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It was a forgettable outing for Australia Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 on July 30 at Grace Road, Leicester. First, they were bowled out for 74 in just 11.5 overs. Then, pacer John Hastings bowled a disastrous incomplete over in their 10-wicket defeat. Hastings bowled 12 wides, one no ball but still bowled an incomplete over as Australia suffered an embarrassing loss.
With 20 runs to get for Pakistan Champions, captain Brett Lee introduced Hastings into the attack. Hastings started with five consecutive wides. Then, he conceded a single. On the second legitimate delivery, he was hit for a four. Hastings followed it up with a no ball and another wide. On the free hit delivery, he conceded one run via leg byes. He bowled another wide followed by a rare dot ball. On the fifth legitimate ball of the over, a single was taken. Hastings bowled five consecutive wides again as Pakistan Champions won by 10 wickets with 12.1 overs to spare.
Despite the comprehensive loss, Australia Champions have progressed to the WCL 2025 semifinals. They will go up against AB de Villiers' South Africa Champions in the semifinal on July 31 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
This was Hastings' second appearance in the WCL 2025. He bowled two overs against South Africa Champions and conceded 26 runs. He bowled four wides in that encounter as well. It will be interesting to see if Hastings plays in the knockout encounter.
Hastings' international career
Hastings made his ODI debut against India in October 2010. In the same month, he made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka. He made his last ODI appearance against New Zealand in 2017 in Birmingham, which is also the venue for WCL semifinals.
In his only Test appearance, he took just one wicket. In ODIs, he has 42 wickets from 29 games at an average of 29.90. His best of six wickets for 45 runs came against Sri Lanka in 2016. In ODIs, he averaged 27.10 with the bat and has one half-century to his name. In T20Is, he has just seven wickets from nine games.
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