Bhubaneswar: Young Cooper Connolly got a break here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium to wear the Australian cap in any ICC trophy. He got his break following injury to Austrian opener Matthew Short.
In debuting at Dubai, 21 years 194 days old Cooper became the 4th youngest Australian to make an ICC trophy debut.
However, like his predecessors, Cooper too failed to capitalise the first break he got at an ICC trophy.
As per Cricbuzz report, following players were the youngest Australian to debut in any ICC trophy.
- Andrew Zesers against India at Delhi in CWC 1987 – Age: 20y 225days
- Ricky Ponting vs Kenya at Visakhapatnam in CWC 1996 – Age: 21y 66d
- Shane Watson against New Zealand at Colombo SSC in CT 2002 – Age: 21y 90d
- Cooper Connolly vs India at Dubai in CT 2025 – Age: 21y 194d
- Mitchell Marsh against England at Edgbaston in CT 2013 – Age: 21y 231d
- Steven Smith vs Zimbabwe at Ahmedabad in CWC 2011 – Age: 21y 264d
LIKE HIS PREDECESSORS, COOPER FAILED
A glance at the exploits of the above Australian cricketers in their ICC debut matches shows that all have failed make an impressive debut.
- Andrew Zesers debuted as fast-medium bowler against India at a league match in Delhi during the 1987 World Cup. He remained wicketless in the game. His figures were 0/37.
- Ricky Pointing, the prolific run scorer and former Australian skipper in his debut match at a Group league match against Kenya in 1996 World Cup could make only 6 runs.
- Shane Watson, top Australian fast-medium bowler made his debut against New Zealand in the 2002 Champions Trophy. Neither he shone with his bat, nor had a terrific bowling performance. In the debut match he score 19 runs but remained not out. Later he bowled 6 overs giving 19 runs without taking any wicket.
- Similarly, Mitchell marsh son of Australian legendary opener Geoff Marsh and top Australian fast bowler cum allrounder, in his debut match could make only 5 runs.
- Steven smith, the former top order batter cum all rounder from Australia failed to click big on his debut day. While he could score only 11runs, bowled 5 overs giving 24 runs without taking any wicket.
- Cooper Connolly debuted Tuesday but was out duck to Mohammad Shammi. Bowled Shammi caught behind by WC KL Rahul
WHO WILL WIN THE SEMI?
As per pitch report by Michael Atherton and Ramee Raza, the pitch hasn't been in use in the Champions Trophy so far.
It looks very bare, dry and cracked. It will be battable if batted first. The ball will grip second time around more than it may in the first. The former top cricketers hailed the pitch as spinners paradise.
As Indian skipper Rohit Sharma lost his consecutive 11th loss, and Australia opted first batting, the pitch shows it will be hard for a team to chase 270/280 runs batting second on this pitch.
More so, Australians have also 3 spinners (Connolly, Sangha and Zampa). Spinners may spin a web on cracked surface for a team playing second here.
Since Connolly is debutant here, and as all debutant Australians have fared poor in bowling or batting earlier, it seems Indian will face only one quality spinner Adam Zampa, because Tanveer Sangha has only 3 ODIs to his credit.
With Indians seemingly have restricted Australia from scoring a very big total, as the Kangaroos are now 6 down for 206 in 38 overs, but if they post a total anywhere near 250-270, it will be tough total for team batting second.
