David Warner back in the runs after Afghanistan's bold call...WORLD CUP TALKING POINTS

NICK FRIEND looks at the main takeaways from Australia's seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in Bristol in a game that saw David Warner dominate

A bold call…
While Afghanistan are far more than minnows in this 10-team tournament, it has become an almost unwritten rule that if you win the toss as the underdog, you opt for a chase. If nothing else, it keeps you in the game for longer – the old adage that you can’t lose a game in the first hour with the ball, but you most certainly can with the bat.

In many ways, this was Exhibit A. Having been similarly beaten after batting first against England in the final warm-up game, Gulbadin Naib’s decision to bat first seemed a curious one, especially having beaten Pakistan in their first practice match while hunting down a target.

And so it was, that after going against the grain and opting to make first use of a hard pitch and Bristol’s inviting boundaries, Naib’s men found themselves five for two after eight balls.

The enterprising duo of Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai make for an extraordinary watch. Shahzad has some of the hallmarks of the great Virender Sehwag – and not just his broad frame. Zazai, on the other hand, features more than a spec of Chris Gayle. His front leg comes straight down the pitch, opening up that giant arc from mid-wicket round to long-off. A 62-ball 162 against Ireland is testament to that rare power, as were the six sixes he struck in an over during last year’s Afghanistan Premier League.

Make no mistake, the pair will take a bowling attack or two to the cleaners at some stage in the next couple of months. That day. However, was never likely to be this.

Mitchell Starc nipped it around at pace and Pat Cummins, who may well have overused the short ball at times, nicked off Zazai early on when he went fuller.

That Afghanistan reached 207 was as much down to their thrilling, fearless enterprise than as any particular plan. Rashid Khan whacked an 11-ball 27, while Najibullah Zadran looked excellent for 51. From 77 for five, that final score did represent quite the recovery. Rahmat Shah, as well, looked mightily organised for his 43.

And for an Afghanistan side that will judge this tournament on how they fare against some of the lesser lights, this was a more than acceptable effort against one of the fancied sides.

^{Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai were both dismissed without scoring.}

Australia solve mystery of Afghanistan's potent spinners
As well as being packed with all kinds of talent, the ever-burgeoning Australian presence in the Indian Premier League was always likely to work against Afghanistan here.

David Warner, perhaps surprisingly given the pair are Sunrisers Hyderabad teammates, played – and picked – Rashid Khan less well than Aaron Finch.

Even so, Australia’s opening pair toyed with Afghanistan’s mystery spinners, displaying the conviction of two men who have been forced to put together a viable plan against them in the world’s various T20 leagues.

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Finch hit Mujeeb Ur Rahman out of the attack, while both men pounced when Rashid dropped short. Mohammad Nabi’s skillful off-breaks were treated with the respect the wily all-rounder deserved.

It all meant that the much-feted armada of leg-breaks, googlies, carrom balls and sliders was made to look fairly ineffectual. Do not be fooled. On different pitches against less familiar opposition, they will cause problems. Australia will be thrilled with how they handled the threat.

Warner watch
Boos aplenty for one half of this summer’s pair of pantomime villains. And as rusty as he looked to begin with, he looked like the David Warner of old by the end. Hamid Hassan had bowled quite superbly at him early on, testing that chronic vulnerability outside off-stump at a very healthy pace. Aside from the warpaint-adorned quickie, the Afghans struggled to contain Warner 2.0.

Quick to pounce on anything wide, savage on anything legside, more than happy to play second fiddle to Finch, it was an innings more impressive for its maturity than anything else. Get him out early or beware. Bizarrely, Afghanistan remain the only side Warner has passed fifty against in World Cup cricket.

^{Warner ended unbeaten on 89, the same as Ben Stokes did on Thursday against South Africa. That is the highest score of the tournament so far.} 

Boo-ometer
Fleetingly loud, especially when Warner and Steve Smith came together following Usman Khawaja’s dismissal. A fairly tiresome spot of panto, really. At one stage, nobody seemed to know who to boo, so we were all treated to a prolonged noise – a jeer for as long as Bristol’s vocal chords would allow, before eventually becoming a bit of a drone.

Of course, this was mostly tongue-in-cheek; two punters had used the occasion to dress up as sandpaper. Fair enough. Quite funny.

Warner is batting. pic.twitter.com/SESkaJTQjr

— PHILIP BROWN (@dudleyplatypus) June 1, 2019

Justin Langer has already asked for peace and quiet from England fans, reminding everyone of his players’ own feelings. And while he is correct – the booing is both childish and occasionally churlish, there’s that old story about stones and glass houses. The Barmy Army, one suspects, will recall Darren Lehmann’s previous comments. He encouraged the Australian faithful to send Stuart Broad home “in tears”. Nathan Lyon has spoken of “ending careers”. Makes you think, doesn’t it.

Anyway, the booing shouldn’t happen. People should probably be better than that, to be honest. It certainly eased as the day drew to its natural conclusion – a result that was, in truth, fairly clear from the moment Gulbadin chose to bat.

Our coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is brought to you in association with Cricket 19, the official video game of the Ashes. Order your copy now at Amazon.co.uk

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