Australia have fallen to their first home one-day series defeat in seven years after a 16-run defeat to England in Sydney on Sunday night.
After a Jos Buttler century powered England to 6-302 at the SCG, Australia struggled to lift the ante when required and ended the chase with four wickets still in the sheds to give the visitors an unassailable 3-0 series lead.
Needing 22 from the final Chris Woakes (2-57) over, Australia scored just three runs off the first two balls before their hopes were dashed when Marcus Stoinis (56 off 43) was caught on the backward square leg boundary.
Tim Paine struggled to find the boundary at the other end, ending the game not out on 31 from 35 balls with just one four as Australia finished at 6-286.
The result gives England their second one-day series win in Australia in 30 years after the pain of this summer’s Ashes, and makes for the Aussies’ worst start to an ODI summer since 2001-02 against New Zealand and South Africa.
Australia have now also lost 10 of their past 11 completed matches, making for the worst such streak in the team’s history.
Sunday’s result was shrouded in controversy, after Steve Smith was given out caught behind trying to drive a Mark Wood (2-46) delivery that went low to wicketkeeper Buttler.
Third umpire Kumar Dharmasena deliberated for just under four minutes, before deciding there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the soft on-field call of out.
Smith had earlier combined for a 69-run stand with opener Aaron Finch, who hit a 53-ball 62 to go with his two centuries to start the series.
Australia could manage just 11 boundaries after Finch’s dismissal, as the game drifted away from Smith’s men.
In comparison, England had no such trouble lifting the run rate late in their innings courtesy of Buttler and Woakes’ 113-run 71-ball stand to end the innings.
Buttler hit the last ball of the English innings for two off Mitchell Starc to bring up his century, while Woakes hit five fours and two sixes in his 36-ball 53.
Australia’s trio of Ashes quicks all went for runs in their first one-day game together since last June, with Starc (0-63) and Pat Cummins (1-67) going at more than six an over and Josh Hazlewood (2-58) also expensive.
Roostermark
Guest
We have quicks ? We used to have quickes ala Lee and Tait who can regularly get it up to 155 kph plus not this medium pace garbage of 135 to low 140's..On these flat pitches that do very little to assist the bowlers unless it is swinging they have very little to trouble decent batsman.
Roostermark
Guest
I am under the impression like League that the officiator has to give an opinion even if the the officiator is unsure.. Bit silly I think
Ashan D
Roar Pro
Yes you are right that Faulks has lost his mojo. It all went awry after the driving incident in England. It's time he looks back at himself and redeems his character. Something seems missing from him but I dont think its too far away from him either. Class is permanent. So let's wait and see.
Jake
Guest
Poms accusing Smith of ball tampering so the focus isn't on that che@ting wicket keeper they have. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/21/steve-smith-australia-england-denies-ball-tampering
Bakkies
Guest
or AB? He would be on the next plane home.
Bakkies
Guest
That's over analysis. The first two shots showed it hit the ground. You can't give a catch out when it is not out. The sad part about it is Buttler claimed a catch that hit the grass and Smith was willing to trust his word.
Charlie
Guest
I dont think it did though. Commentators have been saying for years that the 2-d image can make it look like it bounced when it didnt bounce, hence why the 3rd umpire looked at multiple replays. The benefit of the doubt goes with the original umpires decision when it goes to the 3rd umpire and there isnt conclusive proof it bounced.
Flemo
Guest
Lyon and Usman must come in
Flemo
Guest
Khawaja just looks a class above right now, absurd he is not playing
Flemo
Guest
Replace white with Khawaja
Flemo
Guest
I agree with Khawaja coming in but wouldn’t Shaun be better then Bancroft
Flemo
Guest
Replace the bear with Khawaja
Flemo
Guest
Khawaja is our best at number 3, also Lyon to come on a spinner to work with zampa
Flemo
Guest
First and foremost we need Khawaja in at 3 for white
Bakkies
Guest
If Hazlewood gets rested it will be unlikely that he will bowl again until the one and only warm up match in SA which starts in a month's time.
Don Freo
Guest
The moment you put bowlers in cotton wool, they lose all form. It's like a tennis player trying to win a Grand Slam without any other games...or a golfer winning on the tour by playing only the majors. Sportsmen need to play their sport. What's more...I'd assume they'd want to. After all, it is their chosen sport.
David
Guest
I doubt Root would get bowling figures that good playing third grade - I'm sure there's a few blokes there very capable of putting him into the trees regularly.
David
Guest
I have no problems with Hazelwood but why waste his body on dead rubbers? In my view, he is Australia's best quick so I would put him in cotton wool for SA (maybe Starc too and give J Bird a run?).
David
Guest
Yep
AREH
Roar Guru
Maxwell definitely, but I'm afraid Faulkner appears to have lost his finishing magic from a few years ago. I've hardly seen him hit a six, in any format, for a while now. As has been mentioned too his bowling was once upon a time very subtle and difficult to handle, but it's become a little predictable. He just seems a long way down the queue now and it feels like such a waste for someone who is a phenomenal cricketer at their best.