Younger team, bigger win

In their current form there are not many sides that could outdo the full Australian side when it comes to a crushing one-day win. So, it comes as no surprise, that when it does happen it is another Australian team that manages it. While South Africa suffered a 57-run drubbing at Sydney, the Under-19 version were crushed by 175 runs in Colombo.

Not bad for a team that had lost its two warm-up matches. But Matthew Mott, the assistant coach, said to me before the match that “they had learned some lessons,” and South Africa felt the result.

The star of the Colombo show was Tom Cooper, a tall and correct opening batsman from New South Wales, who watched two partners fall in the space of three balls before guiding his side towards their massive total. Today was not one of Colombo’s warmest, but batting for nearly 40 overs was still hard work, so there is certainly one person who will have enjoyed the Supersub rule, as Cooper was given the second innings off and could put his feet up in the dressing room.

“I was buggered to be honest,” he admitted, “so it was nice to come off and I enjoyed my rest. I didn’t have a word with the skipper or anything, he just gave me the nod during the lunch break.” Expect a few more century-makers to be looking their captain’s way during the next two weeks.

Given how well Cooper played, and the powerful striking from Aaron Finch and David Warner, it was just a shame that virtually no one was in the ground to watch. There is free entry to all the matches in the tournament: either the message hasn’t got around or people had better things to do on a Sunday.

The groundstaff, who spent most of the day lounging in the shade of a stand, until some threatening clouds began to approach, made up about two thirds of the people who did watch. There were a few locals scattered around the pavilion and a few expats had made their way down to cheer on their team. However, the biggest section of support was a group of Australians who cheered their side all day. Sat just below the dressing room, they were made up mostly of player’s families but at least they added some small atmosphere to the day. When the two teams lined up for the brief post-match ceremony they gave a hearty rendition of that well known classic, “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi.”

News filtered through to the SSC that there was similar non-existant crowd at the Premadasa Stadium. A small crowd for an Australia-South Africa clash is one thing, but when the home team is involved it does make you wonder whether the tournament is going to grab the imagination of public. It would be shame if it didn’t as there are some gifted players on show.

But it is early days yet. The group of workmen that appeared with a truck on one of the grass embankments are obviously more optimistic about the crowds flocking in. They built a drinks stall which was certainly capable of catering for more people than needed refreshments today. Talking of drinks, I’ll toast Tom Cooper – well played.