Outside the Beltway

Bangladesh Beats Australia in Biggest Upset in Cricket History

James Joyner · Sunday, June 19, 2005 · 3 comments

Cricket: Arrogant Australia humbled in ‘the biggest upset in the game’s history’ (The Observer)

At the start of the day we wondered whether the Aussie juggernaut was spluttering. By the end, it seemed to be missing several wheels. Australia’s five-wicket defeat to Bangladesh is as stunning a result in a cricket match as any I can recall. A freak result, you might say – unless you were here.

The astonishing truth is that Australia, acknowledged as the best side in the world in all forms of the game – except perhaps Twenty20 – were clinically outplayed by the minnows of world cricket. Mashrafe Mortaza was the best bowler on view yesterday. Mohammad Ashraful, who sparkled in the evening sunshine, played the best innings, a brilliant century. Australia dropped more catches than Bangladesh, who, in contrast to their opponents, took all the right decisions – Ricky Ponting’s preference to bat first was a mistake, based on the assumption that this match could not be lost.

The Australian bowlers could not bully the Bangladeshis as England’s have this summer. The pitch was too slow for that and so is the Australian pace attack when Brett Lee is not playing. The lack of depth in the Australian bowling was also exposed as Ponting anxiously shuffled Brad Hogg, Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey. Where was Shane and some subtlety? Gobsmacked in some Hampshire haven, I guess.

This is truly a result I would not have predicted. Gobsmacked, indeed.