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#report

Warner punched Root? Trott's fault

Tweet report for the Champions Trophy game between Australia and New Zealand

Nitin Sundar
Nitin Sundar
12-Jun-2013
A neutral game, even one involving the trans-Tasman rivals, didn't quite get the crowds flocking to Birmingham. But the action was furious off the field. You couldn't look anywhere on Twitter and not be punched in the face by a David Warner joke.
Rumours flew thick and fast, like Warner's recent spate of outside edges. The details remained sketchy. Joe Root's name began to do the rounds. There were mentions of fancy dress and a wig.
Some sane voices asked for patience until all the details emerged.
Stats are seldom kind when you are out of form. Both on and off the field.
What impact would the punch-up have on the only cricket series that matters?
No Warner, no Michael Clarke, and Daniel Vettori playing two games on the trot - auspicious start to the day for New Zealand. What impact would Vettori have on the game?
A big day for Luke Ronchi, who was playing against his former team for the first time.
Australia chose to bat, and their off-field problems carried onto the field. Shane Watson fell early, and Phil Hughes - who kept edging to Martin Guptill in the slips back in 2011 - found a new way to succumb to his nemesis. It's a pity Kerry O' Keeffe didn't have a ready quip this time around.
George Bailey and Matthew Wade pushed it around, till the first big highlight of the game - the drinks break.
Soon after resumption, Wade was given out twice after being hit on the pads in front of middle and off.
Adam Voges joined Bailey to repair the innings. Both batsmen worked their way to fifties, and briefly shifted twitter's focus away from punchgate.
After 23 ODIs, Bailey averages over 45, and strikes in the low 80s. Right man to carry forward Australia's rich legacy?
Maybe not.
After Bailey's exit, Mitchell McClenaghan struck twice to thwart Australia's late surge.
Slogging responsibilities fell on Glenn Maxwell's shoulders.
He managed to land a few big hits though, to take Australia to 243.
New Zealand's chase began under the constant threat of rain. Mitchell Johnson's arrival at the bowling crease presented a new angle to the day's big news.
His action continued to be a source of much mirth.
Clint McKay dismissed Martin Guptill and Luke Ronchi in quick succession. Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson progressed slowly. But the action continued to be engaging. If you looked hard enough.
The drizzle eventually became heavy enough to interrupt play. It was one of those persistent drizzles that soaked up the covers, and made philosophers out of twitterati.
The Duckworth-Lewis sheets began to do the rounds, with the possibility of New Zealand having to chase a steep target in just five more overs.
But rain ended up drowning the match - the first washout of the tournament.
There were positives for Australia to take out of the game.
And a lesson for the upcoming matches.
ICC Champions Trophy

Nitin Sundar is social media manager at ESPNcricinfo

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