John Hastings took the new ball for Australia yesterday, yet will struggle to get a game for Victoria this summer. That’s how understrength the Australian ODI team was. Yet they still managed to claim a series victory over England.
With four quality bowlers, an accomplished all-rounder and a dynamic opener all unavailable, an Australian team led by a new skipper and with a new keeper overcame England’s momentum in rousing fashion.
It has been some time since Australia has fielded such an undermanned ODI side. So depleted was it that the bowling was opened by a man in Hastings who is not in the top 15 50-over pacemen in Australia.
Hastings will not even be assured of a spot in Victoria’s 50-over team this summer after floundering last season when he averaged 60 with the ball, having averaged 38 the previous season.
But when Australia lost to injury talented quick Nathan Coulter-Nile (who has taken 22 wickets at 26 so far in ODIs), they needed an immediate replacement.
Plying his trade in county cricket, Hastings was the nearest option and so made an incredibly unlikely comeback to international cricket.
It seems very likely that yesterday’s starring effort with the ball will be the last time Hastings ever plays for Australia. At least it might have helped him push his case for a spot in Victoria’s side.
The lumbering quick bowled with admirable accuracy as he collected 3-21 from 10 overs, including the key wicket of England’s first drop James Taylor, who again performed extremely well against Australia this series.
In nine ODIs against Australia, Taylor has made 353 runs at 44 displaying the kind of technique and temperament which deserves to earn him Test selection.
Hastings showed character in rebounding from a nightmare return to international cricket on Friday.
As Australia lost that fourth ODI, the bulky seamer was pasted, going for 0-56 from only 6.2 overs.
He was part of an Australian attack which yesterday scythed through England’s shaky batting line-up, rolling them for just 138 on a perfect batting strip.
After winning the previous two matches, England were well placed to end their home summer without a series loss in any format. Australia’s phenomenal depth in ODIs again showed them up, however.
The teams put out by the reigning World Cup champions this series have been almost unrecognisable.
In the fourth ODI, gone were eight of the 11 players from Australia’s World Cup winning side, while seven were not on the field yesterday.
Gone from the World Cup final line-up in this series were former skipper Michael Clarke, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, the world’s premier ODI all-rounder James Faulkner, and gun quicks Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood.
Meanwhile, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson and Mitchell Starc also were absent at key times.
They have faced a rejuvenated England side which finally has been filled with players well suited to the modern style of ODI cricket.
After coming from 2-0 down against the gifted Kiwis to win the first ODI series of their summer, England entered this series brimming with confidence.
When the heat was on early in the series, Australia were clinical, winning the first two matches comfortably.
After appearing to take the foot off the gas in games three and four, Australia yesterday were forced to rediscover some touch to avoid ending their tour on a sour note.
Australia responded fantastically well, dismantling England to secure an eight-wicket win with almost 26 overs to spare.
After their humiliating loss in the Ashes, Australia should be able to take something out of this victory as they head to Bangladesh for what shapes as a challenging Test series.
Don Freo
Guest
There is nothing gentlemanly about anything you contribute. The only tone, ever, is bitter and angry. If you don't mean to convey that, you might need consider what and how you write. I actually think you misunderstand what this site is about. Your colleague, JimmyB gets it. He is just as vehement but he understands good humour and balance.
Birdy
Guest
Actually, Don, not angry at all. I was drawn to repeatedly visit this site after being fascinated by some of your very bold predictions regarding the 'certain' result of the upcoming Ashes series. I'm too much of a gentleman to dig out actual quotes, but you certainly were forthright in your views. So, I'm afraid, my Aussie friends, Don is to blame for me sharing my thoughts with you.
Nudge
Guest
I never knew England had only won 2 world cups. That is woeful considering the population. No wonder they are the laughing stock of world sport.
Birdy
Guest
The number of English Union players is a bit of a red herring, Bobbo. Very few schools play it, and virtually none in what you'd call 'working-class' areas. The numbers are inflated by counting kids signing up (for insurance purposes) to play a bit of touch rugby they might only play once or twice and the social end of the spectrum where blokes take-up the game later in life for the social aspects. If you're a gifted athlete you'd have to go to a certain school or be quite lucky to find yourself on a rugby development pathway. Easier if you're 6ft 8 and 120 kgs - what else are you going to do; but other sports will likely claim you if you're a skilled ball-playing 'back' for example. The development pathways are getting better, but it's slow progress. If the RFU get it right and it becomes a more mainstream sport - watch out.
Birdy
Guest
I come on this site to develop my knowledge of sport through reading the thoughts of intellectual giants like yourself, Nudge. Didn't you know?
Bobbo7
Guest
Cricket is a pretty big sport Birdy. There are a few decent teams and you can only beat the teams that are playing. But I did enjoy seeing the Aussies lose the Ashes after the hyper-confidence pre-series. In league there are really only 3 decent teams and England is the poor relation despite being much larger. England should also be a much better Union team given the number of players.
Nudge
Guest
Deep breath Birdy, in and out in and out. You can nearly feel you hyperventilating as you type. I'm not sure why you bother getting on this site, it's not healthy for you. You are one really really upset Pom.
Don Freo
Guest
Something has made you very angry, Birdy. Let me encourage you to work through it. Life should be more fun than it seems to be for you. Cricket certainly is more enjoyable than you seem to appreciate.
Birdy
Guest
In 1999 it was the same amateur players, structures and approaches from before, the only difference was those same players had recently started to be paid. Rugby has been a professional sport in the true meaning of that term this century, when the Aussie record is not great. Field hockey and netball? I think that's the sound of scraping barrels isn't it? There are big international sports. Football, Boxing, Formula 1, Track and Field, the Olympics generally, Golf etc. In these sports the Aussie record is poor to middling. For example I can't think of an Aussie boxer that hasn't got a glass jaw, you used to do well in the Olympics but were an embarrassment in the last one; you've got a couple of good golfers, but no more than the poms; the Formula 1 world champion is a pom, etc etc. The self-image of Aussie sporting gods is based on rugby league played by Aussies; those Kiwis not good enough to be ABs and a few dozen fat blokes in the north of England; Aussie Rules that literally no-one else in the world plays; Cricket that is a minority sport everywhere except Oz and the Indian sub-continent; and Swimming in a country where 95% of the population live a few miles from the coast. Stunning!!
Birdy
Guest
Without wishing to get into the under-12s response of 'you started it' if you trace back over weeks and months how these little exchanges begin, 'post/article Zero' is normally a ridiculously arrogant and hubristic Aussie proclaiming what they are going to do to the 'poms' in an upcoming sporting contest.
Eski
Guest
Birdy I have seen plenty of chest beating and BS from both sides. every country in the world has those supporters that come out with statements that make you cringe . but you having a go at others for chest beating and BS isn't that the pot calling the kettle black that is all I have seen you do on here. And you having a go at players being obnoxious and arrogant is rich ,You only have to glance at what you have written on here and now and in the past to realize you are the epitome obnoxious and arrogant
The Bush
Roar Guru
Australia actually won the first professional rugby world cup in 1999... Claim snooker and darts if you want, they're all sports. Certainly Australian's do excel at sports no one else plays, most cricket world cups, tied most rugby world cups, most rugby league world cups, most netball world championships/world cups. Australia also has more world cups and Gold Medals in Field Hockey than England. Funny thing is about all these minor sports that Australia excel at, is that they tend to be popular English sports too.
Birdy
Guest
If you're still claiming that the hit and giggle fest qualifies as a proper 'World Cup' then I'm claiming snooker and darts for the poms. Aussies excel at sports no one else in the world plays (have you established the 'Aussie Rules World Cup yet?); and/or where a sport is amateur (your rugby wins); or hit and giggle versions of proper sports. Love the mouthing off before the RWC, though, Jake. You're definitely my favourite Aussie on here. Most are a little wary of opening their mouths wider than the Grand Canyon given the recent Ashes experience, but not you mate - you go for it.
Birdy
Guest
.......................and we have a winner. After f all the weeks and months of chest-beating BS from Aussies, a one-liner takes the biscuit. An Aussie cricket fan accusing any other nation's sports fans of 'lacking self-awareness' - WOW!!!
Jake
Guest
They won't know what you're talking about Ronan. The poms don't know what its like to win world cups................ in any sport. Australia has won the same amount of world cups in the first 8 months of this year than the poms have won in the past 100 years. No doubt the ponderous plodders of their "rugby" side will experience the same fate as their "cricketers" and not make it past the group stages.
Jake
Guest
"I’m content that England have won 4 out of 5 Ashes series," No, England have won only 5 out of the last 15 Ashes. Quite a pathetic record really, but not as bad as englands world cup count. How many is it the past 60 years? 2? lol
Don Freo
Guest
Shaun Marsh is one of the World's best ODI batsmen. Your sides aren't sensible unless he's in one of them.
Don Freo
Guest
Still makes no sense. Is there, maybe, a code I am meant to be using?
Disco
Guest
That you continue to put down the opposition - and thus the necessity for Australia to choose its strongest XI players - in an attempt to justify the selection of your WA favourites
Eski
Guest
the lack of self awareness of some English fans on here is astounding