To salute at a World Cup you need to find a way to win ugly on days when the top order folds, as Australia’s did so spectacularly this morning when the board read 38/4 then 79/5. But through Smith, with support from Carey, they got back on track. Then Coulter-Nile arrived. In more ways than one. He’s closer to 32 than 31 now - it has been a long time coming - but he repaid all that faith, shown through all those injury layoffs, today at Trent Bridge. His 92 from 60 deliveries at number eight will be remembered for a long time.
With the ball, it was a frenetic first power play, where Gayle was twice reprieved by DRS before Starc finally had his man leg before. Indeed, DRS saved the Windies on four occasions during their ill-fated chase. They should have done it easy. They were doing it easy. But then Starc was brought back at the perfect time by Starc on two occasions, good enough to force an error from Russell to open the window. Back again for over 45, Brathwaite and Holder completed a matchwinning burst.
Coulter-Nile has been rightly named man of the match, but it was Starc (and Finch) wh stuck the landing. After all that has gone down in Australian cricket over the last 18 months, this will be viewed as an important day on their way back. Helluva win.