The Roar
The Roar

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Matt Wade's man of the match award enough to win the first ODI

Matt Wade could become a specialist bat. (AFP / Glyn Kirk)
Expert
3rd September, 2015
19

Australian selectors Rod Marsh and Darren Lehmann used their get out of jail free card when they named part-time offie Glenn Maxwell as the only spinner for the first of five ODIs against England at the Rose Bowl.

Maxwell finished with 1-35 off 4, while England’s leggie Adil Rashid took 4-39 off 10.

Yet Australia won by 59 after both sides suffered from middle order suicidal batting.

Australia, batting first after winning the toss, slumped from 1-133 to 6-193 in 10 overs, England from 1-112 to 7-194 off 19.

For the Australians – David Warner (59) woofed at Rashid and was caught at short third man, Steve Smith (44) smacked a Rashid full toss straight to Ben Stokes at deep mid wicket, George Bailey (23) was trapped plumb in front playing back to Rashid, Maxwell (15) was caught behind off Mark Wood, and Shane Watson (6) was run out after a shocking Wade call.

There was a run in it – half each.

Wade made amends with his man of the match 71* in a record-breaking ODI stand against England for the seventh wicket of 112 with Marsh (40*), beating the 95* between Ian Healy and Steve Waugh set at the MCG in 1991.

England’s collapse was started by opener Jason Roy (67), Maxwell’s only wicket, caught behind, James Taylor (49) was cleaned bowled by Shane Watson, Ben Stokes (13) found Joe Burns off Starc, skipper Eoin Morgan (38) was caught behind off Watson and walked, Jos Buttler (4) was brilliantly caught by a diving Marsh off Natahn Couleter-Nile, and Chris Woakes (0) departed first ball.

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Coulter-Nile was on a hat-trick, his next ball was a blatant full toss, his second a wide.

Unbelievable.

So both sides did their best to lose, making it a very strange international in front of a big crowd in cold conditions.

Next up it’s Lord’s tomorrow night, and hopefully the home of cricket will produce more positive cricket.

Ashton Agar must come in for Bailey. Skipper Smith needs more variety than the selectors gave him at the Rose Bowl.

Agar’s left arm orthodox spin, and his superior batting, will strengthen the side, and Pat Cummins must open the bowling and not be held back until the seventh over.

Anyone who bowls at a consistent 150 clicks like Cummins isn’t a second fiddle bowler.

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And it’s about time Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell got some runs.

If all those suggestions surface, the Australians will take a grip on the five-match series.

As is the wont of the world champions.

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