Live Cricket World Cup 2011

ICC Cricket World Cup - 3rd quarter final - New Zealand v South Africa

ICC Cricket World Cup - 3rd quarter final

New Zealand v South Africa

New Zealand won by 49 runs

• ODI no. 3144 | 2010/11 season
• Played at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur (neutral venue)
• 25 March 2011 - day/night (50-over match)

	New Zealand innings (50 overs maximum)		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	MJ Guptill	c Botha b Steyn	1	24	14	0	0	7.14
	5.6 120.5 kph, slower one from Steyn does the job, Guptill is gone, it is a full delivery at 121kmh, at least 20k less than normal pace, Guptill looks to clear mid-off, bottom hand comes off the bat as he plays the stroke, it balloons over Botha, who has to run back to pouch it, South Africa have been spot-on so far today 16/2
	BB McCullum†	c & b Peterson	4	7	4	0	0	100.00
	2.1 88.6 kph, stunning catch from Peterson, that's the end of McCullum, massive wicket this, a tossed up delivery short of a length, McCullum came charging out, didn't reach the pitch, so he looked to block that, it pops up towards Peterson's left, and the bowler launches himself and plucks it to get his 15th wicket of the World Cup 5/1
	JD Ryder	c sub (CA Ingram) b Imran Tahir	83	157	121	8	0	68.59
	38.5 80.4 kph, Ryder holes out, Tahir has got another big wicket, all that time building a platform has gone waste as Ryder swings this one to deep midwicket, Colin Ingram is waiting for that, he pouches it easily, and New Zealand have lost their fifth, the late onslaught New Zealand were hoping for could now become a more measured attempt to play out the full 50 overs 156/5
	LRPL Taylor	c Kallis b Imran Tahir	43	113	72	1	1	59.72
	32.6 79.3 kph, big moment. Huge moment. The moment that could turn this match. Tahir has been hustling through his overs, in an attempt to catch Taylor out of breath, before this ball Taylor stopped him by walking down the pitch for some gardening. However, he has perished off the next ball, going for another one of those whip-lashed slog sweeps. It was flighted on leg stump, very full and hence not quite offering him the room to get under it. Taylor ended up launching it high over deep square leg, and when it came down, the greatest allrounder in the game was under it. 130/3
	SB Styris	b Morkel	16	19	17	3	0	94.11
	37.2 142.1 kph, Morne has struck, Styris was looking to give himself room and whack that over the off side, he gets a bottom-edge to that short ball and the ball cannons on to the stumps, New Zealand have lost their fourth, Morne redeems what has been an ordinary bowling effort from him so far 153/4
	KS Williamson	not out	38	63	41	1	1	92.68
	NL McCullum	c Duminy b Steyn	6	29	18	0	0	33.33
	45.3 124.0 kph, McCullum is gone, once more he was looking to make room, he didn't get enough space to free his arms, still wanted to thrash that short ball from Steyn, it flies off the top-edges towards backward point where Duminy takes the catch 188/6
	JDP Oram	b Morkel	7	14	6	1	0	116.66
	48.1 length ball on off, Oram was thinking of sending it into orbit over long-on, he misses, Morkel hits the top of off, and that's the end of Oram's struggle 204/7
	DL Vettori*	b Morkel	6	4	4	1	0	150.00
	48.5 129.0 kph, slower yorker from Morkel, 129 kmh, Vettori has been dancing around the crease in his short stay, this time he stays rooted, and he misses it, as it crashes into the bottom on middle and leg 210/8
	LJ Woodcock	not out	3	8	3	0	0	100.00
	Extras	(b 4, lb 4, w 6)	14
	Total	(8 wickets; 50 overs; 220 mins)	221	(4.42 runs per over)

Did not bat TG Southee

Fall of wickets1-5 (BB McCullum, 2.1 ov), 2-16 (Guptill, 5.6 ov), 3-130 (Taylor, 32.6 ov), 4-153 (Styris, 37.2 ov), 5-156 (Ryder, 38.5 ov), 6-188 (NL McCullum, 45.3 ov), 7-204 (Oram, 48.1 ov), 8-210 (Vettori, 48.5 ov)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	RJ Peterson	9	0	49	1	5.44
	2.1 to BB McCullum, 88.6 kph, stunning catch from Peterson, that's the end of McCullum, massive wicket this, a tossed up delivery short of a length, McCullum came charging out, didn't reach the pitch, so he looked to block that, it pops up towards Peterson's left, and the bowler launches himself and plucks it to get his 15th wicket of the World Cup 5/1
	DW Steyn	10	0	42	2	4.20	(2w)
	5.6 to Guptill, 120.5 kph, slower one from Steyn does the job, Guptill is gone, it is a full delivery at 121kmh, at least 20k less than normal pace, Guptill looks to clear mid-off, bottom hand comes off the bat as he plays the stroke, it balloons over Botha, who has to run back to pouch it, South Africa have been spot-on so far today 16/2 45.3 to NL McCullum, 124.0 kph, McCullum is gone, once more he was looking to make room, he didn't get enough space to free his arms, still wanted to thrash that short ball from Steyn, it flies off the top-edges towards backward point where Duminy takes the catch 188/6
	J Botha	9	0	29	0	3.22	(1w)
	M Morkel	8	0	46	3	5.75
	37.2 to Styris, 142.1 kph, Morne has struck, Styris was looking to give himself room and whack that over the off side, he gets a bottom-edge to that short ball and the ball cannons on to the stumps, New Zealand have lost their fourth, Morne redeems what has been an ordinary bowling effort from him so far 153/4 48.1 to Oram, length ball on off, Oram was thinking of sending it into orbit over long-on, he misses, Morkel hits the top of off, and that's the end of Oram's struggle 204/7 48.5 to Vettori, 129.0 kph, slower yorker from Morkel, 129 kmh, Vettori has been dancing around the crease in his short stay, this time he stays rooted, and he misses it, as it crashes into the bottom on middle and leg 210/8
	Imran Tahir	9	0	32	2	3.55	(1w)
	32.6 to Taylor, 79.3 kph, big moment. Huge moment. The moment that could turn this match. Tahir has been hustling through his overs, in an attempt to catch Taylor out of breath, before this ball Taylor stopped him by walking down the pitch for some gardening. However, he has perished off the next ball, going for another one of those whip-lashed slog sweeps. It was flighted on leg stump, very full and hence not quite offering him the room to get under it. Taylor ended up launching it high over deep square leg, and when it came down, the greatest allrounder in the game was under it. 130/3 38.5 to Ryder, 80.4 kph, Ryder holes out, Tahir has got another big wicket, all that time building a platform has gone waste as Ryder swings this one to deep midwicket, Colin Ingram is waiting for that, he pouches it easily, and New Zealand have lost their fifth, the late onslaught New Zealand were hoping for could now become a more measured attempt to play out the full 50 overs 156/5
	JH Kallis	3	1	6	0	2.00
	JP Duminy	2	0	9	0	4.50	(1w)

	South Africa innings (target: 222 runs from 50 overs)		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	HM Amla	c Vettori b NL McCullum	7	4	5	1	0	140.00
	0.6 94.7 kph, Amla might be out. In the freakiest possible manner. Short ball from Nathan from wide of the crease, lands back of a length and keeps low as Amla shapes to cut. Since the ball kept low, he ended up under-edging it, and it was headed straight into the turf. Brendon McCullum had no chance of catching it as it hurtled downwards, but it thudded into his foot and took off towards slip, where it was caught. New Zealand knew it immediately. Brendon in a bit of pain, but he won't mind that. At all. 8/1
	GC Smith*	c sub (JM How) b Oram	28	59	34	2	0	82.35
	14.2 128.8 kph, Smith has thrown it away. Another wicket falls against the run of play today. Full and wide outside off from Oram, it was there for the flaying, but Smith had to keep it down. He did not get the front foot across, and hence carved it in the air. How, the substitute, was waiting at a cross between gully and backward point. Nicely taken. Smith threw the kitchen sink at it, but forgot to first unscrew the thing from the wall. Can the Kiwis get back into the game now? 69/2
	JH Kallis	c Oram b Southee	47	96	75	3	0	62.66
	24.1 127.5 kph, jinxed Kallis there, he's gone! perhaps this game isn't going to be one-sided after all, it was a shortish ball, Kallis rocked back and clobbered it, it seemed set to go for a six, but Jacob Oram was lurking at deep midwicket and he plucks a high catch to get a big breakthrough for New Zealand 108/3
	AB de Villiers†	run out (Guptill/†BB McCullum)	35	63	40	4	0	87.50
	27.6 NL McCullum to du Plessis, South Africa, what are you doing? that famous C-word that makes SA fans bristle is going to be bandied about now, du Plessis works the ball towards midwicket and calls AB through for a sharp single, de Villiers races through and dives but he can't make his ground in time before McCullum whips off the bails, massive moment this, there has been some top fielding today, and McCullum was lightning in taking off the bails 121/5
	JP Duminy	b NL McCullum	3	18	12	0	0	25.00
	27.4 80.4 kph, bowled 'im! New Zealand are in this, they are cock-a-hoop after getting their fourth wicket, Duminy looks to cut a delivery that was coming straight on, he misses, it crashes into middle and off, this game just got a lot more interesting 121/4
	F du Plessis	c Southee b Oram	36	70	43	3	1	83.72
	42.5 129.7 kph, Faf's gone, and with that, I reckon the last ember of South African hope. Tragedy for the Proteas. Can't blame him for going for another big hit, he had to do this all by himself. It was a full delivery wide outside off and Faf lined it up by moving towards leg stump. He made really solid contact with a cracking sliced cover drive, but Southee was at cover point. It went dead straight to him. Oram has 4. What a game he is having! He so badly wanted to play this World Cup after all those injuries. It's a happy Friday night out for the big man. 172/9
	J Botha	b Oram	2	18	10	0	0	20.00
	32.5 125.6 kph, and another one gone, short of length ball that held its line, Botha plays down the wrong line, he was looking to defend down the middle stump, but the ball was heading for off, and South Africa are six down 128/6
	RJ Peterson	c †BB McCullum b Oram	0	9	5	0	0	0.00
	34.2 121.5 kph, Oram can't hide his glee, he's running around in glee, tip-toeing with a naughty smile on his face. Brendon McCullum is happy as well. Tragedy for Robin Peterson. Back of a length ball angling across him, it may have kept lower than he thought as he went for the slash and got an under edge. Clear noise, and through to Baz. Robin's gone. South Africa's World Cup is coming to an end. 132/7
	DW Steyn	c Oram b NL McCullum	8	14	18	1	0	44.44
	37.4 89.9 kph, a camera moment from Oram. He trotted in, loped forward, swooped and dived ahead in slow motion to take a regulation catch at point. Steyn's demise is a lot like South Africa's tonight. Long, and agonisingly drawn out. Tossed up outside off, Steyn hops out and goes for an airy inside out carve and gets a big outside edge. The ball loops up and comes down, and inevitably Oram gets under it. 146/8
	M Morkel	c sub (JM How) b Woodcock	3	30	17	0	0	17.64
	43.2 88.5 kph, New Zealand have asphyxiated South Africa's chase, and the end has finally arrived. Morkel charges out, he knows only a miracle could have redeemed this, he got to the pitch and looked to blast an off drive over long off, against the spin. He made good connection, but not good enough. Easy, comfortable catch in the deep. Boy, when are South Africa going to win a World Cup?! 172/10
	Imran Tahir	not out	0	4	1	0	0	0.00
	Extras	(lb 2, w 1)	3
	Total	(all out; 43.2 overs; 192 mins)	172	(3.96 runs per over)

Fall of wickets1-8 (Amla, 0.6 ov), 2-69 (Smith, 14.2 ov), 3-108 (Kallis, 24.1 ov), 4-121 (Duminy, 27.4 ov), 5-121 (de Villiers, 27.6 ov), 6-128 (Botha, 32.5 ov), 7-132 (Peterson, 34.2 ov), 8-146 (Steyn, 37.4 ov), 9-172 (du Plessis, 42.5 ov), 10-172 (Morkel, 43.2 ov)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	NL McCullum	10	1	24	3	2.40
	0.6 to Amla, 94.7 kph, Amla might be out. In the freakiest possible manner. Short ball from Nathan from wide of the crease, lands back of a length and keeps low as Amla shapes to cut. Since the ball kept low, he ended up under-edging it, and it was headed straight into the turf. Brendon McCullum had no chance of catching it as it hurtled downwards, but it thudded into his foot and took off towards slip, where it was caught. New Zealand knew it immediately. Brendon in a bit of pain, but he won't mind that. At all. 8/1 27.4 to Duminy, 80.4 kph, bowled 'im! New Zealand are in this, they are cock-a-hoop after getting their fourth wicket, Duminy looks to cut a delivery that was coming straight on, he misses, it crashes into middle and off, this game just got a lot more interesting 121/4 37.4 to Steyn, 89.9 kph, a camera moment from Oram. He trotted in, loped forward, swooped and dived ahead in slow motion to take a regulation catch at point. Steyn's demise is a lot like South Africa's tonight. Long, and agonisingly drawn out. Tossed up outside off, Steyn hops out and goes for an airy inside out carve and gets a big outside edge. The ball loops up and comes down, and inevitably Oram gets under it. 146/8
	DL Vettori	10	0	39	0	3.90
	TG Southee	9	0	44	1	4.88
	24.1 to Kallis, 127.5 kph, jinxed Kallis there, he's gone! perhaps this game isn't going to be one-sided after all, it was a shortish ball, Kallis rocked back and clobbered it, it seemed set to go for a six, but Jacob Oram was lurking at deep midwicket and he plucks a high catch to get a big breakthrough for New Zealand 108/3
	JDP Oram	9	1	39	4	4.33
	14.2 to Smith, 128.8 kph, Smith has thrown it away. Another wicket falls against the run of play today. Full and wide outside off from Oram, it was there for the flaying, but Smith had to keep it down. He did not get the front foot across, and hence carved it in the air. How, the substitute, was waiting at a cross between gully and backward point. Nicely taken. Smith threw the kitchen sink at it, but forgot to first unscrew the thing from the wall. Can the Kiwis get back into the game now? 69/2 32.5 to Botha, 125.6 kph, and another one gone, short of length ball that held its line, Botha plays down the wrong line, he was looking to defend down the middle stump, but the ball was heading for off, and South Africa are six down 128/6 34.2 to Peterson, 121.5 kph, Oram can't hide his glee, he's running around in glee, tip-toeing with a naughty smile on his face. Brendon McCullum is happy as well. Tragedy for Robin Peterson. Back of a length ball angling across him, it may have kept lower than he thought as he went for the slash and got an under edge. Clear noise, and through to Baz. Robin's gone. South Africa's World Cup is coming to an end. 132/7 42.5 to du Plessis, 129.7 kph, Faf's gone, and with that, I reckon the last ember of South African hope. Tragedy for the Proteas. Can't blame him for going for another big hit, he had to do this all by himself. It was a full delivery wide outside off and Faf lined it up by moving towards leg stump. He made really solid contact with a cracking sliced cover drive, but Southee was at cover point. It went dead straight to him. Oram has 4. What a game he is having! He so badly wanted to play this World Cup after all those injuries. It's a happy Friday night out for the big man. 172/9
	LJ Woodcock	5.2	0	24	1	4.50	(1w)
	43.2 to Morkel, 88.5 kph, New Zealand have asphyxiated South Africa's chase, and the end has finally arrived. Morkel charges out, he knows only a miracle could have redeemed this, he got to the pitch and looked to blast an off drive over long off, against the spin. He made good connection, but not good enough. Easy, comfortable catch in the deep. Boy, when are South Africa going to win a World Cup?! 172/10

Match details

Toss New Zealand, who chose to bat Series New Zealand advanced

Player of the match JDP Oram (New Zealand)

Umpires Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and RJ Tucker (Australia) TV umpire HDPK Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) Match referee RS Mahanama (Sri Lanka) Reserve umpire NJ Llong (England)

Match notes

New Zealand innings Powerplay 1: Overs 0.1 - 10.0 (Mandatory - 34 runs, 2 wickets) Powerplay 2: Overs 10.1 - 15.0 (Bowling side - 23 runs, 0 wicket) New Zealand: 50 runs in 12.5 overs (77 balls), Extras 4 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 71 balls (JD Ryder 36, LRPL Taylor 14, Ex 3) Drinks: New Zealand - 69/2 in 18.0 overs (JD Ryder 46, LRPL Taylor 14) JD Ryder: 50 off 70 balls (6 x 4) New Zealand: 100 runs in 27.1 overs (163 balls), Extras 6 3rd Wicket: 100 runs in 144 balls (JD Ryder 61, LRPL Taylor 34, Ex 5) Drinks: New Zealand - 130/3 in 33.0 overs (JD Ryder 76) New Zealand: 150 runs in 36.2 overs (218 balls), Extras 6 Powerplay 3: Overs 44.1 - 49.0 (Batting side - 37 runs, 3 wickets) New Zealand: 200 runs in 47.3 overs (285 balls), Extras 11 Innings Break: New Zealand - 221/8 in 50.0 overs (KS Williamson 38, LJ Woodcock 3) South Africa innings Powerplay 1: Overs 0.1 - 10.0 (Mandatory - 50 runs, 1 wicket) South Africa: 50 runs in 9.6 overs (60 balls), Extras 0 Powerplay 2: Overs 10.1 - 15.0 (Bowling side - 19 runs, 1 wicket) 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 66 balls (GC Smith 21, JH Kallis 29, Ex 0) Drinks: South Africa - 74/2 in 17.0 overs (JH Kallis 38, AB de Villiers 1) South Africa: 100 runs in 22.2 overs (134 balls), Extras 0 Drinks: South Africa - 128/6 in 32.5 overs (F du Plessis 5) Powerplay 3: Overs 38.1 - 43.0 (Batting side - 26 runs, 1 wicket) South Africa: 150 runs in 38.6 overs (234 balls), Extras 2

New Zealand v South Africa, 3rd quarter-final, World Cup 2011, Mirpur

Oram leads New Zealand to stunning upset

The Bulletin by Sriram Veera

March 25, 2011

New Zealand 221 for 8 (Ryder 83, Taylor 43, Morkel 3-46) beat South Africa 172 (Oram 4-39) by 49 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Jacob Oram took four wickets and two catches to trigger a South African collpase in Mirpur © Associated Press

Oh South Africa, what have you done? Earlier this month Graeme Smith tweeted an article titled 'Time to ban the 'C' word'. Hold on to that thought Smith, for clearly that time hasn't come yet. South Africa were cruising at 108 for 2 in the 25th over when Jacques Kallis fell and they crash-landed spectacularly to be shot out for 172. The self-destructive streak, demonically masochistic in nature, will perhaps need shrinks to decode it. Once they realised their opponents were cracking under pressure, New Zealand went for the kill with close-in fielders and disciplined bowling, led by Jacob Oram who took four wickets and a great catch.

Even when Kallis fell - to a blinder of a catch from Jacob Oram, rushing to his left at deep midwicket - there wasn't much to suggest that this could turn into another contender for all-time greatest choke in World Cup history. The pitch was slow but there was no sharp turn; the bowlers were disciplined but there was no sensational game-breaking spell; none of the three spinners got much purchase from the wicket; and the total was below par; but for some reason South Africa were feeling extremely claustrophobic.

Their nerves were best represented by the dismissal of JP Duminy, who played an awful shot to open the choke gates. Nathan McCullum slowed up the pace on a delivery that landed on a length, outside off, and Duminy went so hard into an ugly cut that he ended up dragging the ball on to his stumps. With Duminy's fall, South Africa were in a spot of bother at 121 for 4, in the 28th over, and the first signs of something special loomed over Mirpur.

There was more heartbreak for South Africa fans in the next over. Faf du Plessis hit straight to midwicket and ran like a headless chicken. AB de Villiers should perhaps have refused that call but he responded, only to find himself well short of the crease. It was at this moment that New Zealand really sensed that this could be their night.

The moment was so ripe that even Daniel Vettori, not known for sledging, gave some lip to du Plessis and Kyle Mills, who had carried drinks on to the field at the fall of de Villiers, got into the act. A visibly agitated du Plessis shoved Mills, the departing de Villiers returned to support his partner, and eventually the umpires had to get involved. New Zealand's players swooped in to the crime scene and it was a classic Youtube moment. You could almost feel the pressure-cooker situation out there.

New Zealand crowded the bat with close-in men, ready to sledge and eager to pile on the pressure, and Johan Botha cracked in the 33rd over. It was a lovely legcutter from Oram and Botha played down the wrong line to lose his off stump. Oram, who was the man who started it all with that Kallis catch, wasn't done yet. In the 35th over, he lured Robin Peterson into edging an attempted cut to the keeper and South Africa were swaying away like drunken men at 132 for 7. South Africa's nerves were frayed further when Dale Steyn square drove Nathan McCullum in the air to backward point, where who else but Oram accepted the offering.

If Oram was the man in the forefront of New Zealand's resurgence, du Plessis was the man seeking redemption for making that wrong call that led to the run out of de Villiers. In his brief international career, he has already shown a tenacity to remain relatively calm under pressure. And he wasn't ready to throw in the towel. He was on 14 when Steyn fell, and he took ownership of the chase. He rushed down the track to slam Tim Southee to the straight boundary in the 40th over, on drove Vettori to collect another four in the 41st, and even lifted Oram for a thrilling six over long-off in the 43rd over.

It was in the same over that the game turned for one last time, and it was also an over that captured the entire madness of the evening. du Plessis had crashed the first delivery of the over back at Oram who couldn't hold on to a very difficult chance, and once the six was hit, one had to ask the question: was the night turning for Oram? Was it swinging towards du Plessis? But du Plessis sliced the fifth ball straight to extra cover and South Africa had well and truly sunk into oblivion.

The end was a far cry from the way South Africa started the day. They attacked with spin and seam, shuffled their bowlers regularly like a pack of cards, and hustled on the field to keep a tight leash on New Zealand. Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor were at the forefront of a revival from the depths of 16 for 2; carefully, almost mindful of a potential lower-order collapse on this pitch, Ryder and Taylor battled through. The odd boundary signalled growing comfort, but they never broke away decisively. A nervy equilibrium had been reached by the end of the 30th over with New Zealand reaching 112 for 2 and the game was waiting to be seized. However, both Ryder and Taylor departed in quick succession but Kane Williamson made a vital 38 to push New Zealand to 221.

It shouldn't have been enough, it didn't feel like enough, but it proved enough. It was a crazy crazy night in Mirpur. Ironically, Allan Donald, the man who was involved in the other famous South African choke, was in the other camp tonight.

Sriram Veera is a staff writer at ESPNcricinfo

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Australia's loss heralds the end of an era

Ricky Ponting doesn't think Australia bowing out of the World Cup marks the end of an era, but it's impossible to come to any other conclusion

Brydon Coverdale

March 25, 2011

	Ricky Ponting's tenure as captain of the one-day side may be coming to a close © Getty Images

Ricky Ponting doesn't think Australia bowing out of the World Cup marks the end of an era, but it's impossible to come to any other conclusion. For more than a decade, Australia have owned all sorts of silverware, Cricket Australia's headquarters in Melbourne more a trophy cabinet than an office. Now, the last of those major prizes is finding a new home after 12 years in Australian hands.

Over the past six months, Ponting's men have lost the Ashes and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, or to be more accurate, they have failed to regain them. Those crowns were already gone. They are clinging on to the Champions Trophy, but there's every chance the ICC will soon scrap that event entirely. In any case, it is a trinket compared to the World Cup.

Losing the World Cup for the first time since 1996 will hurt tremendously, but winning three in a row should be celebrated. No country has ever matched that feat in the FIFA World Cup. Since Steve Waugh's men began the dynasty in 1999, the football title has changed hands four times: from France to Brazil, then Italy and now Spain. Winning one world tournament is exceedingly difficult, let alone three in succession.

That is little consolation to this 2011 Australian squad, roughly half of whom didn't experience any of those earlier successes. Times change, and to be beaten by an India side that was better than Australia is no disgrace. Ponting's team entered the tournament with the No.1 ODI ranking - for now, they still hold that position - but were far from being the favourites.

There were factors beyond their control that contributed to their lack of success. Their two frontline spinners, Nathan Hauritz and Xavier Doherty, were unavailable due to injuries, as were fast bowlers like Clint McKay and Ryan Harris, who could have added variety. Two weeks in the middle of the tournament without a match, when their clash with Sri Lanka was washed out, didn't help either.

But ultimately, Australia just weren't good enough. Four teams will reach the semi-finals, and will deserve to be there. Australia did not play well enough to join them. That is not to say that the powers that be should blindly accept that nothing can be done. Moving on and making hard decisions will allow regrowth and rejuvenation.

The natural time for change is at the end of an unsuccessful World Cup cycle, on the heels of a disappointing Ashes cycle. As Ian Chappell told ESPNcricinfo in his analysis after the loss to India, Australia must look to a new captain to guide a new team. They have a chance to begin that process with next month's one-day tour of Bangladesh.

The selectors will be loath to make any major changes, including to the leadership, before the review of Australia's on-field performance is completed around August. After the Ashes debacle, they have their own jobs to worry about without rocking the boat further. Why pre-empt the review, they will ask. But it would be wise to use the Bangladesh trip to look at some new faces, men who might become key players for Australia over the next few years.

There are no shortage of options - Aaron Finch, Daniel Christian, Steve O'Keefe, Luke Butterworth, James Pattinson, James Faulkner, to name but a few. And by the next World Cup, Michael Clarke will be the likely captain, so if the selectors are brave enough, it wouldn't hurt to give him the one-day leadership now and allow him four years to mould a side.

Veterans like Brett Lee, who was impressive at the World Cup but wants to go on and aim for 400 ODI wickets, should consider what is best for the team. Can they contribute to the next era of Australian one-day cricket? And if not, is it right to take up a place that could go to a younger man?

"It's a bit premature to say it was the end of an era for Australian cricket, it was a pretty good game tonight," Ponting said after the loss in Ahmedabad. "I didn't think we were far away from winning a game against a very good Indian team on their home soil. I thought we were very competitive tonight, we've lost our last two games in the World Cup, I'm disappointed with that. I thought we were a better team than we probably showed in the last few games. I think it's a bit too early to say it's the end of an era."

But if not now, when?

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

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