Australia are on the verge of a humiliating whitewash at the hands of England after going 3-0 down in the current One Day International series.
The Aussies have struggled in all facets of the game, and with one game washed out, their form will have to change drastically if they are to avoid a clean sweep.
England’s motivation heading into the one-day series was the number one ranking; knowing if they could record a 5-0 victory against the Australians they would take the title.
The current number one, Australia, have had a tough time defending their crown, being dominated with the bat, ball and in the field.
The Australians have failed to post a score above 260, scraping past 250 twice, while posting a disappointing 200 in game three. Australia’s top order has failed, bar a standout performance by Shane Watson in game one.
The Australian batsmen have not supported cameos by George Bailey, Michael Clarke and David Hussey. Inconsistency has necessitated continual rebuilding, limiting their ability to post a big score in the final overs.
England, chasing in two of the three matches, have managed their run well, recording convincing victories by six and eight wickets respectively. Australia’s bowling has been unable to take wickets at crucial times, unlike England.
The English pacemen have fared well at their home grounds, with Steven Finn snaring figures of 4-24 in the series-clinching one-dayer.
Australia has struggled to adapt to the colder, nippier English conditions. The wet and dewy environment has seen the ball seam around for the new-ball bowlers.
Australia was unfortunate to lose the toss in game three, as they were sent in to bat on a bowler’s wicket. A collapse from Australia’s top order set the tone for an English onslaught.
The tourists have been reeling throughout the Natwest series, but are they on the verge of a series whitewash? Australia’s chances of halting England’s momentum have suffered a major blow, with Brett Lee and Shane Watson both ruled out for the remainder of the series.
Watson has been strong at the top of the order, batting at an average of 35 as one of Australia’s best.
England too has been affected on the injury front with off-spinner Graeme Swann being ruled out for the final two games. Swann has only managed one wicket from the three games, but will be missed for his leadership and slip fielding.
Australia has struggled during this series but has shown glimpses of form during each innings. Out-of-form players like Peter Forrest and George Bailey will have to lift their game, while players like Clarke and Hussey will have to capatilise on their starts.
Australia has their backs against the wall but can still defeat England this series. If defeating the old foe isn’t enough motivation, surely retaining the number one ranking should be.
Duncan Gering
Guest
That’s Watto for you – pretty, but dumb!! Just thought it needed to be typed again.
Disco
Roar Guru
Not sure what you mean. It's hardly McDonald's fault the selectors have long been favouring pace over accuracy and guile. A genuine allrounder, he did well when he played Test cricket and has done well for Victoria since then. McDonald has never played an ODI. The next step would be for the selectors to recognise how useful his bowling is and pick him, I would have thought.
I am not surprised at all by the difference in the batting. Their top 3 in particular are technically superior and their no 5 is a rare talent that is setting standards in innovative batting that no one on the planet can match. mark my words Morgan is going to go down as one of the best we've seen at one day cricket. This is what England have been missing since ODI's became popular and this is the last cog for them in taking the no 1 ranking in all 3 forms of the game.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
Well played Werewolf. I was hoping you didn't pick that up mate ( and is why i put a question as my headline :P) I will give you the satisfaction of saying the Aussies would dominate- but i do hope Australia do not suffer a whitewash. I am just as surprised at how England have batted to be honest.
This is what you wrote on my article last week predicting a 5 nil seres loss. 'Australia will not lose 5-0; that’s a ludicrous statement...' I see by the essence of this article you've changed your mind young man. The scores have been flattering the australians thats how bad the difference is between the sides at the moment. The biggest gap between the sides is their batting which is far superior in every facet. This is why i stand by my prediction of the 5 nil loss pending weather of course.
BD
Guest
its beacuse their best batsmen are their best batsmen period. And the play up the order and they play properly. the only one that is unorthodox is Morgan and he comes in at 5 where these types of players belong in teams. warner in comparison is a joke for an opening batsman and should be at 6 or 7 in both ODI's and tests (he shouldn't be in the test side)
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
Lancashire i understand where you are coming from on both of your points. But my English mate, it is hard to judge test ability on one day performances. A lot of this Australian side will change- with the inclusion of Ponting and M.Hussey just to name a few but Australia will put in a better performance in the 2012/13 ashes.
Lancashire
Guest
You shouldn't criticise Langer for players techniques, unless they're full-time national players he can't have enough time with them to sort that out, but you can criticise him for their shot selection, the mental side of batting is exactly what the batting coach is there for. Witness A Cook: the English summer before the last Ashes he couldn't score a run, and we know what happened once G Gooch became the full-time England batting coach ... I reckon CA saw this tour as a learning curve to see if any of this lot were up to playing Ashes cricket next year, so at least now they know - none of them.
Bayman
Guest
Tony, It depends entirely on whether anyone thinks ODIs are really important. For those that do may I paraphrase the late, great Joseph Stalin (who knew a thing or two about batting on a sticky wicket), "The loss of one ODI to England is a tragedy - the loss of four is a statistic!" May that thought offer some comfort to those that care. Personally, I'm less concerned about the results than I am about the selections and the fact our fitness gurus are up to their neck in it again. Cummins is in danger of creating some sort of record which even the accident prone Shane Watson can only dream about - that is never playing consecutive games for Australia. Watto being Watto, of course, promptly injured himself before realising he had already played consecutive games this series. That's Watto for you - pretty, but dumb! He's no threat to Cummins is our Watto.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
Andrew McDonald has been in and around the international scene but has never really taken the next step. A tremendous domestic player and will arguably hailed a future vic legend but he would probably not be right for ODI selection. If McDonald was selected he would have been as heavily scrutinised as Forest and Bailey alike.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Apparently so Disco, defies logic, Macca should have been a cert for this comp
Disco
Roar Guru
Australia's batting has been poor (the India series apart) since Langer's been 'batting coach'. As far as I can see, his only achievements has been mentoring young players out of the team and ensuring Watson continues to fall short as Test top-order player.
Disco
Roar Guru
Can Australia's current 'biffers' thrive against quality seam bowling even outside of England? We're yet to see, though South Africa will be here in six months.
Disco
Roar Guru
Yes, he's been very effective. Meanwhile, Andrew McDonald sits on the boys' club black list...
Bayman
Guest
matt h, While I might agree that conditions generally have favoured the bowlers over the batsmen a less charitable critic than I might suggest it's only favoured English bowlers. Batting second, England are cruising past us with the majority of their wickets intact. On the upside, however, our sports scientists are managing to lose a bowler or two every day. No doubt they are gathering a great deal of valuable data for future reference. At this stage I'm thinking of booking an Ashes trip to take in the last two Tests in 2013. I reckon by then my constant offering of services as a bowler will be met with some favour. I wouldn't get a game for the first Test but by the time the fifth comes around I reckon I'm a certainty - and because I'm not exactly a "finely tuned" athlete I also reckon I'm half a chance to get through the game without injury (unless, of course, Jimmy Anderson brings one back sharply when I'm batting and crushes the old box!) Of course, I may not get a gig if Richie Benaud makes himself available but by then I reckon the selectors will be down to just him or me - and I'm twenty years younger than Richie.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I've been impressed by Bopa's fiesty medium pace. He's a bit nippy.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
Blaze, mate you are not wrong. You and Red Kev make very good points- granted i am making a weak defense of Justin Langer but he is not the sole reason for Australia's failure in this series. Australia batted very well during their summer against the Indians. It is a step up and class and different decisions which has made the series difficult.
matt h
Guest
Yes in England where the conditions favour the ball a bit more, and especialoly now we have new balls from either end. On the sub-continent and even in Australia, the one-day specialist biffer plays a bigger factor. Ravi Bopara looks dangerous in these seaming conditions. elsewhere he would be cannon fodder. but good on England for recognising this and playing to the conditions.
matt h
Guest
Agreed. We were set up for a fall. These sorts of tours with everything stacked against us may have been ok in our dominant era, but this time around is was lambs to the slaughter.
Disco
Roar Guru
Yes, but during Australia's very dominant period, really only Bevan, Hogg and Symonds were regular ODI specialists (until the latter was shoehorned into a Test batting role ahead of far-superior options). It's a sound idea to play your best players in both forms of the game, unless of course there's a unique case of a player struggling badly in one but excelling in the other.