs leading upto the World Cup, but the last four to five matches of the World Cup, almost 50 percent of his balls were cutters,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“In the final, Cummins had a 4-5 field like an off-spinner does. He bowled only three balls over six-meter mark in his entire 10 over spell, he did not bowl full enough for the batters to get under or drive,” he added.

Ashwin revealed how the IPL experience helped Australia in deciding to bowl first and make the most of the conditions on offer.

“Australia has deceived me personally. I expected them to bat first and score big like they do in the finals. The soil in Ahmedabad was like Orissa, there will not be much bounce, but the soil will not disintegrate because the clay does not release the moisture, it holds it.”

“When I was checking the pitch during the mid-innings break, I asked George Bailey why they did not opt to bat first. He said that they have played a lot of IPL and bilateral series here, in their experience, the red soil disintegrates while the black soil gets better to bat on under the lights,” he added.

Australia were brilliant in the field and they were able to execute their skills to perfection as they skittled out India on 240.