Ireland look for perfection
But it will be a tough ask against Smith’s combative Australians
MUCH LIKE South Africa at the weekend, Australia should have little trouble against Ireland at Willowmoore Park today when the two teams face off in a ODI.
Just as with the Proteas, the world champions will be trying out a few new players and trying to establish some rhythm ahead of the five match series starting in Centurion this Friday.
Steve Smith confirmed yesterday that Daniel Worrall, a 25-year-old right arm fast bowler will make his debut today.
“He (Worrall) has worked very hard and he’s improved a lot over the last couple of years,” Smith said. “I think he’s got a lot stronger and he’s bowling with good pace and good shape.
Ireland, who themselves are trying out a few new players, struggled against South Africa Sunday, losing by 206 runs after conceding 354, with Temba Bavuma’s century on debut the highlight of that match. The Irish missed crucial chances, most notably Kevin O’Brien who dropped Bavuma when he had just one at second slip, and it is an area of their game skipper William Porterfield wants to see improve today.
He also called on his side to show greater consistency.
“Our best ball is as good as their best ball and our best shots as good as their best shots, it’s just a matter of repeating it on a more consistent basis,” said Porterfield.
The Irish were always under pressure pursuing that hefty target set by the Proteas, but the loss of Porterfield to just the second ball added to the stress in their dressing room. It is something Smith wants to see his side replicate.
“Their top-order is the most dangerous in their batting,” said the Australian captain. “(Paul) Stirling and the captain Porterfield, they like to get them off to a good start so they’re going to be the big scalps for us.”
Today’s match will be played on the same pitch as Sunday’s so the surface may be slower and lower than was the case at the weekend.
Bavuma, who spent the most time batting said he had difficulty timing the ball – describing it as “two-paced” – and that may help to even up the contest somewhat, and give the Irish some hope.
However, they will need to play perfect cricket, and Australia will need to be awful if an upset is to happen. Given Australia’s record since last year’s World Cup you wouldn’t expect that to be the case.
The Australians have won 17 out of 26 ODIs since claiming their fifth world title, an outstanding record given all the chopping and changing they’ve done. Ireland (from): ATLANTA, Georgia: Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy capped a stunning comeback with a birdie at the fourth playoff hole to win the season-ending Tour Championship, along with FedExCup honours and the mind-boggling $10 million (about R137m) bonus.
McIlroy rolled in a 15-foot putt at East Lake’s par-four 16th to beat American Ryan Moore, sending the large gallery into a frenzy that might more likely be expected at next week’s Ryder Cup.
“It was incredible,” former world No 1 McIlroy said at the victory presentation. “Sorry for the hoarse voice. I sort of lost my voice screaming at the end.
“I feel my game is coming together at the right time. Two wins in the last three feels pretty nice.”
McIlroy, 27, vaulted into the playoff with a barnstorming finish to his final round, holing out from 140 yards to eagle the same hole where he would clinch the win 90 minutes later.
He closed his final-round 64 with a tap-in birdie at the par-five 18th and only joined the playoff with American Kevin Chappell (66) and Moore (64) when the latter’s eight-footer to win in regulation lipped out.
McIlroy then squandered a golden chance to win it at the first extra hole when he missed a sixfooter. Chappell was eliminated on the first extra hole.
McIlroy looked shell-shocked but regrouped to sink a seven-footer and stave off defeat at the third extra hole, before clinching it at the next.
“It was such a nice one, uphill, just outside the right edge,” McIlroy said of his winning putt.
“I knew if I hit a good putt it had a great chance of going in. To see that ball drop, everything has come together for me. To be able to come here and pull it off is really special.
“I’ve won the money list a few times in Europe but never been able to quite do it here, the FedEx- Cup in the US. When you put your mind to it, great things happen.”
McIlroy’s gain was Dustin Johnson’s loss as the US Open champion would have won the FedExCup had either Moore or Chappell won the playoff.
Johnson started the final round tied for the lead with Chappell, but struggled to a 73 in ideal conditions to plunge into a tie for sixth at fiveunder.
So, instead it was McIlroy, the only member of the European Ryder Cup team in the field at East Lake, who clinched the season-long points race and $10 million bonus along with $1.53 million for the tournament victory. – Reuters