Andy Pakes looks at the emergence of Australia's James Pattinson and compares him to his England-capped brother Darren.
Sam Holloway looks at why test match cricket is not going to become extinct just yet
Manraj Bahra looks at the subtle differences between the forms of cricket and how teams shouldn't look to pick the same players in all forms.
Sports Editor James Tompkinson looks at the continuing problem of corruption within cricket as the cases of three Pakistani cricketers accused of spot fixing comes to an end
The series defeat will not upset supporters too much with the Ashes victory still a recent memory but with the World Cup approaching now is a worrying time for England’s one-day form to drop.
In recent years England has improved drastically in the shorter form of the game, culminating in victory in the Twenty20 world cup last year. But it is the fifty-over World Cup (which begins next month) where England’s limited over success shall ultimately be measured.
There were signs in the 4th ODI that England’s form was returning. On a flat Adelaide wicket, they posted an imposing total of 299, built around Jonathan Trott’s magnificent 102. The Warwickshire batsman, who has been in irresistible form throughout the tour, played exactly the kind of composed yet brisk innings that a top order one-day batsman should strive for, allowing the more attacking batsman Matt Prior (67 off 58) and Michael Yardy (39 off 27) to hit out.
Unlike at Melbourne, this time England took enough wickets to ensure Australia could not maintain any momentum in the chase, with Shane Watson (64), Cameron White (44) and Steven Smith (46 not out) making valuable contributions but unable to follow through with a hundred. The return of Ashes hero James Anderson was noticeable, as he led the line with two wickets.
However, the renewed hope following this victory was relinquished four days later, as a timid batting performance at Brisbane saw England lose the series. Australia posed a reasonable first-innings total of 249, Captain Michael Clarke top scoring with 54, and in the process rescuing some of his fast diminishing reputation. But it was England’s 21 year-old seamer Chris Woakes who stole the show. Playing in only his 2nd ODI, Woakes made history by becoming only the second England bowler to take six wickets in an ODI (the first being Paul Collingwood in 2005).
England’s vastly more experienced batters, however, failed to follow through with victory. Prior, Andrew Strauss and Trott were all out early on, and when Kevin Pieterson and Ian Bell’s recovery was brought to an abrupt halt by John Hastings, there was no coming back. England ultimately made 198, with Brett Lee (21-2), Doug Bollinger (57-2), Hastings (35-2) and Watson (25-3) all impressing for Australia. That No. 11 Steven Finn produced the most impressive batting display (35 off 24) says everything you need to know about England’s batsman.
The final two ODI’s may be dead-rubbers but this does not render them irreverent. As England’s last two internationals before the onset of the World Cup, it is vital that they produce professional and encouraging performances, granting them the security and confidence they will need to challenge for victory.
Didn't think that a sports match could be described as irreverent, or reverent for that matter.
You must log in to submit a comment.
Report