World Cup 2023: They are just waiting to be shot down, and they have been – Matthew Hayden slams Australia after loss against South Africa

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden criticized Australia after their biggest World Cup loss against South Africa at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Thursday. The Proteas won by a big margin of 134 runs as they came up with a fine show whereas Australia could not click as a unit.

After electing to field first, Australia was poor in the field, dropping at least five catches. Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc all dropped catches.

South Africa went on to post a par score of 311 runs on a slow pitch after Quinton de Kock scored his consecutive century. The left-hander scored 109 runs whereas Aiden Markram scored another fine knock of 56 runs.

On the other hand, Australia found themselves tottering at 70-6 in the run-chase. Marnus Labuschagne top-scored with 46 but none of the Australian batters could go past the 50-run mark. In fact, the Aussies did not show any intent in all three departments and they were convincingly outplayed by South Africa.

Matthew Hayden said while on commentary for Star Sports, “You had an off-spinner bowling inside ten overs, with no slip, with not really a conscious plan to go, ‘Right, how are we going to get a wicket’. Whenever I think of … Shane Warne, the very first thing that he comes up with is, immediately, how am I trying to get a wicket. And I sense that hasn’t happened with the ball. I sense it also hasn’t happened with the bat either. They are just waiting to be shot down, and they have been.”

Australia could not build any partnerships throughout their batting innings as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were skittled out for 177 runs.

Hayden added, “Back-to-back wickets for the first and second wickets. Mini partnership. Back-to-back wickets for the third and fourth wickets. Mini partnership again. This is the only major contribution here right now (Labuschagne and Starc were batting at that moment).”

He further added: “What interestingly though, has come to the fore is just how now they are starting to think, ‘okay, we going to get runs’ as opposed to, ‘okay, we’re gonna just survive’. And I think that’s been the trending story of the day.”

Australia has lost both of their matches and they will need to turn the tables in the upcoming matches. The Pat Cummins-led team will next take on Sri Lanka at the same venue of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Monday.