The State of Play
Australia advanced to the semi-finals in the most extraordinary circumstances on Tuesday – Glenn Maxwell producing one of the all-time great ODI innings, hitting an unbeaten 201 while suffering full-body cramps against Afghanistan to guide his side from a position of 91 for seven to their victory target of 292.
His efforts mean Australia will meet South Africa in the last four.
Bangladesh may have won their last match, against Sri Lanka, but won few friends in the process. Captain Shakib Al Hasan was at the centre of a controversy by appealing for veteran Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews to be given out ‘timed out’ – the first time this has happened in international cricket.
The decision was widely condemned, although Shakib will point to the fact his team emerged victorious and remain firmly in the hunt for a top-eight finish and a place at the 2025 Champions Trophy as vindication for his actions. Bangladesh have four points and are in the middle of a mini-battle towards the bottom of the table along with England, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands with two remaining places up for grabs.
FOR THE BEST BETTING APPS ON CRICKET, CLICK HERE!
Team News
Australia are set to have Steve Smith back after a bout of vertigo while Maxwell will be given maximum time to recover from his exertions against Afghanistan. Assuming Smith comes back in, Australia will have to decide how to balance their team with either Marnus Labuschagne or Marcus Stoinis likely to be sacrificed.
Bangladesh will be reluctant to change a winning team so will likely to go with the same XI that saw off Sri Lanka.
Expected Line-ups
Australia: Warner, Head, Marsh, Smith, Labuschagne, Inglis (wk), Maxwell, Starc, Cummins (c), Zampa, Hazlewood
Bangladesh: Tanzid, Litton, Shanto, Shakib (c), Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur (wk), Towhid, Miraz, Tanzim, Taskin, Shoriful
Check out our England v Pakistan preview HERE!
What They Said
Australia coach Andrew McDonald on wanting more from his team
“The position we put ourselves in allows us to get ready for the South African game, but winning form’s good form.
“We’ve still got some things to work through, albeit we’ve won six in a row. But we’ve got some improvements to make. We want to see those improvements in game time. It’s well and good to talk about them in training, but to actually see them out there in action, that’s part of the bigger picture as well.”
Bangladesh bowling coach Allan Donald speaking to CricBlog.net on his team’s decision to uphold the appeal against Angelo Mathews
“It was really difficult to watch that unfold – one of Sri Lanka’s all-time greats walking off the field without a ball bowled to him being given out for time.
“A lot of these cricketers today can call me old-fashioned but I just don’t think there is any place for it. I just don’t think so.”
Prediction
Shakib’s decision against Sri Lanka seems to have divided the Bangladesh camp and it will be tough for them to row in the same direction in their final game.
Australia will hope to maintain their momentum before the semi-finals so expect Pat Cummins’ men to emerge victorious.
Check out our other sports stories here:
https://www.businessmanchester.co.uk/category/sport/
