It doesn’t make up for a lost World Cup, but Australia have exacted some revenge after holding off a fast-finishing England by 19 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-match ODI series.
Not even a maiden international century from Sam Billings could stop Australia from winning the first 50-over meeting between the rivals since England’s thumping semi-final victory at last year’s World Cup.
England found fast bowler Josh Hazlewood (3-26) near unplayable under lights in Manchester – and their slow start proved costly chasing Australia’s 9-294.
Eoin Morgan’s world number one ranked team has built a fearsome reputation of piling on ODI runs in recent years, but they crawled to 2-22 after ten overs as Hazlewood tied down his end with three maidens.
When leg spinner Adam Zampa (4-55) dismissed captain Eoin Morgan and dangerman Jos Buttler in quick succession, England’s bid to pull off the highest run chase at Old Trafford was in tatters.
Opener Bairstow hung around amid the carnage, giving Australia some nervous moments as he lifted his flailing strike rate during a 113-run stand with Billings.
Bairstow (84) went for one big shot too many and was caught in the deep off Zampa’s bowling in the 34th over but Billings fought on for a tremendous 118.
Making the win even more impressive is Australia did it without star batsman Steve Smith, who was a late scratching after being hit in the head while batting in the nets on Thursday.
Australian skipper Aaron Finch says Smith was only left out as a precaution, but suffering another head knock is still concerning given his history with concussion.
Glenn Maxwell (77) and Mitch Marsh (73) stepped up in Smith’s absence by pulling Australia out of a hole with a gutsy 126-run sixth-wicket partnership.
Australia were on the ropes at 5-123, after Morgan won the toss and elected to bowl, when the oft-maligned all-rounders came together.
In his first ODI for more than a year, Maxwell made a cautious start before launching four sixes with some of his trademark explosive hitting.
The big-hitting Victorian was bowled by Jofra Archer (3-57) when trying to lift the run rate, but Marsh remained watchful in recording his best ODI score against England before being trapped LBW by paceman Mark Wood.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Now Steve Smith will replace whom in the 2nd. ODI, as all three Stoinis, Marsh and Maxwell played well, even better than Labuschagne? Probably warner will be rested considering his poor form, and Stoinis will open with Finch.
BarmyFarmer
Roar Rookie
Spot on Paul. The difference was undoubtedly Hazelwood. If England had got 20-30 more in the power play it would have been a different result. That first 10 overs created so much pressure on RR which resulted in Morgan, Buttler and Ali throwing away their wickets cheaply to try and counter attack. I still think England have missed a trick going very one dimensional with the seam attack in the absence of stokes. The only way to get wickets is either rapid pace or wrist spin, it did OK but Plunkett and Stokes used to take wickets in those middle overs with cross seam back of a length and that's where maxwell and mm clearly swung back the momentum yesterday.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Exactly, and that consistency comes from not playing stupid shots when you don’t have to. As you said batting’s hard enough, why help them out by getting yourself out when there’s no need? You can rattle off all the stats you want but at the end of the day there’s only one that counts, and if that means you have to check your ego and do whats needed to get the win then that’s what you do. It’s totally unrealistic to expect a player to win the game for their team every time however it’s pretty reasonable to expect that when the game is there to be won a player understands and attempts, to the best of their ability, to play whatever role is required, whether it’s knocking singles around, trying to smash sixes or a bit of both. We expect that of the blokes in my local park cricket side, what’s the difference with Maxwell?
matth
Roar Guru
If you look at the statistics of basically any player in history, they actually fail more often than succeed. It's the batsman's lot in life. So Maxwell or anyone else will not be able to take his team home every time they take the field. Just a little more ocnsistency given his strike rate takes him into the unique area. Only Jos Buttler averages higher with a strike rate anywhere near Maxwell. Only Andre Russell has a higher strike rate in history for batsman who've faced at least 500 balls and his average is significantly lower. Highest strike rates Player Span Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s AD Russell (WI) 2011-2019 56 47 9 1034 92* 27.21 794 130.22 0 4 6 94 57 GJ Maxwell (AUS) 2012-2020 111 101 11 2954 102 32.82 2391 123.54 1 20 9 293 98 JC Buttler (ENG) 2012-2020 143 118 23 3844 150 40.46 3211 119.71 9 20 12 321 125 LOB Cann (BMUDA) 2006-2009 26 25 3 590 52 26.81 504 117.06 0 1 3 46 29 Shahid Afridi (Asia/ICC/PAK) 1996-2015 398 369 27 8064 124 23.57 6892 117.00 6 39 30 730 351 HH Pandya (INDIA) 2016-2019 54 38 6 957 83 29.90 828 115.57 0 4 3 69 40 L Ronchi (AUS/NZ) 2008-2017 85 68 9 1397 170* 23.67 1220 114.50 1 4 7 149 43 YK Pathan (INDIA) 2008-2012 57 41 11 810 123* 27.00 713 113.60 2 3 7 62 43 Sharjeel Khan (PAK) 2013-2017 25 25 0 812 152 32.48 716 113.40 1 6 2 104 28 NLTC Perera (SL) 2009-2020 164 131 16 2316 140 20.13 2057 112.59 1 10 11 174 84 Rizwan Cheema (CAN) 2008-2013 33 32 1 764 94 24.64 685 111.53 0 6 3 92 35 C de Grandhomme (NZ) 2012-2020 42 33 7 722 74* 27.76 654 110.39 0 4 2 57 29 Imad Wasim (PAK) 2015-2019 53 39 16 952 63* 41.39 868 109.67 0 5 1 90 17 CJ Anderson (NZ) 2013-2017 49 45 5 1109 131* 27.72 1020 108.72 1 4 4 86 55 SO Hetmyer (WI) 2017-2020 45 42 3 1430 139 36.66 1338 106.87 5 4 2 108 52 JJ Roy (ENG) 2015-2020 91 87 2 3462 180 40.72 3242 106.78 9 18 8 397 71
Paul
Roar Guru
Hussein made the comment more than once in Warner's short innings,that he didn't have his head in the game and that was my impression as well. He got a fair old delivery from Archer to get out but he'd looked very scratchy in the previous 13 deliveries before getting out. The other noticeable thing for me was the outfield catching which I thought was outstanding. I don't think there's anything harder in the outfield than trying to run in and take a catch low to the ground, yet different guys did that at least 3 or 4 times. Throw in that great c & b from Hazlewood and it was a pretty useful fielding effort all round
Paul
Roar Guru
I agree with your thoughts Ryan but would also have Smith at 5, leaving Stoinis at 3 and Labuschagne at 4. With MM at 6 and Maxwell at 7, that's starting to look like a pretty useful side
Brian
Guest
great stuff from hazlewood. If only he was around when the world cup was on last year
AREH
Roar Guru
Stoinis in the top order, M.Marsh in the ODI side and Maxwell at no. 7 in a slot he is the most damaging at. (Admittedly, had to be more of the cake than the icing in this match) Three guys who instantly look more comfortable in suitable positions.
Magic
Guest
Nah! Not Wade it should be Josh Phillipe to take down the keeper position at no 7 because he can play like Gilchrist and can keep wicket like Carey so, there should be him in front of Carey and wade because wade can't bat down the order AUS need some quick run at no 7 and if Josh make quick 40 and 30 it should be it and at no 3 Smith will come back definitely then AUS would be strong enough to win
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
It appeals to my warped world view that our backsides were saved by Maxwell and Marsh. The two criticism magnets align their poles and repel the poms. That's great that is.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
It might also throw off Wades batting if he keeps. I’ve been quietly impressed with how he’s gone since coming back as a pure batsman and it worries me that giving him the gloves might upset things.
Marty
Roar Rookie
It’s 100% up to Maxwell, and the decisions he makes while he’s batting, as to what he’s good for. Last night was a perfect example of that. Instead of throwing his wicket with a ridiculous shot early on he comes in, asses the situation, takes a bit of time to settle in and then cashes in later on. And, surprise surprise, he’s a key contributor to his team winning the game. If he does the same thing in the first T20 we win the game. It’s not rocket science, just basic cricket fundamentals, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask that an international player be able to do that every time they take the field.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Don’t mind Wade keeping in T20 but ODI is a stretch.
matth
Roar Guru
But, but, isn't Maxwell only good for 14 off 6 balls? I'm confused.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Nice win. Marsh did a great rescue job and Stoinis got on with it at three so which of Langer's love children will go for Smith? Smith is in doubt for the next one so he can probably put off his Sophie's Choice for another game :)
Nudge
Roar Rookie
Don’t think they’d go that way yet, but Carey hasn’t been great in the one day stuff since the World Cup. And could you trust Wade with the gloves? I know the keeper isn’t as critical in short form cricket than test cricket, but he’s still important. Wade was an ordinary keeper when he was doing it full time. How’s he going to be when he’s hardly done any keeping in last 2 years?
congo
Roar Rookie
When Smith comes back, Stoinis leaves? M.Marsh would need to bowl more overs. Wade in for Carey? If so, he should bat at 3 and everyone else moves down one. Hence prefer Carey over Wade as he can bat in the middle order. 4 bowlers are set. 4 top order batsman are set. After this game, March & Maxwell are set as the middle order. Stoinis and Wade would be backup. What about the new players Josh Philippe and Daniel Sams? When do we give them a go?
Marty
Roar Rookie
Really well payed by Maxwell and Marsh to stiffen up the middle order and post a competitive total, just goes to show we are capable of when we apply ourselves. Bowlers got the job done as is the norm these days, Hazlewood was unplayable at times by the sound of it. Sensational effort away from home against quality opposition after a 6 month layoff, kudos once again to Langer and co.
Bazza200
Guest
Go aussies good job