- Australia seal eight-wicket win in fifth and final ODI
- Victory sees visitors secure series 3-2
- Eoin Morgan retires hurt after being struck by Mitchell Starc bouncer
- Read the full match report
That’s that for the English international season. Here’s the report from the 11th and final England-Australia bout of the summer.
Australia win the battle – England, the war? Until next time...
Winners! #ENGvAUSpic.twitter.com/IArgo0u6g6
Mitchell Marsh is man of the match. He’s said some stuff in Australian which I couldn’t quite decipher. Turns out he’s also the man of the series, too. Well deserved. Decides against another chat with Nasser and gets a pat on the arse.
James Taylor, England’s stand-in captain, comes up for a few words. Morgan’s OK, apparently, which is good news. He reckons this wicket was better than the one in the third ODI, which England performed so well on.
Finally, after three months, a lost Ashes and a few retirements, Australia get to go home...
Thanks @englandcricket for hosting a massive summer of #ENGvAUS cricket! By our count it's 11-11 across the men, women and U19s #TieBreaker?
A toe end to fine leg for four and Australia complete a professional win. A fantastic partnership from Aaron Finch and George Bailey saw them home – 109 off 15.1 overs. Finch finishes unbeaten on 70 with that last four taking Bailey to 41.
Feed the snake and it will grow. #maxim#ENGvAUSpic.twitter.com/IUj3Mf1knJ
24th over: Australia 135-2 (Finch 69, Bailey 37)
Finch has now got the reverse sweep out as he scuffs one behind square for a single. Bailey advances and gets a full toss which he hits down the ground, but good fielding from David Willey prevents the boundary and saves two.
23rd over: Australia 131-2 (Finch 68, Bailey 34)
Naff cricket, this: Topley bounces Bailey, who was advancing. The ball is judged as a wide for height before Bailey scampers a single as Bairstow underarms to the stumps. A leg-bye around the corner goes for four. Bailey takes a single off the last ball – 10 runs from the over – and that’s the 100 partnership from 85 balls.
Ok they may have had a shocker today, but overall think England have had a great summer and been very entertaining to watch.
22nd over: Australia 121-2 (Finch 66, Bailey 33)
Both batsmen happy to sweep from outside off stump, ensuring their front pads are well outside the line to Moeen Ali to take LBW out of the equation. Even the ones they don’t quite get hold of get them singles. And when they do connect, such as Finch’s effort to the fourth ball, they’re beating the leg side fielders to the boundary. Finch then comes down the ground and skews high into the air, but the ball drops in no man’s land in the off side.
21st over: Australia 111-2 (Finch 57, Bailey 32)
Topley back into the attack and he’s working with his variations. Finch struggles to read a couple of short balls before meeting a full-ball with the full face of his bat and timing it superbly down the ground for four.
20th over: Australia 105-2 (Finch 52, Bailey 32)
Under-edged sweep from Finch, but he puts enough beef behind it to see it run away to the fine leg boundary for four. Much more convincing two balls later, beating the fielder at square leg for another boundary, and Finch moves to an excellent fifty from 47 balls. Another sweep, this time straight to Alex Hales, gives Finch a single off the last ball.
19th over: Australia 96-2 (Finch 43, Bailey 32)
Rashid not looking as flustered, but I suppose the damage has been done, with Australia taking a sizeable chunk (24) from his first two overs. Bailey uses his feet to give Finch back the strike, who returns it to him immediately. A powerful drive is then stopped superbly by cover.
18th over: Australia 91-2 (Finch 41, Bailey 29)
Moeen Ali into the attack and he’s varying his pace nicely. Bailey’s dancing up, down and across the crease, but Mo’s matching him, step to step. An email from Robert Wilson reads as follows:
17th over: Australia 89-2 (Finch 40, Bailey 28)
A good over from Rashid is ruined by a solid sweep from Finch. Four to him, behind square on the leg side.
16th over: Australia 84-2 (Finch 36, Bailey 27)
Nice looking shot from Finch goes for four through extra-cover. I say “nice looking” because it wasn’t particularly well timed but still beat the fielder, Reece Topley, to the boundary. Finds his timing with the last ball, picking Wood off his toes for a lovely boundary through midwicket.
15th over: Australia 74-2 (Finch 26, Bailey 27)
Bailey looking good here, as he gives himself room, watches a googly off the pitch and punches through cover for a couple. Then, a long-hop comes his way and tumps the leggie to mid-wicket for four. Better shot soon after as Rashid pushes one through and Bailey reads the length early to rock back and clear mid-on for another boundary. And another four – this one going between the previous two.
14th over: Australia 60-2 (Finch 26, Bailey 13)
Very good from Bailey – gets beaten on the outside edge by a beaut from Wood and responds two balls later with a punch through the covers for four. Punch into the off side for a single sees him keep the strike...
13th over: Australia 54-2 (Finch 25, Bailey 8)
Change of pace as Adil Rashid replaces David Willey (6-3-13-1 so far) but it’s given Finch licence to ditch the softly-softly approach: the first ball is carved through point and the second, tossed up, is hammered for six over mid off!
12th over: Australia 41-2 (Finch 15, Bailey 8)
Wood picks up where he left off, but Finch does well to defend into the off side and take a smart single to bring Bailey back on strike. There’s a short-leg in place and, when the short ball does come, Gorgeous George is onto it in a flash and thumping it through midwicket for four.
11th over: Australia 36-2 (Finch 14, Bailey 4)
David Willey getting the second phase underway. Most of the deliveries are moving away from Bailey, meaning he can leave most. A couple tail in – probably holding their line, to be fair – and have Bailey defending solidly. A maiden.
Right, back with you on the OBO.
Let’s kick things off with an email from Simon McMahon: “The Sky boys discussing their ‘moment of the summer’ during the interval. Pretty much as expected, ranging from Finn, Broad, Stokes, England’s catching, though credit to Knight and Gower for going with mood setting performances from Root and Buttler during the NZ series. Beefy also couldn’t resist a dig at Nass for the dolly he dropped during practise, claiming it inspired the England fielders. One more thing - England finally seemed to have moved on from the KP debate. Which can only be a good thing.”
The players head off for what was actually meant to be the break between innings. England with a couple of breakthroughs there, meaning Australia need 103 more runs from 40 overs, with eight wickets in hand. But the Aussies are still in the box seat to take the series 3-2.
We’ll take a quick break while I tuck into an absurd bacon, chicken ceasar sandwich. It’s got parmesan in it. What a time to be alive.
10th over: Australia 36-2 (Finch 14, Bailey 5)
Smith goes first ball but Gorgeous George Bailey fights back immediately with a drive through the covers to get him off the mark. Wood brings back his length and has Bailey hopping while defending. The ball squirts past the dive of Jason Roy at second slip, for a leg bye.
Quality from Wood – the ball pitches on off stump and leaves the right hander, who is too committed to a drive to readjust...
9th over: Australia 31-1 (Finch 14, Smith 12)
Willey to continue and he seems to have the better of Finch here though, even in defending, Finch is finding the middle of his bat. Another maiden though, good pressure.
8th over: Australia 31-1 (Finch 14, Smith 12)
Mark Wood replaces Reece Topley (3-1-17-0) and he’s on the money, as per. Good pace, good areas, good goodness and a maiden to kick things off.
7th over: Australia 31-1 (Finch 14, Smith 12)
“Not now!” shouts Steve Smith, as he defends one back to Willey. Willey picks up the ball and gives the Australia captain a glare before seemingly uttering a few words. I say “seemingly” as it’s hard to tell with Willey because he’s a natural frowner who, at times, does dish out a good Phil Jones-esque gurn. Just three off the over.
6th over: Australia 28-1 (Finch 14, Smith 9)
A first boundary off Topley, who’s a touch too short and allows Finch to hang back and throw a bit more into a shot through cover point for four. A second, now, as he’s pulled behind square leg. Oh dear, and now a no ball – Finch to face the free hit, which is thumped down the ground for another four! Decent finish though as Topley beats Finch on the outside edge.
5th over: Australia 13-1 (Finch 1, Smith 8)
Willey, on the other hand, skids on and Smith makes full use of this by opening the face and driving him through cover for four. Bit of extra bounce, too, which surprises Smith and keeps him wary on the back foot for the rest of the over.
4th over: Australia 7-1 (Smith 4, Finch 1)
One of the keys to Topley’s success as a one-day bowler is that he doesn’t come onto the bat very well. Smith is learning that here, hitting shots straight into the ground in front of him. He does manage to get the last ball off the square, pushing just wide of mid off, who tumbles to his left to ensure only a single is taken.
3rd over: Australia 5-1 (Finch 1, Smith 3)
Burns goes first ball: a ball very wide that is just wafted at, really. No conviction in the shot at all, as Bairstow skips to his right to grab. Smith is the next man in and he’s greeted by two mid-wickets. He’s off the mark with his second ball which somehow perfectly bisects them. Three to Smith.
Willey temps Burns with a wide one, which is chased half-heartedly for a thin edge through to the keeper.
2nd over: Australia 1-0 (Burns 0, Finch 0)
A first international over for Topley and it’s a maiden. There’s a lot of fingers down the side of balls, fingers right behind of balls and a couple under the balls. Stop sniggering. A leg-bye and Australia are off like a TRAIN.
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Burns 0, Finch 0)
Nice shape from David Willey is met by some odd ones from Joe Burns. He’s trying to open up the off-side but in doing so is basically trying to square-drive anything on off stump. And that’s a maiden. ADVANTAGE SOMEONE.
Reece Topley's List A innings. 19 from 20 2 from 13 4* from 10 0 from 1 0 from 1 0* from 0 9* from 10 0 from 3 6 from 27
Hello everyone – now, wasn’t that incompetent?
Please back out for 45-minute dash about. James Taylor, who began the international summer captaining England against Ireland in an ODI, ends it leading things in the field. Eoin Morgan, hit by Mitchell Starc, is playing no further part in the game.
Right, now it’s over to Vish, who will guide you through the Australia reply with his most delicate of hands. Incidentally, the lunch break is scheduled for 2pm, so in one of those ‘cricket doesn’t help itself’ moments that so often pop up, we’ll have 40 minutes of play before everyone heads inside for their vol-au-vents. . Can’t have the caterers being inconvenienced, can we?
Anyway, send your emails to Vithushan.Ehantharajah.casual@theGuardian.com or tweet @Vitu_E
Well, that wasn’t all that good from England. And when I say it wasn’t all that good, I do of course mean it was terrible. Still, there are just - just - about enough runs to make it slightly ticklish. Possibly. Or possibly not.
WICKET! Topley lbw b Agar 6 (27)
Splendid sweep from Rashid off Agar, splitting the fielders on the fence perfectly, then he takes as big a stride as his little legs can give and hoiks Agar back over his head for a two-bounce four. Another big shot only gets a single, then Topley goes right, right, right back and is caught dead in front. Out as out can be. And as Morgan won’t be batting again, that’s yer lot.
32nd over: England 129-8 (Topley 6, Rashid 26)
Shot! Topley plays a delicate dab over the slips and to third man for a single, which everyone enjoys. Including the bowler, Hastings. Well, probably not Hastings. Rashid late cuts one of his own, before the camera finds Bryan Robson and Peter Reid, beers in hand, in a box. Lads on tour.
31st over: England 127-8 (Topley 5, Rashid 25)
Agar’s having a bowl, which is lovely for him. Rashid turns down a single first up, then skips down a bit to flick a couple just behind square leg, then cuts a single out to deep extra. Topley runs through for a leg-bye off the final ball, which is a bit odd considering they declined the one at the start of the over. The batsmen have a chat to work out what’s what.
30th over: England 123-8 (Topley 5, Rashid 22)
Rashid punches a drive that Finch half-saves at extra cover, but does enough to keep them to a single when, unchecked, that one was four for sure. Topley then keeps the rest out - Tavarian defence, here. Although Chris Tavare was actually a decent one-day player, against all the odds.
29th over: England 122-8 (Topley 5, Rashid 21)
Five! Five runs to Topley! He jabs to point and takes a single that, with a direct throw, would have resulted in a run-out by about three yards, but the man at the stumps let it through, and it skips away to the boundary. Rashid then plays a nice drive through the covers, but some iffy running and decent fielding means they only get a single from it. A wide, then Topley keeps the rest of the over out.
Christopher O’Hearn writes: “Perhaps with all the attention rightly being paid to concussion and head injuries it’s time there was an allowance for a substitution in cricket. Even as an Australian I don’t think it’s fair that England lose a man for the whole match because he’s been hit in the head. Obviously it would have to be used only in very limited circumstances and not for tactical advantage.”
28th over: England 114-8 (Topley 0, Rashid 20)
Morgan’s non-participation means James Taylor will skipper England in the field, as he did for that ‘B’ ODI against Ireland earlier in the summer. That game was rather shorter than expected too, but due to rain, rather than batting incompetence. Rashid plays out a maiden, with only one shot with any sort of attacking intent in there.
27th over: England 114-8 (Topley 0, Rashid 20)
Starc comes round the wicket, and Rashid again takes a single, adopting the ol’ Steve Waugh approach to the bunny. Topley keeps out a yorker through the maverick method of jabbing both bat and his buttocks out, but it works. Just.
26th over: England 113-8 (Topley 0, Rashid 19)
Rashid takes a single from the second ball, leaving Topley to brave the rest of the over from Hastings. He nearly takes a single from a misfield at point, but is waved back by Rashid, then backs away while waving his bat in the vague direction of the ball. He misses, and the ball only just goes over the stumps, as Topley curses himself even while the ball is travelling.
25th over: England 112-8 (Topley 0, Rashid 18)
Blinder of a shot from Rashid, whipping it like Indiana Jones wide of mid-on and to the fence. A single, and now here’s Starc to Topley, who jabs away a low full-toss, then rather solidly keeps out a pseudo-yorker.
He’s being treated for concussion apparently, so that’s both not a surprise and the sensible thing to do.
24th over: England 107-8 (Topley 0, Rashid 13)
Rashid gets a single, then Bunny Topley is on strike. Still not sure whether Morgan will be coming back in, but again, I doubt it very much. Topley leaves one nicely, by which I mean a couple more coats of paint on the bails and he would’ve been gone.
Meanwhile - bloody hell...
Related: Bangladesh bowler Shahadat Hossain suspended after child torture allegation
Hastings is back, and gets joy straight away, as Wood goes for a lofted effort over the covers, but only succeeds in lofting it straight down Ashton Agar’s throat.
23rd over: England 106-7 (Wood 13, Rashid 12)
These two jab a couple of singles into the leg side, then Rashid gets another that he tries to style out as a wristy flick, but given his bat ended completely the wrong way around in his hands, he might not have had a massive amount of control over that shot.
22nd over: England 102-7 (Wood 11, Rashid 10)
Wood cuts rather airily but it goes relatively safely over the top of point and for two, then he does more or less the same thing but on the leg side, just - just - clearing mid-wicket and hopping to the fence. Hundred up for England!
21st over: England 95-7 (Wood 5, Rashid 10)
The replays suggest Stokes was definitely out, by the way. Pitched leg, hitting the top of middle. Starc, who apparently deserves no sympathy if you go by the emails I’ve been getting, is back with the ball, and Rashid greets his return by whipping him just in front of square and to the boundary. A single, then Wood prods with about as much conviction as England have of winning this game, but edges through where about third slip would’ve been and just wide of third man for four.
For those working out how many runs England could thieve from here, remember to factor in that Reece Topley is basically a no.12. #EngvAus
20th over: England 85-7 (Wood 0, Rashid 5)
Well, at least everyone will get home nice and early.
There’s some debate in the Sky commentary box as to whether Stokes will play cautiously or play as he usually does, which he quite possibly hears by stepping down the track and putting a Marsh delivery into the sight screen. Bish and indeed bosh. However, Marsh gets one to straighten a bit and traps Stokes, in an almost identical manner to Willey’s dismissal. You get the feeling he would have gone upstairs, had Willey not already burned England’s review.
19th over: England 77-6 (Stokes 34, Rashid 5)
If you’re English and want to clutch at straws, you can with the news that Adil Rashid has ten first-class centuries. No List A ones, though. His highest ODI score is 69. Although he gets four with a splendidly guided push off the back foot between cover and point, which hops away to the fence.
18th over: England 73-6 (Stokes 34, Rashid 1)
Rashid gets off the mark straight away with a single. Remember that it’s basically 73-7, as I’d be amazed if Morgan came back in.
But he was wrong to do so! That was pitching on leg, and hitting the top of same. The speed at which he reviewed it suggested an edge, but he was miles away from the ball.
David Willey is the new man, and Marsh straight away gets the umpire to raise his finger for lbw, but Willey reviews without hesitation...
And there’s the other side of Moeen’s flowing drive, as he doesn’t quite get to a full one just outside off and nicks through to Wade.
17th over: England 72-4 (Moeen 5, Stokes 34)
Again Stokes gets in a good position to a Cummins short ball, but Smith has moved the mid-wicket fielder a bit wider, so this time they only get two from the pull as the man on the fence cuts it off. Stokes is then struck...well, the ball hits a bit of his anatomy, he falls over and everyone winces then laughs, so you know exactly where it hit him.
“I wonder why you hesitated before posting Wilson’s comment,” writes Tony Whitley. “Fast bowlers do choose to send down balls that may hit peoples heads, and we do like it. I am reading BBC and Guardian OBO’s and one commentator, this very match, chose “that ball” by Johnson to Bairstow as his highlight of the series. I does seem phoney to commiserate.”
16th over: England 70-4 (Moeen 5, Stokes 32)
Moeen gets a thick edge for a single, then Stokes struggles to get the rest of the over away, before taking a few steps down the pitch, pushing straight to mid-off and setting off for what looked like a risky quick single, but one that he made in plenty of time in the end.
15th over: England 68-4 (Moeen 4, Stokes 31)
Stokes gets a four via a shot that is very much the uglier brother of Mo’s, jabbing at one outside off that zips off the edge and fine of third man. A more emphatic effort comes later, as he thumps a Cummins long-hop - if you can have a 90ish mph long-hop - in front of mid-wicket for another four. Stokes tries to ramp another Cummins short ball, misses, then looks incredulous when the umpire doesn’t call it a wide.
14th over: England 60-4 (Moeen 4, Stokes 23)
Oh yah, as Mark Nicholas would say, as Moeen casually swats his first ball through the covers in that deliciously dreamy style of his. Nonetheless, another good over for Australia.
And that was hitting middle and leg.
Marsh traps Bairstow, looked out, but the umpire says no. Steve Smith goes upstairs straight away...
13th over: England 54-3 (Bairstow 8, Stokes 23)
A couple of singles, then Cummins drops one short that Stokes jumps all over like Mike Gatting on a spotted dick and custard, pulling with some gusto out to the fence, just in front of mid-wicket.
12th over: England 48-3 (Bairstow 7, Stokes 18)
Double change as Mitchell Marsh comes on, and first up Stokes comes down the pitch and shovels a single into the covers. A couple more singles from the over, and we’ve had an email that I ummed and ahhed before publishing, but here it is anyway, from Robert Wilson:
“I’m terribly glad that Starc feels comforted and supported after the terrible trauma he has endured. Cricket-type people, players and fans alike, should really give it a rest with the faintly sociopathic euphemism. If you are going to bowl the ball at a batsman’s head on a regular basis, it will sometimes hit the batsman’s head. It’s deeply disfunctional to express shocked dismay. What else is going to happen? At least Thommo was unblushing up-front about his desire to harm (just nobody considered letting him babysit their children).
11th over: England 45-3 (Bairstow 6, Stokes 16)
As Vithushan, who’ll be taking you through the second innings, points out, Starc was playing in the game when Philip Hughes was hit, so it’s hardly surprising he was so shaken after that. Cummins replaces him and bowls a high wide, before Stokes drives through the covers without really timing it properly, and Bailey saves a run just before the boundary.
10th over: England 40-3 (Bairstow 5, Stokes 13)
Bairstow cuts straight to point but Maxwell misfields uncharacteristically and they nab a single. Stokes then drives another fuller one down the ground marvellously for four.
9th over: England 35-3 (Bairstow 4, Stokes 9)
Cummins looked like he was loosening in the last over, but Starc continues, and that’s probably the right call. Keep going, bowl a bumper, get past it. Although, actually, he goes over on his ankle slightly while fielding a return ball from the second ball of his over.
Starc sticking with a full approach now, and while Stokes has to keep out a couple of spicy yorkers, he bowls one with a bit too much width and Stokes drives him through the covers and to the fence. And then one that is straighter but not quite up there, and Stokes drives beautifully straight down the ground for another four.
8th over: England 27-3 (Bairstow 4, Stokes 1)
Hastings continues, as Stokes gets off the mark with a pushed single into the covers. And then Bairstow gets going with a fine glance to the fence, which a diving Cummins can’t save.
Starc receives quite a heartening round of applause as he returns to his fielding position on the boundary. Darren Lehman comes down to have a word.
Morgan was able to walk off unaided, but it was absolutely the right decision for him to go off, obviously. No chances with that sort of thing.
7th over: England 22-3 (Bairstow 0, Stokes 0)
Jonny Bairstow is the new batsman, and he squirts the last ball of the over to point.
And Morgan is heading off. Starc looks quite shaken, down on his haunches. It must be absolutely terrifying to be a fast bowler in these situations.
6.5 overs: England 22-3 (Morgan 1, Stokes 0)
Starc causing some problems here. A consequence of the pace and swing is that Morgan doesn’t seem to be getting in line properly, which could lead to dangled bat-related tears.
Then there’s some concern as Morgan is hit on the head by a short one and he doesn’t look happy at all. The Australians are understandably very worried. Would be a huge surprise if he stays on.
6th over: England 22-3 (Morgan 1, Stokes 0)
Stokes is the new man, and he blocks the final ball of the over. Not good from England, to say the least.
Well, just as I was typing that Taylor could have played himself into a spot on the Test tour in the winter, he nibbles pointlessly at something of a nothing ball from Hastings, and Wade takes a routine catch.
5th over: England 20-2 (Taylor 10, Morgan 1)
As poor as Hales has been in this series, Taylor has been as good. The batsmen exchange singles before the Notts wee man spanks another drive through the covers. This one doesn’t get there quite as quickly as the last one did, but it was still pretty lickety split.
4th over: England 13-2 (Taylor 4, Morgan 0)
Here comes the skipper with a bit of a rescue job on his hands. Although, from England’s perspective, you wouldn’t want any other pair at the crease to do so.
Hales doesn’t look very Hales in the initial exchanges, not playing many shots. He gets four with an inside-edge from a shot that would’ve been described as ‘indeterminate’ and ‘dangling’ had it clattered into stumps rather than boundary. And then he’s gone, wafting a loose drive straight to point where Maxwell pouches at the second attempt. And there ends a 12-ball innings that felt like it lasted a lot longer.
3rd over: England 9-1 (Taylor 4, Hales 0)
Taylor gropes at one outside off that just holds its line and beats him. Starc goes wider, one that is called a wide then another that Taylor absolutely nails through the covers and it’s at the boundary by the time he finishes his follow-through.
Meanwhile - sweet fancy Moses...
The path in yellow is the ball off which Jason Roy was given lbw to Mitchell Starc. He didn't review it #ENGvAUSpic.twitter.com/3fp9Vki3V0
2nd over: England 4-1 (Taylor 0, Hales 0)
The second over, bowled by cattle-rustler John Hastings, has some swing but is much less eventful than the first. A maiden.
Pete’s often right, and here’s bob on again here. No relation, by the way.
Guys, we shouldn't be asking why that wasn't reviewed, we should be asking how the hell it was given out. DRS gives umps a let off
1st over: England 4-1 (Taylor 0, Hales 0)
James Taylor plays out the rest of the over. Two incorrect lbw decisions given by umpire Joel Wilson in three balls, which takes some doing.
Blimey. Plenty of swing for Starc and he traps Roy again, caught on the ankle, on the full, but that was going waaaaaaay down leg. It even hit him outside the line of leg, and it was hooping down. They don’t review, and presumably the only possible reason they didn’t was the review earlier in the over. Poor from Alex Hales not to spot that, really.
There’s a big inside edge on that, but you forgive the umpire because it took thirders quite a while to establish whether it was bat or pad first.
Well, the first ball is clipped very fine for four, then Roy is caught in front, the finger goes up but he’s going upstairs...
We’re on. Mitch Starc will open the bowling, Jason Roy faces first up.
A mild confession: I still get a bit of a tingle when they play Jerusalem before these games. There’s some corner of a foreign field that is forever 2005.
An email: “As an adopted Mancunian, I’m not complaining at this,” very much not complains James Hamilton, “but what was the reasoning behind Manchester getting two ODI games in this series? It’s just seems a little odd, surely plenty of other grounds were available?”
I don’t know, James. Perhaps a sop because they didn’t have a Test this summer and Headingley did? A nod to the north? Durham was technically available, although there is a Championship match starting there tomorrow, so perhaps they couldn’t use it because of that.
So Topley replaces Liam Plunkett, and according to Eoin Morgan it was just because they ‘want to have a look at him’. A couple of changes for Australia, who drop Marcus Stoinis in favour of Ashton Agar’s spin, which they probably should have done at Headingley, while James Pattinson is dropped in favour of the returning Mitchell Starc, presumably on the basis that he was rubbish on Friday. But then again so was big John Hastings...so unlucky and all that.
Hales, Roy, Taylor, Morgan (c), Stokes, Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Willey, Rashid, Wood, Topley
...and will have a bat.
Word from the ground is that Reece Topley is being handed his cap, so will make his ODI debut. Be interesting to see who he replaces.
So. The decider. The big one. Winner takes all. The series on a knife edge. Tension mounts. Stirring moments, as Richie might say. Good lord I miss Richie. We all miss, Richie, don’t we? In a divisive world, where basically nobody can agree about anything, it’s nice that we can have these things that we can all join hands and concur. Richie was our cricketing sensei, and it’s awful that he’s gone.
Anyway, if you’ll excuse that moment of sentimental reverie, to the cricket. It’s pleasing that a one day series that, a little like the Tests, hasn’t actually produced too many close encounters, will turn out to be quite tight in the end. Australia have won a couple quite convincingly, England have won a couple quite convincingly. And now we have a final encounter to tell us who’s the best.
Nick will be here shortly. Meanwhile, read Vic Marks on the deciding ODI of the series:
Back in May the chances of England going through the summer without being beaten in any of their series were about the same as the leader of the opposition sporting a beard. Yet as the two teams return to Manchester on Sunday for the final international match of the season an England victory against Australia will mean that no series has been lost against two of the better sides on the international circuit.
Paul Farbrace, forever happy to chat, bubbling with enthusiasm and a vital midwife in England’s resurgence, admitted as much after the three-wicket victory at Headingley on Friday. “If at the start of the summer somebody said we would draw the New Zealand Tests, beat them in the one-dayers, win the Ashes and go into the last one-day game at Old Trafford locked at 2-2 we would have snapped their hands off and probably walked away saying: ‘Whatever they are drinking, I’ll have a pint of that.’”
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