Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy and Alex Hales ripped into a placid Australian attack on a perfect Trent Bridge batting strip this morning to set a new ODI world record of 6-481, breaking their own mark of 3-444 set two years ago on the same ground.
The trio were simply magnificent with Roy slamming 82 off 61 with seven fours and four maximums, only to be outgunned by Bairstow’s 139 off 92 with 15 fours and five sixes, and again by Hales’ 147 also off 92 with 16 fours and five maximums.
Collectively that was 368 runs, normally a top total in its own right, off just 245 with 38 fours and 14 sixes.
Carnage.
Eoin Morgan added his two bob’s worth with the fastest England ODI half-century in history off just 21 deliveries, taking the skipper to 6187 career runs, well ahead of the closest Englishmen; Ian Bell’s 5416 and Paul Collingwood’s 5092.
In the end, England smashed 41 fours and a world record 21 sixes.
Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton, two former England captains, were in the commentary box and were told the 21 sixes were more than both of them hit in their entire careers.
Hussain played 88 ODIs and struck 15 sixes, Atherton 54 for one – much mirth in the box.
But no mirth for Australia, who could only manage 239 from 37 before being bowled out. It was a black day.
It became their fifth successive series loss, and their biggest hiding in history by 242 runs.
The attack was all over the shop. Every one of the eight bowlers has been told all their lives that line and length is all that matters, but there was blow all line and length.
Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar was the most economical with 1-70 off 10, while paceman Jhye Richardson bowled the only maiden early, and was on a hat-trick late in the carnage to finish with 3-92 off 10.
The rest went for plenty headed by D’Arcy Short’s 11.50 an over, AJ Tye’s 11.11, Marcus Stoinis’ 10.62, and Glenn Maxwell’s 10.50.
Only Shaun Marsh, Travis Head and keeper Tim Paine didn’t bowl.
The big difference between the two sides was England’s batting ability to beat the field, while the Australians found fieldsmen like magnets.
Sure the Australians are missing Steve Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood – no team in the world can afford such losses.
But what’s left aren’t knuckling down to do the job they are being handsomely paid to do.
There are no excuses for batting collapses, there’s no excuse for Maxwell running out Stoinis like he did this morning, and there’s no excuse for bowlers representing their country bowling like seven-year-old kids who have never been coached.
That’s rubbish, and must be number one priority for new coach Justin Langer to address.
Anyone who plays for Australia must play like an international, or have their papers stamped never to play again.
It’s as simple as that, put up or shut up.
Williamson's mum
Guest
Didn't Eng narrowly win the last ODI series against a depleted NZ 3 to 2, the same NZ that lost to India in India 3 to 2? England are (rightly) favorites to win the next cup cause they'll doctor the pitches to suit their team of sloggers, but the idea that no other teams can compete with them is ludicrous. If there's much swing or spin throughout the tournament they're likely to get burned in at least one game with their current lineup.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Tremain? Neser can come back in, he did alright in the first games.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Head is not an all rounder. He's a batsman who can bowl a bit. Like, for example, Mark Waugh was. Maxwell is the same. Agar is a bowler who bats a bit. Stoinis is the only true all rounder in the team at the moment.
bowledover
Guest
I agree. Perhaps Smarsh can show some of his vaunted experience in a bit more of a middle order player (as apparently he is also good against spin). Stoinis should be further down the order (can strike it well) and Carey after that who has shown he can smack it around... Maybe something like: Finch Khawaja Head Maxi/Smarsh Smarsh/Maxi Stoinis Carey Agar Neser Stanlake Lyon
JayG
Guest
cos1, Australia is accepting mediocrity because it has been repeated ad nauseum that the fans would be okay with losses as long as the team behavior was good. After creating a hue and cry and getting our best batsmen banned, I think it is unreasonable for the fans to now demand that the team win as well. I do not think anybody can complain about team behavior now. However, there is a balance to be found between playing aggressive cricket and being obnoxious and I think with Paine we have swung the pendulum too much towards nice guys with no bite. I think we need a captain in the mold of Kane Williamson and Mahendra Singh Dhoni - play aggressive cricket but always have a cool head. I understand that this is a team in transition and some experimentation is necessary to decide on the winning combination. Unfortunately, at present, it does not look like we have all the pieces necessary to make a winning combination. Also, I do not understand the point of this experimentation since it is highly likely that 50% or more of these players in the current series will not make next year's WC. Your point about spin in key. How is it that the batsmen are so clueless against spin that they make Moeen seem like Murali? They desperately need a batting coach to teach them how to play against spin and since Langer was equally useless against spin, an import from the subcontinent might be an option (Alternatively, I am sure Steve Smith will be willing to provide free lessons!)
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
6-481?! Against England! Stop Australia playing the short form of the game now! Test cricket only. The Prime Minister needs to step in on this one.
cos1
Guest
What troubles me is how easily Australia is now accommodating mediocrity - well, actually, a lot worse than that. This is the first article I have seen that has come out and said this is all simply not good enough. It seems some writers think having a nice demeanor and playing in a jovial spirit is more important than representing your country with robust performances - or at least not suffering an annihilation of historic proportions. But like the author of this article, no real fans of Australian cricket feel that way. Most Australian fans would have been particularly unhappy to see the bowlers smiling and laughing to each other as their teammates were collecting balls from the crowd. Where was the Australian competitive spirit? My own two-bob's worth: Paine is a good keeper and a good test player. He may be a good test captain. But he is not a good enough one day player to merit selection - he can neither bat up (solid attacking technique) or down (power play) the order. I don't like the British way of selecting a captain who does not merit selection as a player. But Paine does not have the experience, in spite of his age, and appears to lack the nous. In Finch, we have a person with some experience as a captain, and who, in my view, has a better feel for the one day game. Speaking of Finch, why is he not opening? You wouldn't move Warner up and down the order willy nilly. Finch should open, where his muscle game is suited (clearing the infield), and where he is clearly at his match winning best. Tye is a good T20 bowler. But he bowls best in T20 like conditions - in the last fwe overs (in the death) when they are coming after him every ball. He doesn't have the weapons to trouble batsmen when they are not going flat chat. If fact, he deoesn't seem to ahve developed a game plan for bowling in the earlier overs. Richardson and Stanlake have the weapons. But they were woefully short of sound advice. Bowling wide yorkers to Hales worked - why did Jhye Richardson keep aiming at his pads, after it was clear to all and sundry that this was his strength? Ditto for bowling to other batsmen. Stanlake was dissapointing because he didn't bring his bounce into play, which you do when you bowl a McGrath like length. He bowled too full at the start and then too many short balls in the end. Someone has to tell them that at this level, pace will get you success, but only if it is combined with planning, accuracy and discipline. Lastly, if anything in cricket is worthy of group funding, it would be a fund directed to bringing in someone from the subcontinent to teach Australia's batsmen how to play spin. They have not learned anything in 10 years, and are actually getting worse.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Team for rest of series if possible. Khawaja Carey S. Marsh Finch Stoinis Maxwell Agar Neser J. Richardson Stanlake Lyon Squad I would like to see with all available players Khawaja Warner Finch Smith Gotch (wk) (good player of spin) Stoinis Agar Nair Starc Cummins Coulter Nile You could also swap Maxwell for Khawaja and open with Finch, I think Khawaja adds just such a secure option.
Rob
Guest
Interesting how Ronan was talking up “positive signs “ after the last defeat. Shaun Marsh did well with 130 but outside that the other top 4 had failed miserably. For those that seen S. Marsh great innings they would have seen him dropped twice before 30. Seriously our bowling is awful because they have forgotten what the definition of good bowling is. A.Tye is lauded for having 20 something different delivers but realistically 15 are s#%t and he gets wickets in 20/20 because batsmen try and smash s#%t. Everyone is trying a different delivery when consistent stump bowling is and always will be the most effective. You can’t set a field to crap and balls that don’t threaten the stumps give batsmen a free swing. With modern bats a free swinging usually result in boundaries. Yorkers, cutters hitting the top of off, and good short balls at the right time on the money should be bread and butter stuff for first class bowlers. The batting order is totally wrong IMO. Finch opening Marsh 3, Maxwell 4. It makes no sense batting Finch down the order and Maxwell batting at the death is completely ridicules.
George
Guest
6 WA players. Why?
Brasstax
Guest
No way in the world can the Poms smash 400 plus against the Indian spinners. And the Indians have by far been the best chasing team for the past several years now. They would make light of a 350 target. Also its been eons since England beat India in a bilateral ODI series and lost 2 ODI series against India since their 2015 revival. India will win the ODI series 2-1. England currently bank on their ability to bat any opposition out of the game while setting a target and chase down any total. India will also fancy their chances of successfully chasing down any total north of 300 while their spinners will not allow the Poms free runs of this magnitude.
Brasstax
Guest
No way in the world would the English have plundered 480 of Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal and the likes o Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Dhawan would have made light of a 350 target. Yes I agree with you that this is an over reaction. By the same measure, I would wait till the end of the 3 ODIs the Poms play against India next month before singing their praises. I am sure they would find it a tad more difficult in that series.
jimbo
Guest
subscribed....
Stephen
Guest
Good lineup and i would have finch, khawaja, marsh lynn as the top 4
Stephen
Guest
Jimbo good comments mate and the reason a few folks are pushing for khawaja is because he is the best domestic one day batsman around and makes no sense not to have him around speically given how explosive he can be in the short formats
Bakkies
Roar Guru
Pretty sure Australia already has a bowling coach.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Have already registered langerout,com.au btw
JayG
Guest
Article after article has been written about why the Australian public would rather lose than see the team behave so aggressively - is it any wonder that a "give-up attitude" has pervaded the dressing room? If they believe it is more important to be "nice guys" rather than win games, why would they try?
ozinsa
Guest
Your stat on Morgan’s runs is accurate but fails to note that his landmark in this match was to go past Bell as England’s all time leading run scorer in ODIs. He scored a lot of runs for Ireland before he became English
Eddie Otto
Roar Guru
I don't quite understand how Finch, probably Aus most experienced player is suddenly a number 5? He has opened nearly his whole career and done pretty well in ODI cricket. Baffling move for mine.