‘Fuming’: Ian Healy Slams Aussie Young Star for ‘Disappointing’ Duck in Champions Trophy Semi-Final

Australian cricket icon Ian Healy has voiced his frustration with young all-rounder Cooper Connolly, admitting he felt “incredibly angry” after witnessing his performance in the semi-final against India.

Connolly was given the nod to open the batting in Australia’s high-stakes Champions Trophy match on Tuesday, stepping in for the injured Matt Short at the top of the order.

Unfortunately for Connolly, his innings concluded without any runs to his name, as he was dismissed for a duck after facing just nine balls.

The young player played and missed six times during a disappointing start for the Australian innings.

Australia managed to post a total of 264 runs, but India swiftly chased it down with two overs remaining and four wickets still in hand, thereby ending Australia’s tournament run.

Healy expressed his disappointment with Connolly, who has found himself in key positions due to his potential at a young age.

“I was livid,” Healy remarked during an appearance on SENQ Breakfast.

“Travis Head was signalling to his batting partner about how sluggish the pitch was, yet Cooper Connolly kept trying to swing the bat. In those circumstances, one needs to work the ball around.”

“He faced nine deliveries without scoring and was just swiping away on the off-side without paying attention to the ball … It really frustrated me. It was a display of poor judgement, and when facing challenging conditions, hard work is essential.”

“Connolly’s footwork was lacking, his shot selection was misguided, and the technique of his shots suffered because he wasn’t watching the ball,” Healy added.

Connolly’s crucial position came just a day after he was moved from the travelling reserve to the main squad.

This decision saw selectors opt for Connolly to partner with Head as opening batsman, leaving out Jake Fraser-McGurk and Aaron Hardie, who did not make the playing XI.

At just 21, Connolly had recently made his Test debut in the series against Sri Lanka but struggled to make an impact in the spin-friendly conditions.

However, head coach Andrew McDonald has urged patience with the young West Australian as he develops his skills.

“He’s just beginning his journey. I think it’s premature to form any solid conclusions from that performance,” he stated.

“He’s certainly one we see as a valuable asset for the future. When he reaches a point where he can challenge for a position in the top six, who knows what could happen? That’s the potential we see in him.”

India’s victory on Tuesday sets them up to face either South Africa or New Zealand in the upcoming final.