Australian pacer Mitchell Starc issued a warning to Kusal Perera for backing up early during the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka on Monday, October 16 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. He threatened to run out Perera at the non-striker’s end.
The incident first took place in the opening over of the match. Mitchell Starc ran in to bowl the fourth delivery of the over with Kusal Perera at the non-striker’s end. Perera kept his bat inside the crease, however, as Starc was in his run-up, he left the crease. The pacer was aware of the movement and immediately stopped to give Perera a warning. Kusal Perera was again guilty of backing up early on the sixth delivery of the fifth over.
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Australia, Sri Lanka in search of maiden win in ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023
The Australian as well as the Sri Lankan cricket team have had a dismal run in the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 so far. They haven’t had a win in the tournament, losing both their games. Australia is at the bottom of the table, having lost to India by six wickets and then to South Africa by 134 runs. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is eighth on the table. They lost to South Africa by 102 runs in their opening clash of the tournament. Pakistan defeated them in the second game by six wickets.
The Sri Lankan campaign has also been dealt a major blow as skipper Dasun Shanaka has been ruled out of the tournament. He suffered a thigh injury during the match against Pakistan. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved Chamika Karunaratne as a replacement in the squad. Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis is leading the team in Shanaka’s absence.
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