Earlier in the evening, Australian captain Cameron White won the toss and elected to bat, with openers Shane Watson and David Warner putting on 83 runs for the first wicket.
The normally aggressive Warner was forced to take a backseat to the explosive batting of his opening partner, as Watson hit three consecutive sixes off the bowling of English spinner Graeme Swann to start the eighth over. Watson finished with 59 runs off 31 balls, as Warner found himself holding up an end for one of the few times in his career.
The Australian innings ended at 4 for 157, a score which proved too low for the deep England batting line-up.
The Australian middle order of Hussey, White, Finch and Smith managed only four boundaries between them and failed to capitalise on the substantial platform laid down by openers Warner and Watson.
The inability of the middle order to continue to press hard for quick runs meant that England always looked like chasing down the Australian total in good batting conditions on a warm Adelaide night.
England opener Ian Bell continued his good form of late, clubbing three boundaries off the first over when the visitor’s innings got underway, before being caught by Steve Smith off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson for 27 runs off 17 balls.
England number three Kevin Pietersen took a liking to the bowling of Stephen O’Keefe, hitting the spinner for successive boundaries off his first two deliveries before mis-hitting the third ball and being caught at mid-off by David Hussey.
At 5 for 130 England appeared to be cruising to an easy before all-rounder Shane Watson took two wickets in two balls to reignite Australia’s chances of victory.
It fell to Watson to bowl the final over of the match, with England requiring four runs for victory with two wickets in hand. Watson bowled Swann with the first ball of the final over but it was not enough to prevent England scoring the winning runs.
Watson played the game of his life, finishing with bowling figures of 4 for 15 to go with his half-century with the bat, and was a deserving winner of the man-of-the-match award.
England and Australia next meet at the MCG on Friday for the second and final Twenty20 match before a seven match one-day series.
Michael Filosi
Roar Guru
I thought it was 5 losses for the Aussies in row for Twenty20 matches, but am happy to be corrected. Any takers?
jameswm
Guest
I'd go with Mr K's team, except I think I'd go for Paine. He averages 2.9 balls per boundary in the big bash - those are amazing numbers. And I'd be happy to open with Watson and Hodge - they would play normal cricket shots but would need to go a bit more aerial.
Lolly
Guest
Have the Aussies lost 6 20/20 games in a row? Is that a record as well?
MrKistic
Roar Rookie
Great point Vinay, the alternate selectors have done the work for us. And these coaches are clearly selecting on form, nothing to do with politics or who likes who, viz. Symonds and Harbajan teaming up. I would definitely have Hodge in my starting 11 over Warner though. I'd also definitely consider opening with him. His record demands it.
Jay
Guest
Random point - but wasnt KP dropped from the England ODI and T20 side? Perhaps I'm not remembering correctly, but he had a whinge on twitter after being dropped... Was his inclusion the result of that 227 in the Ashes, if he was in fact dropped?
Jay
Guest
Rhys, good comment.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Michael,some observations. The gulf is not one of talent but of the way the talent is utilised and channelled. England have some savvy backroom boys in Flower and Saker. They also pick the right players. Morgan is their finisher. Rarely plays a bad game. Bresnan is the hustler and is at you all the time. But Australia has the players to do well and challenge for top dog in the shorter forms. Ratings for last night are not worth it as Watson is the only one to get 7+. Having said that O'Keefe was nervous and the occassion got to him. But his dismissal of Pietersen showed heart and willingness to toss the ball up. Good sign that. Warner is auditioning for the 50 overs side and I feel that affected his game. Again the fault of the coach. It is not difficult to pick the best Twenty20 side. The job has been done by the IPL auction. There are six Aussie coaches in the 10 franchises and they have put their money and reputation on the line. The first three bowlers picked would be Bollinger,Nannes and Christian..The first six bartsmen picked would be David Hussey,Cam White,Watson ,Warner,Hodge and Michael Hussey. the keeper would be Haddin. Mitch marsh would be ahead of Steven Smith. Team in batting order: Watson,Haddin,D Hussey,White,M Hussey,Warner,Mitch Marsh,Christian,O Keefe,Nannes,Bollinger. Backups would be Ferguson,Paine,Hodge and Johnson. Lee and Tait are excluded unless they can bowl consistently at 150+...they have not shown that yet. Lets see what happens tomorrow.
Michael Filosi
Roar Guru
Johnson is a big hitter jameswm. The idea would be to put him in to start swinging from the opening ball of his innings. If he gets out, no big deal. Fair bit of potential upside in this if he gets going, not a whole lot of down side if he gets out swinging in the first ball or two of his innings.
Michael Filosi
Roar Guru
Fair point Vinay, England are a very good Twenty20 side, and the England side fieled considerably better than the Autralians. If you were to rate each Australian player on their performance, how many would score better than average? Compare this with the England team, who seemed to my eye to have a much more even contribution from all the players. Yes, Australia lost by only 1 wicket, but I put that down to Watson's amazing effort with bat and ball. He dragged the side along with him. I don't think the closeness of the result truly demonstrates the gulf between the two teams. If you were to make a composite side from the Australia and England sides which took the field last night, how many Aussies would get a game?
MrKistic
Roar Rookie
Yep, I did mean bowling with DHuss. Unfortunately I had to listen to the Channel 9 goons last night and one of them was saying that Warner did this recently for NSW, spent time building an innings rather than going the tonk. Doesn't seem like a good idea for him in the Aus squad to be doing that though. Your team doesn't look bad, Finch looked good last week and should do better on Friday, rain permitting. I'd maybe take DHuss over Smith, especially if you're playing Hauritz, but would be happy to see SOK get a bit of a run. Hopes was great against Vic last week and played well again a few days later, it seems odd that he's dropped off recently. Pattinson would be good to see in there too.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Michael, It seems to me that fans are as desperate for australia to win as the players,no doubt,are. It is worth remembering this England side is a very good side. They are the reigning Twenty20 champions and have not lost a T20 in a long time. They believe they can win from any situation. They catch well and are always a step ahead. I also thjink they will continue to have the wood on Australia unless Australia start fielding well.Lee is rusty and Tait is feeling his way. Not selecting Nannes was an aberration. Shazad,Yardy and Bresnan bowled well. Swann also came back well after the initial hammering.
Rhys
Guest
Boony will whip those couch potatoes into shape with his special KFC 20/20 diet. Mmmm soooooo greasy.
jameswm
Guest
I think Warner's was the right shot - he just didn't quite catch it right. A metre higher and it's 6. Yes - it didn't help that we had two new guys in at the same time, but they needed to show more urgency. One of the many things that cost us the match.
jameswm
Guest
And Mr K - yes, a bit of a tough night. A lot of expetives were thrown at the television. Stupid, skil-less fools. Just handed the game to England on a platter. I think I'd go for a team something like this - although Harris and McKay are bad losses - they'd be at 9 and 11 - well, 9 and 10 with Nannes at 11. 1. Marsh 2. Watson 3. Paine (lowest balls per boundary in Big Bash) - and (vc) 4. Hodge 5. White (c) 6. another batter here - Bailey maybe, or Finch 7. Smith (yes I rate him higher than you) or SOK - who had a bad night though his ball to dismiss KP was good and well thought out 8. Hopes - solid and smart pro - consistent performer 9. Hastings or Pattinson 10. Nannes 11. Tait 12. Hauritz - he's a clever spinner in the shorter form of the game. Johnson, Lee, Warner out.
Brett McKay
Guest
James, just an alternate theory on White and D.Hussey.. I was more annoyed witn Watson and Warner - Warner more so - in that they went within an over of each other while going at 9 an over. Hussey should only have had to knock it around to support Warner, who should have been stepping it up. Instead Warner tried a slog sweep that wasn't on, and that bought White in, and we had two new bats trying to quickly get themselves set AND keep the scoreboard ticking over. Warner should have thought about what was required, rather than manufacturing a stupid shot when it wasn't needed.. (saw your response on the other thread too, agree completely..)
jameswm
Guest
I think you're being tough on Warner. I doubt he has much fat on him.
jameswm
Guest
What's the point with Johnson? Most likely he'll block a couple then get out as soon as he hits out.
jameswm
Guest
DHuss had a good ball or two and that's it. Not good overs - or do you mean bowling? One of the most frustrating things was that Warner, watson and Hussey all got out just as they were getting going, and two to STUPID shots. Warner had enough there to hit but elected not to. I don't know what he was trying to do. The English bowling was good but no better. Some of it was very good - eg some of their yorkers. But in the main we were clueless.
Roger Rational
Guest
Look at the England team - not an ounce of fat on any of them. Then look at Finch and Warner, who look like they just strolled off the set of the Teletubbies. Forget the bowling, batting, fielding coaches - the first item on CA's list should be to hire a sadistic ex-Sergeant Major to bully these slobs into shape.
MrKistic
Roar Rookie
Paine was initially listed to bat at 3 wasn't he? Seems that White may have had the crazy idea of giving the batsman a run first. Although Paine ahead of Smith may have been a good idea. And Johnson as you say. Those goons on Channel 9 also mentioned that. Couldn't have hurt.