David Warner and Usman Khawaja aimed a brutal shot at England as they threw their assist behind the Matildas forward of their World Cup semi-final.
Football has by no means earlier than performed a component within the wealthy tapestry that’s the rivalry between Australia and England, usually reserved for cricket, rugby and netball.
The lovely sport might be added to the checklist on Wednesday night time, when the Matildas tackle the Lionesses in Sydney with a spot within the World Cup remaining on the road.
And Warner couldn’t resist digging for the outdated foe and wished Tony Gustavsson’s group the most effective of luck.
“Early luck for the Matildas. Just keep an eye out in case the Poms ask for a ball change,” the Aussie opener tweeted, tagging England’s Barmy Army assist group.
The Matildas face England within the semi-finals of the World Cup in Sydney on Wednesday
David Warner couldn’t resist a dig in England and wished the Matildas good luck
Usman Khawaja joked that England would use the Jabulani ball from the 2010 World Cup
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Khawaja replied that England would use the Jabulani ball, which was produced for the 2010 World Cup.
Warner’s message was a thinly veiled reference to the ball being modified at The Oval halfway by way of the fourth innings of the fifth Ashes Test final month.
Warner and Khawaja had put collectively an unbeaten opening stand of 140 to kickstart Australia’s chase of a tough complete of 384, earlier than the ball was substituted after 37 overs.
Referees Joel Wilson and Kumar Dharmasena believed the ball had gone out of form after Mark Wood hit Khawaja on the helmet with a bouncer.
Significantly, the umpires’ determination was not dictated by England gamers asking for the ball to be modified.
England bowled simply 11 extra pitches after the change of ball on day 4, however the alternative seemed more durable and glossier than its predecessor.
Chris Woakes eliminated each Khawaja and Warner in successive overs early on day 5, earlier than Wood eliminated Marnus Labuschagne.
Australia recovered to 4 for 264, earlier than lastly collapsing to 334 as England leveled the sequence.
At the top of the sport, Khawaja and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting each criticized the referees for altering the ball.
“The most important thing was that ball,” stated the Aussie opener.
“As soon as they changed that ball, the first time they changed that ball, I immediately knew that this ball is very different.”
Speaking on Sky Sports in the course of the lunch break on the ultimate day, Ponting added: ‘The important concern I’ve is the main discrepancy within the situation of the ball chosen to interchange the ball (which had gone out of form).
“There’s no way you can look at those two balls and say they’re similar.
Umpires Joel Wilson (left) and Kumar Dharmasena swapped the ball after 37 overs of the fourth innings of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval last month
Khawaja (left) and Warner (right) had compiled an unbeaten opening stand of 140, but both fell to Chris Woakes in successive overs after the ball was exchanged
FIFA has unveiled a new ball for the two semi-finals and the World Cup final
“Ultimately, when you’re going to switch the ball, you want to make sure you’re doing it right.”
Unfortunately for Warner and Khawaja, nevertheless, a ball change is scheduled for the Matildas as FIFA unveiled a brand new ball that might be utilized in each the semi-finals, third place play-offs and the World Cup remaining.
The OCEAUNZ Final Pro options the identical patterns as its predecessor used within the event to date, however the white panels have been changed with shimmering orange and gold detailing.
According to FIFA, the latter are a “nod to the evening sunsets shimmering over Sydney’s skyline,” in addition to the golden shade of the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy.