It’s not a huge surprise that England were a little off key today –Sunday’s champagne still bubbling round their nostrils. A near second-team attack couldn’t restrict Australia to a slightly below par 287 – though they did drag it into the final four overs. A fantastic innings by Malan kept England in the match, and Olly Stone bowled nicely and with speed.
Australia were awesome with the bat – fifties from Warner, Head and Smith ticked things along very nicely. Cummins celebrated his first ODI as captain with three wickets before chilling in the dug out as his top three knocked off an easy win. Join us for the next ODI on Friday/Saturday, thanks for all the messages, goodbye!.
Australia win by six wickets!
46.5 overs Australia 291-4 ( Smith 80, Green 20) Smith finishes things off with a shovel for four and a big fat six over long-on! England lose their very first game after being crowned T20 champions and Australia go 1-0 up in a three-match series.
46th over: Australia 281-4 ( Smith 70, Green 20) That’s more like it! Green finishes Wood’s over with a dirty pull for four through midwicket. Pure power. Seven needed.
Hello Tanya, from a cloudy Bahia morning.” Lovely to hear from you Cressida Evans. “Just checking in to say folks are following but it is all a bit underwhelming isn’t it? Glad to see Willey in the wickets, as Mrs T said, everyone needs one! “
14 needed
45th over: Australia 274-4 ( Smith 68, Green 15) Time for some Dawid Malan filler.
44th over: Australia 272-4 ( Smith 67, Green 14) Two bored looking kids stare down the camera. Tenacity at the close from Luke Wood.
“Hi Tanya,” Lovely to hear from you Kerrith Britland!
“Hope all is well. After the fireworks of the WC, I’m all cricketed out; I’m sure some of this England team feel the same way. Are those in charge of scheduling sadistic or what?”
They’re greedy, I’m afraid.
43rd over: Australia 269-4 ( Smith 66, Green 12) Green two (giant)-steps and pans Dawson over extra-cover for four. Jason Roy clutches his wrist after diving to stop another flying ball from Green at cover. Looks nasty but he stays on the pitch.
Thank you for responding to my plea for emails, Ben Bernards:
“You’ve probably seen it, but it recently had a bit of a second wind online and is the peak of 1980s Aus-England ODI cricket.” Perfection.
31 needed from 48 balls
42nd over: Australia 257-4 ( Smith 60, Green 7) A Phil Salt dive and tumble on the rope provides the over’s highlight. Smith nurdles on, Green has itchy feet.
41st over: Australia 251-4 ( Smith 57, Green 5) This game dribbling to an end. Send me emails, tell me stuff.
40th over: Australia 249-4 ( Smith 56, Green 4) Stone throws in a slower ball: an excellent tight over spoilt only when the mighty oak Green on-drives effortlessly straight down the ground. Stone finishes his day’s work with 10-1-50-0.
39th over: Australia 244-4 ( Smith 55, Green 0) Liam Dawson, looking confusingly like Paul Collingwood, sends his first ball into the rough where it pitches and whips sideways. Dawson and Buttler like the look of it and, with a good belly laugh, send the not out upstairs. Reviews show that it spins a long way, but it is umpire’s call nudging leg stump. A wicket with his last though, to get rid of Carey.
WICKET! Carey c Salt b Dawson 21 (Australia 244-4)
A lumpen reverse-sweep marks Carey’s demise.
38th over: Australia 242-3 ( Smith 54, Carey 20) I was briefly distracted after a commotion outside the front door, but it seems Stone has bowled an excellent over with just two from it. Australia press on. England go through the motions.
Fifty for Steve Smith!
37th over: Australia 240-3 ( Smith 52, Carey 20) Smith celebrates his 47-ball fifty, complete in characteristically baggy jumper that hangs low over his backside, with a bat raise, a twitch and a readjustment of the box . A super innings, and a up-yours return, after he missed the baggy green T20 World Cup squad.
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36th over: Australia 235-3 ( Smith 48, Carey 19) Time for Stone to run in again, with misery intent. A good over, fast over.
35th over: Australia 232-3 ( Smith 46, Carey 18) Carey throws the bat recklessly at Willey, and the edge flies wide of Buttler (and into the hands of one of Gary Naylor’s slip fielders). Another four, another ugly mis-drive, the edge flying behind point for four more.
34th over: Australia 222-3 ( Smith 46, Carey 7) Carey crunches Jordan through the covers for four; Smith finishes the over with a dot and a flourish. The cameras give a side-on view of just how late – and how effortlessly – Smith is playing the ball.
What's the field @tjaldred?
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) November 17, 2022
It's usually a modified white set up, but we have a Test match equation here - England need to bowl Australia out to win.
With red ball in hand, England would have three slips and a gully and bowl at the top of off stump. I suspect that they don't.
Nary a slip to be seen.
33rd over: Australia 216-3 ( Smith 45, Carey 3) Willey keeps it full and Australia are content to pick up a couple of singles. England tighten the screw but you get the impression the Aussies are just toying with them.
This might tickle your fancy, incredible athleticism.
Just extraordinary.... https://t.co/b0Vvi7PLQi
— Jamie Bowman (@JamieBowman77) November 17, 2022
32nd over: Australia 214-3 ( Smith 44, Carey 2) A full ripe plum from Wood is dispatched straight down the ground by Smith. Gorgeous. The Barmy Army trumpeter toottles out a tune as Wood, parting as sharp as Denis Compton’s, continues to skittle in. Six from the over, 78 needed.
31st over: Australia 208-3 ( Smith 39, Carey 0) They pause for drinks after Labuschagne’s wicket, a wobble of sorts, losing two for six, and Willey finishes off a miserly over. England suddenly a little more energised.
WICKET! Labushchagne c Buttler b Willey 4 (Australia 206-3)
Labuschange goes to drive a ball with a wobble but it moves away from him and he stretches awkwardly and edges behind, snaffled by a diving Buttler at full stretch.
30th over: Australia 205-2 ( Smith 37, Labuschagne 4) Four from Wood’s sixth over, as Australia are content to tick over.
29th over: Australia 201-2 ( Smith 36, Labuschagne 1) Warner falls just short of what would have been a super hundred, and his first since before the pandemic. Labuschagne is off the mark with a single and Willey pulls his big floppy hat back on his head at the end of the over without a smile.
WICKET! Warner c Billings b Willey 86 (Australia 200-2)
A super catch by Sam Billings on the rope as Warner misjudges a bouncer.
28th over: Australia 198-1 (Warner 85, Smith 35) Luke Wood’s skin glistens with sweat under the lights – and that’s a rightly miserly over, just the two from it. Round the canopy stands of the Adelaide Oval, the last dregs of sun flame goodnight.
27th over: Australia 196-1 (Warner 84, Smith 34) The target drops below three figures, and quickly, as Warner starts Dawson’s over by slapping him behind square. Nowhere left to run for England.
Talk everywhere of 50 over cricket’s demise – it’s only three and a bit years since the greatest 50-over match in history. I’d argue that it is too much cricket that is more of an issue. People only have so much time and money and attention to spend on following cricket.
26th over: Australia 188-1 (Warner 77, Smith 21) A tough, tough gig for Luke Wood to bowl in his first ODI to an on-song Smith and Warner. Smith takes him to the cleaners here – a smooth, delicious, cover drive, another four off his pads and an angled nudge past the despairing fielder for four more.
25th over: Australia 176-1 (Warner 77, Smith 21) A little light relief from Dawson, who restricts these two old timers to four singles. A final crowd figure of just over 15,000 – an interesting aside on the radio that these ODIs are not being played during the school holidays like they used to be – that has been replaced by the Big Bash.
24th over: Australia 172-1 (Warner 75, Smith 19) We get a close up of Smith’s icy white boots as he touch-perfectly swivel-pulls Stone for four, then drives a half volley immaculately towards the bonny Adelaide scoreboard. Runs and more runs. At the same stage, England were 120-5.
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23rd over: Australia 162-1 (Warner 74, Smith 10) Turns out Smith has got his eye in, he dances out and cracks Dawson over the rope at long-on. Warner carefully defends the last three balls as the fat Adelaide sun hovers just over the horizon.
22nd over: Australia 152-1 (Warner 72, Smith 5) Stone comes back, he’s a slightly stockier figure than the pencil thin young thing I remember. He slams down a bouncer which Smith ducks, and he can only milk three from the over. There’s no scoreboard pressure on Australia at all here though, Smith has time to start softly in pigskin slippers.
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21st over: Australia 152-1 (Warner 72, Smith 2) With Head’s disappearance, some breathing space for Dawson - whose over goes for just the four singles
And an email wings in from Lawrie: “Whilst the Australian ODI side appears to be much more balanced than the recent T20 side, I still think that Adam Zampa and Josh Hazelwood in particular, and the Australian bowling cartel in general need to be given extra batting tuition and coaching. Many of the sub continent teams can bat well into the lower order team members as can the West Indies when they are ‘on song’. So come on CA time to get rid of this Achilles heel!”
I’m not sure that tail is going to get to wag (or not) today.
20th over: Australia 148-1 (Warner 70, Smith 0) CRACK! Jordan’s slower ball disappears down the ground. A wide flies into Buttler’s gloves who dispatches it with some disgust. A surprise wicket suddenly changes the complexion, as Smith is beaten first ball. A second Jordan wide follows.
WICKET! Head c Salt b Jordan 69 Australia 147-1
With a rueful grin, Salt takes the catch which arrives with pinpoint accuracy into his hands at midwicket. The end of a smashing innings, 59 off just 67 balls, trudging off with Australia – surely – unbeatable.
19th over: Australia 140-0 (Warner 69, Head 64) Just one boundary! A slog-sweep from Travis Head as Liam Dawson rolls his arm over.
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18th over: Australia 133-0 (Warner 69, Head 57) Jordan restarts with three dots, before Warner, bristling at the crease just as much as he did as a young pup, takes a couple through the covers. The cameras refuse to give a close-up of Buttler’s expression.
@tjaldred Question. Australia playing something close to best available team. Are England? @GeoffLemonSport's preview suggested ODI series is to keep Aussie broadcasters happy & several key T20 World Cup winners in 🇵🇰. Buttler/Jordon/Malan/Willey are veterans but no Mo/Hales etc?
— Paul Gilham 💙 (@Paul_Gilham) November 17, 2022
I imagine England just wanted to give the World Cup reserves a reward for all their service . And, whisper it, they might not be that up for it.
17th over: Australia 129-0 (Warner 66, Head 56) A perplexed looking Liam Dawson is milked for 11 off his over as Warner starts with a happy-go-lucky slog for four and Head sends the last ball over mid-off for four more. DRINKS with Australia needing only another 159 with almost a whole evening ahead of them.
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Fifty for Travis Head!
16th over: Australia 118-0 (Warner 59, Head 52) It’s never a good sign to see Olly Stone limping, but in this case it’s because he’s fluffed his lines on the boundary. He seems to have survived but Chris Jordan’s figures take a pounding as both Warner and Head tuck in, the over finishing as Head picks up and whips square to bring up his fifty.
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15th over: Australia 103-0 (Warner 52, Head 44) Time for another of England’s under-studies: Liam Dawson. Travis Head celebrates by bringing up the hundred with a drive over mid-off. And the scoreboard continues to rattle.
Fifty for David Warner!
14th over: Australia 95-0 (Warner 50, Head 38) Warner reaches his fifty with an uncharacteristically scrambled single – off 44 balls, his fastest in an ODI v England. They take drinks, and Warner slurps on Taste of Victory.
Patrick O’Brien plucks at his blanket and day-dreams.
”I like the image of ol’ attack dawg Davey, resting in front of a roaring fire in a stately home, nibbling dreamingly at the rough edges of the tartan rug covering Master Smith’s arthritic legs.
Or maybe that’s just me…”
13th over: Australia 92-0 (Warner 49, Head 36) Wood is on the receiving end of a beauty of a shot from Warner whose seventh four slams very straight and like a firework. He then pulls just a sneeze away from the body of the square leg umpire. Wood beats Warner with his penultimate ball but Australia are sitting fully and comfortably in the driving seat.
12th over: Australia 86-0 (Warner 44, Head 35) Jos Buttler turns to Chris Jordan to regain some control. But Warner tucks into his second ball, a short sit up and beg and cuts regally for four. The camera rises pans around Adelaide which is looking absolutely gorgeous.
11th over: Australia 78-0 (Warner 38, Head 33) David Warner gives Luke Wood a debutant’s licking, with three successive fours: a top edge, a pull and leg bye. England need a wicket rapidly here.
10th over: Australia 66-0 (Warner 30, Head 32) Local boy Head gives Stone the heave-ho – one screams past square leg for four, the other over cover.
9th over: Australia 55-0 (Warner 29, Head 23) Luke Wood takes the ball for the first time in an ODI. A neat moustache rests above his lips, and his over is neat too: just four from it. England fielding a light-touch team today with the ticket-tape still in their kit bag – resting a number of World Cup winners, while Stokes, Brook and Livingstone are joining the Test team in Pakistan.
”I always feel that Malan has been mistreated by the England Hierarchy: discarded by the test team twice after tough Ashes when he’d stood up and shown ten-times more ruddy gumption than Crawley and a raft of others who the ECB consider more attractive, or younger.,” taps Tom vd Gucht. “He spent his 12 months whilst rated as world top T20 batsmen on the verge of being dropped because he took too long to settle in. Never really given a chance in ODI’s despite an impressive average. What’s going on? Is he a really prickly and divisive figure in the dressing room? Or do England just over-think things, like pigeon-holing him as an overseas specialist during the Smith selection era and chase after the future rather than appreciate the now?”
I agree, he’s achieved a lot while never having the air of a favoured son. He speaks his mind with a prickly air (see Ed Smith) which doesn’t please everyone.
8th over: Australia 51-0 (Warner 28, Head 20) Olly Stone nearly gets a deserved wicket, squeezes Warner, who gets a leading edge high on the bat but it loops just beyond the fielder. Seven from the over and Australia rattling along here without too much effort.
7th over: Australia 44-0 (Warner 23, Head 18) A Warner special to start the over. He drops to his knee and scoops Willey up and away and across the rope for six. Willey drags it back after that, largely on the money.
6th over: Australia 35-0 (Warner 15, Head 18) Stone again. Head winces in pain after edging one of his bullets onto his own leg. There’s also a back-foot four, but Stone has been very impressive here: three overs for ten.
“Good morning!” Hello John Starbuck. “I reckon Dawid Malan has found his form in his best version of the game. Without the need for constant biffing he was able to be measured and thorough, which ought to fit him for Tests too, but these days very few can play all formats. We should just accept him as a specialist in ODI.
PS. It’s not raining in this bit of Yorkshire yet, despite the Guardian’s weather forecast listing the chance of rain as 95% in Leeds. I expect we’ll have to wait for Manchester’s weather to arrive, as it so often does, when you’ve finished with it.”
Please, help yourself.
5th over: Australia 31-0 (Warner 15, Head 14) Warner griddles a half volley over cover for four, before being beaten next ball by Willey. A single or two, before Warner smashes Willey straight back over his head for four. The commentators talking about Warner having a year or so left in him before retirement. Even attack dogs grow old.
4th over: Australia 21-0 (Warner 6, Head 13) Head finds room from Stone at last, swivel pulling him for six behind square. Other than that, five excellent dot balls at 90mph.
3rd over: Australia 15-0 (Warner 6, Head 7) Warner survives a run-out and then whips Willey through the covers for four. The evening shadows are starting to stretch across the pitch, the batters will have warm arms but cooler toes.
2nd over: Australia 8-0 (Warner 1, Head 5) A super start from Olly Stone, who looks reassuringly sprightly and fit. A maiden. And the dog relinquishes her corner spot on the sofa as she hears the rattle of the food bowl.
Australia need 288 to win
1st over: Australia 8-0 (Warner 1, Head 5) David Willey opens proceedings, bearded of face, white ball in hand, and immediately finds swing. It’s a mixed bag, full and direct, a wide, an edge flying past the slips for four.
Good morning, Andy!
@tjaldred morning Tanya, what a knock by Malan, and a very “this usually happens to England, not England doing it to the opposition” knock by him.
— AndyinBrum 🌻Has 100 Names (@AndyinBrum) November 17, 2022
At least it means Aus are going to have to bat for a couple of hours so we get to watch nice warm Australia instead of grim wet UK
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The players are out, the sun providing added sparkle to Travis Head’s banana yellow pjs.
The crowd is a bit blurgh – I think Mel Farrell just said 8,000. A bit more crowded in the shade, a bit altogether empty in the sun.
Do send me an email with your cornflakes, or with your balmy evening sundowner,
Matt Prior and Steve Harmison are in the BT studio singing the praises of Malan – whose perfectly-paced 134 is the fourth highest ODI score at Adelaide. It was also by far the largest total of England’s innings, which squidged like a wet flannel at the other end. Contributions from Jos Buttler (29) and David Willey (34) – with no-one else passing 2o.
Thanks Geoff! And good morning from a dark, damp Manchester, where the tree silhouettes keep off the dawn. A Dawid Malan century to cheer up the morning, though it is probably small consolation for missing the World Cup final with injury. Thanks to him, England have pulled a decent total out of the bag.
Australia need 288 to win
They would fancy chasing that, but they would also be very annoyed that they let England off the hook. From 31 for 3, or 66 for 4, or 158 for 6, they should have bowled out England. Instead Malan batted through most of the innings, while Dawson, Jordan, Willey and Wood all made contributions. It is at least a total that provides a chance.
Adelaide is a high-scoring ground for one-day matches though, and Travis Head is a ravenous scorer in this format, so bear that in mind.
Whatever happens next though, what a performance from Dawid Malan, who greeted adversity with the calm and cool of an old friend. Then turned England’s day around. Three wickets for Cummins, three for Zampa, though both on the expensive side.
That’s it for me – for the chase you’ll be with Tanya Aldred.
50th over: England 287-9 (Willey 34, Stone 0) It will be Agar to bowl the 50th! I don’t think he’s ever done this for Australia before. And it largely works. Willey can’t do a thing with the first three balls, even having to defend a couple of them as they zero in at the base of middle stump. Finally he walks around the crease a bit and slams a shot straight, four runs. Misses the fifth, adds two more through square leg from the sixth, and that’s that. Tidy for Agar, but Willey has helped England enormously.
49th over: England 281-9 (Willey 28, Stone 0) Wood is replaced by Stone. Misses his only ball from Cummins and wears it on the pad. One over to go.
WICKET! Wood c Carey b Cummins 10, England 281-9
It is Cummins to bowl the 49th, pulled by Wood but only for a single to the deep. Willey plays the same shot and sends it to mid off via the toe. Cummins gets wided for trying to hit the tram tracks. Then goes short, and Willey is dropped by Head at deep fine leg. The ball goes very high, and the sun is lower than the ball would have been, but Head loses it in the sky and it slips through his fingers. So Cummins follows up with a short ball to Wood, gloved through to the keeper trying to pull.
48th over: England 276-8 (Willey 26, Wood 8) Cummins keeping spin going until late in the day, with Agar bowling his ninth. Will he also bowl the 50th? Cummins has one left so will presumably take the 49th. Otherwise it’s Stoinis or Green. Agar does his job too, singles and twos only, eight from the over.
47th over: England 268-8 (Willey 20, Wood 6) Still some swing for Starc! Is that reverse? The ball tails into the left-handed Willey, who gets an edge behind square leg. Wood is also a lefty, striding into a drive through the covers and beating two attempted stops for four. 10 overs, 1 for 45 for Starc as he finishes up. Bowled well today, especially early.
46th over: England 261-8 (Willey 18, Wood 1) Four overs to go. Luke Wood in the middle, on ODI debut. David Willey in charge.
WICKET! Malan c Agar b Zampa 134, Engand 259-8
At least this fine performance ends. And Agar is there. At the change of overs, he gets a huge cheer from the crowd as he comes down to field in front of them at long on. Two balls later, Malan hits a lofted shot his way. Straightforward. But this innings has been special in the circumstances. Took his team from nothing to something of substance.
45th over: England 257-7 (Malan 132, Willey 17) Smash! Willey’s turn this time, sizing up the length ball from Cummins and rasping it through cover. Airborne for a time, but safe in the end. Then from the last ball of the over, it’s Agar again! Five runs saved. Malan launches into a pull shot, flat over deep mid. Looks for a minute like Agar is in the frame for a catch, then like it’s going over him for six. In the end he climbs the mime stepladder, gets one hand to the ball, and flicks it back into the field of play, to a teammate, to keep the scoring to a single.
44th over: England 247-7 (Malan 130, Willey 11) Zampa into his ninth over, still twirling them down, giving some flight. Goes well for four balls. Then he drops short, cut away by Malan for four. And overcorrects next ball, launched away for six! Deep into the Donald Bradman Pavilion, over midwicket, Malan’s biggest hit of the day.
43rd over: England 235-7 (Malan 119, Willey 10) Starc to Malan, and he’s dropped! A return chance, hit back at him but not smashed. Starc has kept the over tight, given little away, then draws the cross-bat hit from the sixth ball. Into his breadbasket, and out again.
42nd over: England 232-7 (Malan 117, Willey 9) Lays into Agar! Malan rocks back and pulls him over the leg side into the crowd. Good catch down there. This after sweeping the first ball of the over for four.
“Low-key hardly does justice to the build up to this game, and maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by the turn out at the ground. All we’re missing is some tumbleweed drifting across the outfield,” writes Brian Withington. The crowd isn’t actually too bad, looking down from the grandstand. There aren’t many in the sun on the eastern side of the ground, but the western side in the shade is pretty well filled out at ground level. Won’t set any records but it’s ok.
41st over: England 221-7 (Malan 106, Willey 9) Starc returns, slips down the leg side for a wide. Malan can’t score from a couple of balls, then goes up and over cover for two runs. Pulls a single. Willey jams out a good yorker, maybe some inside edge before it hit his boot, so they don’t review when the umpire says no. In fact it didn’t hit the boot at all, Willey just got his foot out of the way before the ball hit bat. Well played. The next one smashes into his ankles as well, but going down the leg side this time.
“No wonder cricket popularity is waning, no free to air is a huge misstep by CA. Thank goodness we at least have your coverage,” writes John Stadtmiller. Thanks John, doing our best.
40th over: England 215-7 (Malan 103, Willey 8) The century from Malan, who adds three runs off an inside edge to end the over. In between times, Willey drives Agar through cover for four. Not extinct yet, England. Ten overs to go.
Century! Dawid Malan 100 from 107 balls
It’s been quite the performance, resisting the Australian attack early while all of his top-order colleagues subsided. Missed the T20 World Cup final, but shows what he can do here. A simple run driven past the bowler to raise it. He had one England century in all three formats before this, but finally doubles up in one of them.
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39th over: England 206-7 (Malan 99, Willey 3) On they trickle, three more runs from Zampa’s over and Malan on to 99…
38th over: England 202-7 (Malan 97, Willey 2) Malan is strolling singles towards his century now. Not sure that I love the approach, though he’s probably earned the right. Giving his partner time to play himself in, you might argue. Not taking command of the innings, you might also counter. Willey gets two runs off an outside edge facing Agar, one ball after being beaten and nearly stumped overbalancing. Three from the over.
37th over: England 199-7 (Malan 96, Willey 0) David Willey can bat, another left-hander. Defends his first ball, and the last of Zampa’s over. England have at least set Australia 200, which was no sure thing 20 overs ago.
WICKET! Jordan lbw Zampa 14, England 199-7
We haven’t had many reviews today but suddenly it’s review central. The Australians take a shocker: Jordan has smashed it into his pad at right angles, and the third umpire literally sees one replay and throws out the appeal. Then Jordan tries to pull a ball that stays low, is hit in front and given out, and reviews it himself. The technology upholds the decision, hitting top of middle. A good partnership of 41 comes to an end.
36th over: England 197-6 (Malan 95, Jordan 13) Plenty of overs left. Malan drives a run, Jordan slices two to deep point, landing short of the approaching fielder. Malan dabs a couple more. Within one hit of a century.
35th over: England 193-6 (Malan 92, Jordan 12) Zampa replaces Green, double spin. Switches to the Cathedral End from the River End. Jordan sweeps a couple and nudges one, doing his part. Malan swings one down the leg side to deep backward for four, then goes in front of square for another! Goes to 91, takes a single to keep the strike.
34th over: England 181-6 (Malan 83, Jordan 9) Another three for Jordan. This is quite the feat in short-form cricket. Other direction this time, nicked fine to deep third. Agar goes over the wicket to the left-handed Malan, who doesn’t take him on.
33rd over: England 176-6 (Malan 82, Jordan 5) Green carries on, trying a side-of-the-hand slower ball that dips on Malan and draws a false shot, skewed through the covers for two. Tables turn with the last ball, shorter and Malan crunches the cut shot for four, so clean. Jordan started the over with three down the ground. Another good dozen for England.
32nd over: England 164-6 (Malan 75, Jordan 1) Agar with his third over, doing some repairs to his economy rate by getting through it for only two runs.
31st over: England 162-6 (Malan 74, Jordan 0) Malan manages to collect a couple of braces from Green’s over to follow the run out, but England have been well short of the mark today aside from Malan. Chris Jordan has most of a T20 innings to bat.
WICKET! Dawson run out (Agar) 11, England 158-6
Brilliant fielding! Direct hit. Terrible running though. Dawson punches the ball to point and just starts off. Malan, to his credit, responds immediately and so makes it safely to the striker’s end. But that ball was never likely to get past Agar, who stops it cleanly while on the move. Once the ball is in his hand, Dawson gives up, slowing to see whether the throw will hit or not. It does. There is nobody at the stumps, Green has followed through too far. But Agar is good enough.
30th over: England 157-5 (Malan 70, Dawson 11) Agar returns. Bowled one over earlier, got clobbered once, and disappeared. Malan tries to play the lap shot first ball, but gets the toe of the bat and stups the ball dead. So he backs away and cuts the next one… and beats the sweeper! That was so close to Stoinis, but hit too hard just backward of his square position. Malan premeditates a reverse sweep, but it’s the wrong ball: on the line of leg stump, so in the end he chops it off the bottom edge, past his off stump, for one.
29th over: England 151-5 (Malan 65, Dawson 10) Cameron Green bowled four overs earlier and now returns. He’s using the short ball a lot, using his height on the theory that it will make him difficult to hit. Mostly it’s working. Bowls full to Malan though, who usually plays short stuff well. Four from the over.
28th over: England 147-5 (Malan 63, Dawson 8) Back to circumspection for the Zampa over, three singles from it as the afternoon sun thickens in colour.
27th over: England 144-5 (Malan 62, Dawson 6) The follow-up from Malan, who has decided he can line up the Australian captain. Drives him through cover for four, then plays the pick-up over deep square leg for another six. Great shot. Backs it up with strike rotation this time, and a dozen from the over to make it England’s best in the innings.
Half century! Malan 50 from 64 balls
26th over: England 132-5 (Malan 51, Dawson 5) Underway for Dawson, sweeping Zampa very fine for three slightly fortunate runs. Could have let that through onto pads or stumps. Has to stick around for Malan here – who picks up a single and raises his fifty.
25th over: England 126-5 (Malan 49, Dawson 1) Pongo! One ball after beating the outside edge, Cummins pitches up a tad and Malan bangs him over long on for six. Hello. In typical Malan fashion though, it’s the only scoring shot from the over.
24th over: England 120-5 (Malan 43, Dawson 1) It’s all on Malan now. Not even at the halfway mark, and he’ll have to do his work with Liam Dawson, whose batting at this level you would describe as useful. And a chance of another wicket, as Malan punches at the ball and edges into Carey’s body. Too fast for the keeper to have any reaction time.
WICKET! Buttler c Agar b Zampa 29, England 118-5
That’s the one! If Agar were to take one catch today, he’d want it to be off Buttler. A bit of flight and loop from Zampa but still at decent pace. Buttler stays leg side of the ball, opens the face of his bat, and tries to loft to deep cover. He gets it too straight though, and long-on is able to get around to deep extra and take the catch. England in real strife now.
23rd over: England 118-4 (Malan 42, Buttler 29) Cummins returns and bowls an economical set. Still haven’t seen a properly big over. The biggest so far went for 11 runs, and that’s the one that Billings was dismissed during. Stoinis comes back onto the field after having his hand treated – he had a ball whacked back at him while bowling earlier and it did some damage to his fingers.
22nd over: England 111-4 (Malan 40, Buttler 25) Zampa continues, and Buttler wants to have a crack but can’t quite line him up. Drives hard down the ground but finds the boundary rider for one, goes through covers but Labuschagne saves two.
21st over: England 105-4 (Malan 38, Buttler 21) Starc is still doing it. Buttler is looking for full lengths and movement into him, Starc goes back of a length and seams the ball away. Misses the edge by a whisker. One wide down the leg side, three singles from the over.
20th over: England 101-4 (Malan 37, Buttler 19) Leg-spin at last, with Zampa on. Malan hits his first ball so hard, but straight to short cover again. Warner there is still wringing his hands a few balls later. Malan goes the other way next ball, over midwicket in the air for a risky couple. Two singles to follow, Zampa bowling a tight line straight at the stumps to make strokeplay difficult. Three figures up for England, lots of work left to do.
19th over: England 97-4 (Malan 34, Buttler 18) Agar in the air! Nearly pulls off a crazy catch from Malan, who smashes Starc on the cut shot. Agar gets fingertips to it but can’t hold on as he hits the ground. Malan gets off strike, Buttler glances a couple, only three from the over.
18th over: England 94-4 (Malan 33, Buttler 16) Another free hit for England, Stoinis overstepping the front line. Buttler smashes it, but along the ground to the sweeper at deep backward square. So rarely do you see the free hits go the distance. Only singles from the over.
17th over: England 88-4 (Malan 30, Buttler 14) Starc comes back for his fifth over, and immediately the runs dry up. Two singles and a wide as the batters watch carefully. It’s still so early in the innings to be four down.
16th over: England 85-4 (Malan 29, Buttler 13) Cruise control initiated from Buttler. Drives Stoinis through the covers to the fence, all along the tarmac. Labuschagne does some chasing and diving and sliding but can only knock it further along the boundary cushions.
15th over: England 79-4 (Malan 28, Buttler 8) Midway through the Green over, Malan gets onto a pull shot at last and hits the fence. Still there, building. He’s been a calming influence while the wickets have fallen.
“A shame Aussies cannot watch their national team play on home soil free to air,” writes in Maureen Becquet. “Shame on the TV chasing $$$$.”
Hard to argue. The main people to look at are the Cricket Australia people who negotiated the 2018 broadcast deal, which was full of flaws. Also paywalling these matches was contrary to anti-siphoning legislation, but the communications minister of the day wasn’t bothered about enforcing it.
14th over: England 73-4 (Malan 23, Buttler 7) They take drinks after the wicket, as Jos Buttler comes to the middle. The most important wicket in this English team, by far. Plenty of time for him to express himself today – perhaps too much time. But he has played well here before across formats: bashed India’s bowlers around in the T20 World Cup semi-final, and almost saved last season’s Ashes Test here by batting out most of day five.
Shows what he can do first up here, lifting Stoinis casually off a length over mid-on for four. Deep cover, deep third, deep backward, deep midwicket the four out for Buttler.
WICKET! Billings b Stoinis 17, England 66-4
Into the attack, into the game! Marcus Stoinis does get driven down the ground for four first ball, but follows up with a beauty. Off-cutter, driven into the pitch, seaming in at an angle, beating the inside edge and crashing into the stumps.
13th over: England 57-3 (Malan 23, Billings 13) A half-struck shot from Malan, pulling Green away for two runs through midwicket, then fiddles and misses outside his off stump as Green gets good bounce on that fourth-stump line. Billings, undeterred, tries a pull shot of his own and mis-hits that one, lobbing it up to short midwicket but safely onto the grass.
12th over: England 57-3 (Malan 20, Billings 11) Spin into the attack, Agar looking to spear it in, and Malan gets on the attack immediately. Steps outside off stump and slams a hard flat sweep through square leg for four.
11th over: England 49-3 (Malan 14, Billings 9) First ten overs gone, which means that four fielders can go outside the circle. Australia stick with three, keeping two slips in. Green does a decent job, Billings leaving him like it’s a Test match, only playing one scoring shot in the over.
10th over: England 47-3 (Malan 14, Billings 7) Great shot from Billings! Drives on the up, after Cummins hits a good length. Straight past the bowler for four. Cummins responds by going straight past the outside edge for the umpteenth time today. He looks so much more dangerous in the longer formats than the T20 stuff. To underline this, smashes Malan on the pads, appeal is turned down, and coming from over the wicket Cummins thinks it might be outside leg stump for the left-hander. He’s right, by a few millimetres. So is the umpire. Last ball of the over, Malan throws his bat at a fraction of width and slashes four through point.
9th over: England 38-3 (Malan 10, Billings 2) Green comes on to bowl first change, and there’s a release of pressure. Overpitched to Malan and he drives it wide of mid-off for four. Long chase out there fruitless. Green also gets pinged for a retrospective no-ball, but his free hit is a good bouncer that Malan can’t hit. The number three thinks that he has another boundary after cracking the ball square off his pads, but Agar dives and fields exceptionally, denies any run and almost runs out Malan who had taken a couple of steps down the track.
8th over: England 33-3 (Malan 6, Billings 2) Cummins is ripsnorting! Keeps bashing that good length and making things happen. Zooms one at the gloves of Billings, gets another past the edge. A couple of runs through midwicket are the only ones from the over.
WICKET! Vince c Carey b Cummins 5, England 31-3
Another one! Good bowling from Cummins, fast on a length and decking away after angling in. Vince isn’t really trying to score, just hanging the bat out as he is wont to do, tickling the edge through to the keeper. England in strife.
7th over: England 31-2 (Malan 6, Vince 5) Squeezing runs away now, both players picking off Starc’s straight line and scoring towards fine leg or midwicket. Then a beautiful piece of timing from Malan, leaning over a full ball and clipping it through midwicket for four. Starc responds by tenderising his thigh pad.
6th over: England 23-2 (Malan 1, Vince 2) Having some time to think will suit Dawid Malan. He watches out his first over from Cummins, leaving a couple of balls on a good line to the left-hander, lacing one at cover but straight to Stoinis who fields the pace well. Nearly a maiden over, takes a straight single from the sixth ball.
5th over: England 22-2 (Malan 0, Vince 2) A couple of runs for Roy after driving the first ball of the over, then bowled from the second. Vince and Malan form a fresh pairing in the middle, both on nought. Vince, inevitably, drives through cover, half stopped by Stoinis and kept to two runs. The score is a Benaud.
WICKET! Roy b Starc 6, England 20-2
Timberrrr! Jason Roy’s time away from England has not helped in the immediate term. He comes back with a Roy-like dismissal, bowled by a ball coming back into him while playing a drive. To be fair, Starc does get that one to straighten off the seam from his angle of left-arm over the wicket. Straightens down the line of the stumps and hits middle.
WICKET! Salt c Smith b Cummins 14, England 18-1
4th over: England 18-1 (Roy 4) What a contest! Cummins beats the edge of Salt’s bat twice with a pair of snorters, lift and carry. Salt responds by stepping across to the off side, changing the line and playing a pick-up flick over backward square leg for four. Last ball of the over though, Cummins nails that line again. Draws the big drive, the length isn’t there for it, and Salt edges it to second slip. Well done to the Australian captain for keeping two catchers there.
3rd over: England 9-0 (Salt 6, Roy 3) Another wild swish at Starc, this time from Roy, managing not to edge the ball. He gets off strike and Salt punches two runs through the covers, then has an air swing all of his own. A very muted start for England, but they have so much more time in this format.
2nd over: England 6-0 (Salt 4, Roy 2) And a good first over from Cummins to complement Starc. Hits his length, hits the seam, decks a couple away, beats the edge of Salt’s bat. Into rhythm straight away.
1st over: England 5-0 (Salt 4, Roy 1) Action time for Jason Roy. He gets off the mark with a single behind square, giving Salt the chance to drive straight down the ground for four. Decent over from Starc though, beats Salt outside the off stump to follow up. Fast and mostly full.
Close to a start here. Drop me a line if you’re so moved, either by email or on Twitter while it lasts.
Interesting moves there. A lot of England fringe players get a go: Salt, Vince, Billings, Dawson, even Jordan and Willey these days. Luke Wood makes his ODI debut. Olly Stone gets back for England after a long time out with injury.
For Australia, Carey higher up the order and Green down at seven is a move. Agar playing for Hazlewood as well, two spinners with Stoinis and Green to bowl seam.
Teams
England
Jason Roy
Phil Salt
Dawid Malan
James Vince
Sam Billings
Jos Buttler * +
Liam Dawson
Chris Jordan
David Willey
Luke Wood
Olly Stone
Australia
David Warner
Travis Head
Steve Smith
Marnus Labuschagne
Alex Carey +
Cameron Green
Marcus Stoinis
Ashton Agar
Pat Cummins *
Mitchell Starc
Adam Zampa
Australia win the toss and will bowl
Pat Cummins is happy to chase against England, and perhaps to deny England their preferred method of chasing. Interesting because Australia has been a bat-first team at times over the last few years. Jos Buttler doesn’t seem fussed.
Any rate, it’s a lovely day in Adelaide, sunny and low 20s, sweet and gentle as a creme caramel. The players can’t be too desolate at getting out there. England’s lot are doing fielding drills, throwing at the mitt-holders. Australia’s lot have been having some throwdowns and then a huddle and are now dispersing across the ground in their various groupings.
Given the questions about why this one-day series is happening so soon after a T20 World Cup, there is some sense to it. Largely because international teams have no time whatsoever to do things these days. But I covered a bit of that in the preview here. Go on, we have time.
Preamble
Hello from Adelaide Oval, ringing out across the world. It’s the contest that everyone was waiting for. Hang on, sorry. Not quite. But it’s a contest, anyway, and it’s Australia versus England, and that has to count for something. Hang on, getting some feedback. That’s not true either. Well, never mind, it’s cricket and some of us like watching that, so we’re just going to get on and do it and not worry too much about the meaning. Alright? Great.
