Australia have thrashed a listless England side for the second straight match as the reigning one-day champions again played like they were still hungover from Sunday night’s T20 World Cup final win.
Steve Smith has sounded another ominous warning ahead of the Test summer, continuing his scintillating form in Australia’s 8-280 against an embarrassing England outfit to win the second ODI at the SCG by 72 runs.
After declaring he felt the best he had in six years in the series opener on Thursday night in Adelaide, Smith hit 94 from 114 balls before perishing in the deep on Saturday in Sydney.
The tourists got off to a terrible start in their run-chase with opener Jason Roy and first drop Dawid Malan ripped out by Mitchell Starc for a duck within the first over.
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They put 34 on the board before the third wicket fell, Phil Salt for 23, before James Vince and Sam Billings gave them a sniff of a hope with a 122-run partnership.
(Photo by Matt King – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Vince was trapped in front for 60 by Josh Hazlewood, who had become Australia’s second new skipper in as many games, taking over from fellow paceman Pat Cummins as he was rested ahead of the Test summer after his ODI captaincy debut in game one at Adelaide.
Billings (71), Moeen Ali (10) and Sam Curran (duck) departed in quick succession at the hands of Adam Zampa and the tail put up little resistance as England finished nowhere near their victory target. Starc returned to clean up the tail to finish with 4-47. Zampa picked up the last wicket to fall to also claim four.
Smith was measured and controlled throughout his innings but was furious with himself when he tried to take on Adil Rashid in the 44th over and found Phil Salt at long off.
Regardless, his innings showed the kind of touch he is in after adjusting his batting grip while also making less movement at the crease.
The 33-year-old hit just two boundaries in his first 50 runs, bringing up his half-century off 70 balls, before accelerating against the spinners.
He worked the ball nicely through the legside and one occasion swept for four, before playing his best shot when he cover-drove Rashid to the boundary.
His knock also came as part of a 101-run stand with Marnus Labuschagne, whose 58 marked his first score above 15 in his past seven innings at state or international level.
Mitch Marsh also hit 50 off 58, after Australia’s momentum threatened to stall when Rashid (3-57) dismissed Labuschagne and Alex Carey (0) in consecutive balls.
Chris Woakes also bowled neatly for England, claiming 2-42 off his 10 overs as he removed both Travis Head (19) and Marcus Stoinis (13).
But still, the positive for Australia was Smith on a day when Hazlewood won the toss and batted while deputising as captain for Cummins for the first time.
Smith now has scores of 61, 105, 80no and 94 in his past four ODIs, barely offering a chance in those last two knocks before his dismissal on Saturday.
The right-hander will have one more hit against England in Melbourne on Tuesday, before Australia enter camp for the first Test against West Indies starting November 30.
In a worrying sign for the West Indies, Smith’s SCG knock came on the same day their Test attack conceded 4-426 against a combined ACT/NSW top order that had just one first-class game between them.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Why does it matter what people think of JL, Cummins and the Australian Cricket team? There is a real divide in supporters and critics of Australian Cricket that will be to its detriment. The crux of the problem is I believe, the average, hard working fan is concerned at the elitism, wokeism, whatever you want to call it pervading Australian Cricket. We now have the players trying too hard to be liked and connect with the fans and the captain easing tension between JL supporters and players. How did it come to that? If you are a PC fan are you not a little concerned at what may happen to this great game? Time for a serious review I suggest.
Shire
Roar Rookie
I'm still not sure why they didn't just pivot to Smith, considering he's the VC of the Test side and has captained 52 ODIs in the past. People can recommend Head and Marsh all they like, but neither are surefire selections in this format. Then again, our ODI captain is currently someone who only intends to play about 60-70% of games, so I guess it doesn't matter.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
DTM, I did reply to you, pointing out that I was replying to Nudge, but for unfathomable reasons it got modded.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Nothing wrong with Hazlewood being the captain. I would of thought that having zero experience, fielding 60m from the bat and having better alternatives would have been key factors.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Boland will be playing in the Boxing Day Test l wonder who will be rested :stoked:
DTM
Roar Rookie
Yes "rest" him from a meaningless one day international series. Whether he plays in Shield match is up to the Australian selectors - they want him to prepare for the test matches. In my view the best preparation for that is playing SS.
HR
Guest
Nothing wrong with Hazlewood being the captain. As pointed out, he's been a VC of the ODI team in the past. He is also - quite clearly - the senior of the three in the CA pecking order, and I'll bet good money he is also has the fattest contract of the three. I like bowlers now getting the nod for these roles.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Starc is a luxury in the ODI side. I can't even think of another Australian Test Spearhead that has left me so underwhelmed as Starc. Yes, l know his record and such. Could be the whole team malaise that some have referred to. I hope that doesn't sound too subjective but l admit there is an element. But l do feel that cricket is valve-bouncing. We've got it revving but the power curve is dropping.
The Bush
Roar Guru
He's not the coach of the ODI or T20 Team.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I don't think Stoinis is best 11 either.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
This. They need to be playing a couple of prospects - e.g. Phillipe, Inglis, J Richardson, Ellis, or McDermott. It was good to see Agar finally get some game time - hopefully he isnt treated as a "prospect". England are using this as a chance to try out some different players but obviously care less... they did just win the T20I world cup and hold the ODI WC, being the only things that really matter for those forms of the game
bowledover
Roar Rookie
I agree with Don here, even though I dont think Stoinis is in our best t20I 11 he can accelerate and Marsh did it in the last world cup and in the ODI (shame he holed out)....
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
There should be more of it.
Bojangles
Guest
Nope. Smith is a proven failure in T20 cricket. Has never produced like Williamson. Long experience and results bear this out.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Your non answer is still intriguing. No acknowledgement that you actually said (rest Green). If you knew he was only playing 2, then being sent for Test prep, he isn’t being rested! You want young guys in, then contradict yourself by admitting your replacements aren’t young. You seem to be fixated on needing different personnel as representative of reinvention, but trying players who fit the mix and give multiple options, whether batting up the order or being needed for 3-4 overs is providing more adaptability in the team, Head to open, try Carey, Green, Marsh at 5,6,7, depending on opponent or conditions. The next ODI World Cup is only 12 months away, so the Marsh Cup gives other players a chance to impress, but wholesale changes are unnecessary, tweaking bowling plans and field settings will reinvent an approach simply because bowlers are Captaining and their input will be accepted more than just formulaic over/restriction based settings.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
We shouldn’t play in Melbourne at the moment the weather is crap.
Nudge
Roar Rookie
Hey Jeff, i did know his stats had not been good in this format for a long time. I just think his best position is opening in this format with the field up, so when he plays ‘good cricket shots’ he gets value for them with boundaries. Batting after the power play his good cricket shots are singles which brings pressure if he’s also had a few dot balls. I’m sure batting at 3 and 4 he would have had times where he did bat in the power play but if he was in at 1 or 2 for 20 in the third or fourth over he’s probably looking to consolidate more than hit boundaries. He’s been very successful in 20/20 cricket before, I just would have loved to have seen Finch out and Smith opening, not just for the World Cup but for a few of the lead in games, to get some form and confidence, once it was obvious Finch was shot
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Brett Allen: So this gives him precedence over the actual fc *and* Test leadership experience of Head & Marsh? Novel.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
@ Nudge. Smith's iT20 batting performances over the last 13 months (so including the UAE WC). 35 (34) 28* (26) 1 (5) 5 (6) 9 (8) 14 (15) 5 (4) 37* (27) 35 (24) 8 (5) 9 (10) 17 (16) 7* (8) 4 (4) Batting mostly 3 or 4. Not only have his runs contributions been poor, his SR has also also poor (2 innings from 14 where he materially went beyond a run-a-ball?) This idea that somehow Smith would build big scores and be the saviour of innings by consolidating, if only given the time to do so, is a furphy. At best, all Smith does is chew up balls faced. Planning your team around a *maybe contribution* on the basis you may be facing defeat, is a sure way to establishing oneself as a mediocre team. He's not up to it being a first pick in our T20 team.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Marsh and Stoinis can. They do. We never expect Maxwell to. He sacrifices for the team. David just doesn't have the skills or ability at this level. Should not be there, hasn't earned his spot.