ICC World Cup 2019 Australia vs West Indies: Best pictures of the match"Never write off the Aussies," said former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie about the Australian cricket team at a time when they were going through a terrible crisis. The team was losing matches in a cluster, and to compound the problem, the Aussies dropped to sixth position in the ICC ODI rankings, their worst in three decades. Jason's warning amid the rubble of disaster was not a sign of conceit. Rather, the prediction was made based on the one true nature of Australian cricket - their unyielding determination and immense fighting spirit, something that has defined their approach to cricket over the years. West Indies, unfortunately, was at the receiving end of that famous gusto. They reduced Australia to 38/4, but could not finish the job. Australia staged a near impossible comeback against the marauding West Indian fast bowlers. Steve Smith (73), Alex Carey (45), and Nathan Coulter-Nile with an outstanding 92 ensured that Australia would reach a fighting total of 288. In the end, it proved to be enough as the Australian bowling led by Mitchell Starc (5 for 46) thwarted West Indies and kept them to 273. The match will also be remembered for some controversial umpiring decisions, with Michael Holding branding them as "atrocious". Here are some memorable moments from the match:
Nathan Coulter-Nile celebrates with Steve Smith and team mates at the end of the match. Photo credit: Reuters
Mitchell Starc was the peak of the bowlers for Australia with 5 wickets for 46 runs. Photo credit: Reuters
Australia gave West Indies a taste of their own medicine- the short balls. Here, Carlos Brathwaite is trying to fend at one. Photo credit: Reuters
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Jason Holder's 51 runs off 57 balls kept West Indies in the hunt. Photo Credit: Reuters
Mitchell Starc dismisses West Indies' Chris Gayle by lbw., and it was a big setback for Indies' chase. The decision though came with a share of controversy as the umpires mistakenly overlooked Starc's front foot no-ball in the previous delivery. Photo credit: Reuters
Nathan Coulter-Nile reacts after scoring 50 runs. He went on to score 92, the highest ever score in World Cup match by a number 8 batsman.
Steve Smith played a crucial knock of 73 that provided Australia the much needed solidity in the middle overs after wickets tumbled early on. Photo credit: Reuters
The West Indian fast bowlers peppered the batsmen with barrage of short balls. Photo credit: Reuters
Andre Russell celebrates taking the wicket of Usman Khawaja. Photo credit: Reuters.
Finch and Warner departed early in the innings as West Indies fast bowlers brought back the memories of their golden days. Photo credit: Reuters
