Down by a game after been whitewashed in the Ashes, England will hope for a change in fortunes when they take on Australia in the second ODI in Brisbane on Friday. Follow the action live from 2.20 pm AEDT.
The horrors of their tour spilled over to the limited-overs portion as well after England were easily brushed aside in the first game of the series and then had to send home Steven Finn to find his bowling rhythm back.
That makes it six defeats in a row on tour and three players who have had to leave the team – for varying reasons – which can hardly warm the hearts of the English fans.
There was a bit of a flicker of hope though. While there are definite problems at the top of the batting order, England would be happy to with a couple of things.
One, after their scratchy start at the MCG, they came back well to post a reasonably strong 269 in their 50 overs. Even better was the fact that there wasn’t much of over-reliance on any one batsman.
Then again, on another day, they would have probably run Australia a lot closer. They often say that you make your own luck but if ever the English team was unlucky it was while fielding in the opening ODI – edges and lobs didn’t go to hand, there was one that could have been given out and then there were some that were missed.
Secondly, England will be pleased with the way they played in the Prime Minister’s XI game.
Again, Alastair Cook and Joe Root were sent back early, but a concerted effort from the likes of Michael Carberry, Gary Ballance and Jos Buttler pulled the English side through to another excellent 264 in their 50 overs.
That they won against a reasonably strong PM’s XI was good news enough but to bowl them out for 92 would have given them a truckload of confidence. Especially after what’s gone around whole tour.
The question now is whether England can build on this and a lot will depend on what they have to face at the Gabba.
For one, it’s going to be the return of their tormentor-in-chief, Mitchell Johnson, who will have up to 60 chances to eke them out, or even worse, hurt them with the white cherry.
With all-rounder Shane Watson afforded a three-game break from the Australian selectors, it could lead to a bit of a rejig in the line-up, which England would look to exploit.
To do that though, they need to re-look at their top three as well. Alastair Cook’s form has seen a dip in Australia while Joe Root’s confidence seems to be going the same route and it may not be such a bad idea to look at Carberry as an option at the top of the order.
England could also bring in James Tredwell as a frontline spinner but a lot could depend on how the pitch looks in the morning.
Because the last time an ODI was played here, Australia were bowled out for 74, batting first, and Sri Lanka lost six wickets getting there. The match had lasted little less than 47 overs and not a single ball was bowled by a spinner.
Australia have a couple of options to try out. Shaun Marsh could come in for Watson at three, but that takes away a seamer from the line-up and puts a lot of load on Glenn Maxwell to bowl his quota of 10 overs.
The other alternative for Australia is to bring in Daniel Christian and push one of the batsmen to the number three spot. In that case, Christian could be used as a floater as a batsman, sent in depending on the situation.
Australia’s record at the Gabba over the last 10 games they have played here is a good one, they have won eight and lost only two. Can England push them to another one here?
Join me for the second ODI of the five-match series on Friday and you can follow the live score of this game from 2.20 pm AEDT and post your comments below.
Loanemu
Guest
I'm intrigued with this article's subject matter. You're a very good writer with a lot of vision. I appreciate how well you make your points and your dedication to writing. This is really good content.
Jo M
Guest
Yep the crowd had left thinking we had lost. Oh well, those of us that stayed got to see something really special. Our neighbours certainly heard us last night though.
soapit
Guest
you cant fit a visit to the beach in the middle of a 20/20 match
Samsung samurai
Guest
Was also there Jo .... You'd remember 3/4 of the crowd had left and me and my mates laughed ourselves senseless at how pissed off they would have been listening to the game stuck in traffic on their ways home ....awesome night out ...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
One hundred per cent he did his job! There is no two ways about it. It was just an information-statement, not a critical one!
Simon
Guest
I'm the same. Grew up on One Day Cricket, my favourite childhood memory is still when Michael Bevan chased down that score of around 245 when Australia were 6-82. I've always found it more satisfying than T20 cricket but also more alive than a lot of test cricket. My first live game was Shane Warne's last ODI too. Hope it never dies!
Neil Morgan
Guest
Indeed a historic moment in our memory and for me, it was in late 70's when Rod Marsh belted 24 off a windies over in the face of adversity. Well done James !!
Mark
Guest
Root scores too slow in the Tests. It boggles my mind that he is picked in limited overs cricket.
Mark
Guest
It may sound like I'm taking the piss but he didn't get out so he did his jobs. Turning the strike over more would be preferable but the result speaks for itself.
Simoc
Guest
Great but not as good as the T20 last night. That was something else from Simmonds. And done in 3 hours.
Rugby stu
Guest
I too remember a game against New Zealand it was a VB series NZ had Australia by the absolute throat and Beven and Lee worked their way before Bichel and Bev finished it off. I don't recall being more into a game until this absolute classic! what a cricket renaissance in OZ, all forms firing on all cylinders.
SandBox
Roar Guru
Excellent points Ronan
Worlds Biggest
Guest
What a win, the Faulkner knock reminded me of Bevo against the Windies, fantastic stuff ! We were pretty much gone for all money. I was surprised to see dot balls from Faulkner towards the end, clearly he was waiting for the right ball to hit out of the park ! Agree with Ronan, the bowling at the end was porous. Great win Aussie !
Renegade
Roar Guru
One Day Cricket is still my favourite form of the game. I don't know if its because I grew up with it or what but I just love the 50 over format :)
Renegade
Guest
Hahaha sorry guys.... you're right ;) Definitely was 96!! I'm a tad over excited it seems!! The point remains though!
Jake
Guest
Renegade Perhaps that Bevan memory is a bit clearer in my mind as it was '96 not '95.
Nudge
Guest
One day cricket absolutely smashes 20/20 cricket in my opinion. With the amazing batting team Australia has they won't bat much worse than that and still chased 300. That has broken England's back, they will get absolutely smashed on Sunday
JGK
Roar Guru
It was New Years Day 1996.
Jo M
Guest
Hubby and myself were there the night Bevan hit that ball. Was the best thing I had seen, but I would loved to be there for this. Must have been amazing. Told hubby we would win, he said nah. Jumping around like a couple of idiots when he hit it.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
One thing we also saw here was the value of quick scoring in the first half of the innings. Australia may have lost early wickets but they were always well ahead of England's score at the same point. Yes, Australia fell to 5-120, but the pace they'd batted at to that point kept the middle to lower order in the game. If England find themselves 5-120 chasing 300 then the game is over because invariably they've chewed up 27-28 overs by that point, not 22 like Australia today. England are obsessed with this idea that they can have limited players like Cook, Root and Bell in the top order and still make winning scores in the modern era by piling on runs late in their innings. It will work 1/4 like it did today and even then you may not be able to defend it, like today. The two best sides in the world - India and Australia - go hard at the bowlers from early on to put the bowling side on the back foot and ease the pressure on their middle to late order. Like their embarrassingly negative tactics in Tests, England are behind the curve.