ICC Champions Trophy 2017: 5 reasons why Australia did not make it to the semi-final

#4 Untested middle-order due to two wash outs

Australia’s middle-order never had an opportunity to showcase its skills before the England game

Ahead of a must-win encounter against arch-rivals England, there was frustration in the Australian camp following consecutive wash-outs in both group games. The fans – and the team itself – expected a sturdy display against a high-quality England team which had tasted twin wins against Bangladesh and New Zealand. That, coupled with the two wash-outs, meant the hosts had already sailed into the semis and were guaranteed of a first-place finish in their group.

In contrast, Australia’s brittle middle-order never had an opportunity to showcase its skills before the England game. In both previous matches, they had batted for 9 and 16 overs, respectively. That meant all of Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head and Matthew Wade were yet to be tested ahead of a do-or-die clash.

It was only the bowling that had been tested – and also delivered, particularly against Bangladesh – before an energetic England came calling. Not to put into oblivion, Australia’s second warm-up match against Pakistan for the Champions Trophy had also suffered at the hands of the rain Gods, who had not allowed even eleven overs to be bowled. They carried to Edgbaston an unpracticed middle-order – certainly not the best of positions to be in ahead of a must-win match.