Steven Finn starred as a clinical England thrashed Australia by eight wickets at Chester-le-Street to clinch the series
Preamble Morning. Hangover TV used to be June Sarpong, Dawson's Creek and haircuts. Today it's 100 overs of God's gift. It's a big game, too. Between 1989 and 2005, England won just one series involving Australia – the Hollioakes' 50-over romp in 1997. If they win today's fourth ODI, they will have won seven in the last seven years: three Ashes, two ODI series, a CB Series and a World Twenty20. I don't know about you, but having grown up in the 1980s and 1990s I still half expect a Bobby Ewing moment. If we hadn't seen such poverty we could live with being rich.
England have won the toss and will bowl first Samit Patel replaces Graeme Swann, whose elbow problem is a concern so close to the South Africa series. Australia bring in Ben Hilfenhaus and the exciting James Pattinson. The game should start on time thanks to an heroic performance from the groundstaff. With the pitch more than a little clammy, it should be a good toss to win.
England Cook (c), Bell, Trott, Bopara, Morgan, Kieswetter (wk), Patel, Bresnan, Broad, Anderson, Finn.
Australia Warner, Watson, Forrest, Clarke (c), Bailey, D Hussey, Wade (wk), Lee, McKay, Pattinson, Hilfenhaus.
Stat of this and any other day Thanks to Steven Lynch of Cricinfo for this amazing spot: Alec Stewart has the same number of Test runs (8463) as his birthday (8.4.63).
Open journalism department I eywis wanted to do a Joy of Six: film opening credits. They don't let us sport types near real life, of course, so let's just chat about them on here. There are the obvious ones, like Trainspotting and Sesevenen, but this week I fell in love with the credits from Young Adult – which, as well as looking great, perfectly capture that moment when an old friend comes on the stereo, and for a split second you feel empowered to take on the whole wide world. What's your favourite? Send in any suggestions, with links if possible.
If you only click one link today click this.
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Watson 0, Warner 0) It's pretty murky in Durham, and these would seem to be perfect bowling conditions. Perfect Anderson conditions. Jimmy Anderson gets some swing straight away and Watson has to endure a difficult first over. He is beaten outside off stump, fences a lifter short of backward point and then defends a couple of awayswingers. An excellent start from Anderson.
2nd over: Australia 0-0 (Watson 0, Warner 0) Finn starts with a nice full length to Warner, who has little choice but to defend until he has judged the mood of this pitch. Another maiden.
"Hangovers for me nowadays invariably involve my children spying that I am in a weakened state and pummelling me," says Steven Pye. "This morning I had a cracking headache, whilst my two children and two nephews decided to put bean bags on me and jump up and down on my lifeless body. Children have a scary ability to know when a 'grown-up' is vulnerable." It's not that difficult to spot the retching, sweating and leering, is it?
3rd over: Australia 1-0 (Watson 1, Warner 0) England have only two slips for Anderson, which is slightly surprising. Watson leans into a drive, edging an outswinger along the floor to third man for the first run of the day. Warner defends the rest of the over. It's slow going but it has to be this way for the first 10 overs or so.
4th over: Australia 3-0 (Watson 2, Warner 1) Watson, who is happy to drive despite the conditions, edges Finn right through the vacant gully area. Michael Holding is particularly unimpressed with England's by-numbers field. Kieswetter does well to save four byes when a delivery from Finn swings after passing the bat. Warner, one of the world's great attacking one-day openers, has 1 from 16 balls. It's one-day cricket straight outta 1978.
5th over: Australia 6-0 (Watson 4, Warner 2) Warner is beaten by Anderson and then edges in the air to third man for a single. Watson skims a drive through the covers for a couple; that's the first one he's vaguely middled. It sounds perverse with a run rate of 1.2 per over, but Australia will be pretty pleased with this start.
WICKET! Australia 6-1 (Warner LBW b Finn 2) David Warner has gone. He played around a very full delivery from Finn that straightened to trap him in front of middle. Nigel Llong said not out, but England successfully reviewed the decision. I can only assume Llong thought there was an inside edge because Warner was absolutely plumb. It was hitting middle halfway up. Warner goes for 2 from 19 balls.
WICKET! Australia 6-2 (Forrest LBW b Finn 0) Two in two balls for Finn! Again it was a beautiful full length, and Forrest played outside the line of a delivery that seamed back just enough to beat the inside edge and hit the pad on off stump. He wasn't quite as plumb as Warner, but he was palpably out. I think Forrest fancied the review; Watson suggested otherwise and he walked off with a golden duck to his name. Steven Finn is on a hat-trick.
6th over: Australia 6-2 (Watson 4, Clarke 0) The hat-trick ball to Michael Clarke is a peach that cuts him in half and just bounces over the top of the stumps. A double-wicket maiden for Finn. "That Young Adult intro is a corker, the concept of copied cassettes takes me back," says Phil Rhodes. "My own choice is the intro to Dead Man's Shoes, less cheery tune but works with the landscape and old home videos perfectly." That's a brilliant suggestion. Vessel In Vain is a gorgeous song and works beautifully.
7th over: Australia 8-2 (Watson 6, Clarke 0) Watson tucks the last ball of Anderson's otherwise accurate over to fine leg for two. Australia are going nowhere but it's hard to be critical of their approach. They have to play like it's A test match for the time being.
8th over: Australia 14-2 (Watson 6, Clarke 6) Clarke gets the first boundary of the innings, flashing a wide full toss from Finn through the covers. The response is a storming delivery that roars away off the seam and past the outside edge as Clarke lunges forward.
"I don't get hangovers, so have no idea what the rest of you are moaning about," says Richard O'Hagan. "I do understand the pain of being woken far to early by small children, though always presumed that was why Saturday morning television was invented in the first place."
9th over: Australia 14-2 (Watson 6, Clarke 6) Anderson has a big LBW shout against Watson turned down by Marais Erasmus. I think Watson got outside the line, and Hawkeye shows it was going over the top anyway. There are two more appeals in the over, but Watson was outside the line every time. A maiden.
"This series might be the last time we see Brett Lee in a genuinely competitive game," says John Starbuck. "I'm going to miss his insatiably curious weasel face but I'm not sure what his highlights would be from playing in England. We probably think of him for his defeats 'cos it means so much to us." He's had plenty of highlights, I'd say. That spell to Graham Thorpe in an otherwise poor series in 2001; Lumley Castle; his wonderful sportsmanship and competitiveness throughout 2005; the Edgbaston heartbreak and Old Trafford redemption; a sizzling, yorker-heavy performance in an ODI in 2009 (I think). He's one of the good guys. Rob Bagchi wrote a lovely piece on him last week.
10th over: Australia 15-2 (Watson 6, Clarke 7) One from Finn's over. It's so important in these situations to have batsmen who can judge what a good score is and plan the innings accordingly. It could be under 200 on a day like today.
11th over: Australia 18-2 (Watson 7, Clarke 9) The first bowling change, with Bresnan coming on for Anderson (5-2-6-0). He has a mighty LBW shout against Watson turned down. Did it do too much? Or maybe it was too high. England decide not to review, and replays show it was going over the top. And now Clarke is dropped! Madon, that was a sitter to Eoin Morgan at backward point. Clarke drove loosely and edged it straight to Morgan, who is usually so reliable but made a horrible mess of a simple chance. He didn't even get hands on it.
"I've always loved the opening credits/first scene of Once Upon A Time In The West," says Michael Shepherd. "The effect of the ten minutes of silence before Charles Bronson turns up is what I imagine bowling five dot balls to Viv Richards must be like. You know something very, very violent is about to happen.
12th over: Australia 21-2 (Watson 7, Clarke 12) Broad replaces Finn (5-2-9-2) and is driven nicely through extra cover for three by Clarke, who is playing with a degree of urgency. He has 12 from 18 balls; Watson has 7 from 33.
"As a skipper, I was always prepared to tinker with batting line-ups, trying to fit horse to what my theory-addled bonce thought was the course," says Scott Oliver. "In such nibble and jag conditions, is there not a case for Aus to 'hide' one of their gun strokemakers and pop in a specialist green top opener – either a play-it-late, nimble Boycottian technician or someone prepared to bat a yard out of the crease, walk at it, and wear it in the midriff? All moot, as Aus don't have one..." Yep, I'm all for flexible batting orders, although as you say I've no idea who they could have promoted. Wade?
13th over: Australia 25-2 (Watson 7, Clarke 16) Clarke works Bresnan for consecutive twos into the leg side. He looks busy, even by his standards. These conditions bring to mind that amazing World Cup semi-final between these two sides in 1975. If you're not familiar with the game, take some knowledge.
14th over: Australia 39-2 (Watson 20, Clarke 16) Watson drives Broad handsomely over mid off for four, the first boundary of his innings. He's beaten either side of that shot, first pushing defensively and then cutting. A front-foot no-ball from Broad gives Watson the chance to unsheath the long handle – and he enjoys that moment of freedom by heaving the free hit over long on for six! That's an outstanding over for Australia, 14 from it. The score looks almost normal now.
15th over: Australia 40-2 (Watson 21, Clarke 16) Watson misses a violent pull at the new bowler Bopara. One from the over.
16th over: Australia 47-2 (Watson 26, Clarke 18) I always had a soft spot for the opening credits from Go as well. Lionrock junkieism. England take the bowling Powerplay at the first opportunity and Watson drills Broad down the ground for four more. There was a sniff of a caught-and-bowled chance but the ball died on Broad and I don't think it carried. Even if it had done so, it would have been nigh on impossible for such a tall man to get down by his ankles in his follow through. Broad has conceded more runs in three overs (24) than the rest have in 13 (23).
17th over: Australia 52-2 (Watson 27, Clarke 22) Bresnan starts his over with a pretty big LBW shout against Watson, who was again outside the line. Clarke then drives through mid off for four. This has been such an impressive, mature partnership, although Clarke is beaten by a grotesque seamer off the last ball of the over. "A little obvious I guess," says James Lace, "but a great film and a truly great opening for what is to come." It's safe to assume James is not talking about Wild Wild West.
18th over: Australia 57-2 (Watson 28, Clarke 26) Anderson replaces Broad and strays onto the pads of Clarke, who flicks him behind square for four. That brings up a superb fifty partnership from 74 balls. England haven't been quite at their best in the last few overs though.
"Too many opening titles to choose from," says Steve McNally, "but I seem to come back to 'Blue Velvet'." Mulholland Drive is good too.
WICKET! Australia 57-3 (Watson b Bresnan 28) Shane Watson, you daft bugger. He had played so well, done all the hard work, and then he gave his wicket away with a loose shot. Watson shaped to glide the ball to third man but it came back off the seam, cramped him for room and went back onto the stumps off the bottom edge.
19th over: Australia 59-3 (Clarke 27, Bailey 1) "I can't quite get my head around the weather at the moment," says Clare Davies. "Cricket in Chester-le-Street with floods in Sheffield not that far down the road. All cricket rained off pretty much yesterday in England while I spent the day lounging in hot sun and paddling in the sea. All very odd."
20th over: Australia 59-3 (Clarke 27, Bailey 1) The sun has come out. In July. A maiden from Anderson to Clarke. "How about Harold and Maude?" says Dennis Johns. "Can't remember what the song is or who did it, but it sounds like Simon & Garfunkel and soundtracks the first (though not the best) of Harold's mock suicides."
21st over: Australia 66-3 (Clarke 28, Bailey 7) Bailey crashes Bresnan through the covers for four and is then beaten on the inside by a big nipbacker. Australia are in a deceptively reasonable position here, even though England will of course be happier.
WICKET! Australia 68-4 (Bailey b Bopara 9) Bloody hell. Ravi Bopara has bowled George Bailey with a jaffa, a wonderful leg-cutter that beat the outside edge and hit the top of off stump. That was the kind of delivery Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh bowled all summer in 2000. It seemed too good to be true, and Bopara stared at the wicket for a few seconds before realising it was out.
REVIEW! Australia 68-4 (D Hussey not out 0) David Hussey survives a big LBW shout second ball. England are going to review this. It was full, pretty much yorker length from Bopara, and hit Hussey on the toe as he pushed around his front boot. This is very close, although I reckon it might only be shaving leg stump rather than hitting it on the full. Yes, Hussey survives as we stay with the umpire's call, although at least 49 per cent of the ball was hitting leg stump. That was desperately close.
22nd over: Australia 68-4 (Clarke 28, D Hussey 0) "Just thought I'd keep you up to date with R W T Key," writes Jon Dean. "Went to the T20 at Canterbury yesterday to see Kent put in a dispiritingly abject display against Essex. Forgetting the awfulness of having cheerleaders, the Nando's chicken, and Justin Timber-like, one noticeable element was RWT's 7 from 14 balls. Kent were 42 for two after 10 overs. It was my first time seeing him in all his flesh, and I was pretty disappointed." How dare you. Wash your mouth out with gin this instant.
23rd over: Australia 70-4 (Clarke 29, D Hussey 0) Now Clarke survives a huge LBW appeal from Broad, but England have used their review so they have to accept the decision. The wrong decision. Clarke was plumb. He drove around a fullish inswinger that would have hit the top of leg stump. If England had been able to review the decision it would have been overturned as Clarke would have been out. Australia could easily be six down here.
This is where the DRS doesn't work. England lost their review even though 49.99 per cent of the ball was hitting the stumps, and as a result they were unable to review a pretty clear LBW. On Sky, Nick Knight suggests that maybe you shouldn't lose your review if the ball is hitting the stumps. It's worth considering and maybe even testing, although it's not as clear cut as you might think because the game would become very fragmented.
24th over: Australia 72-4 (Clarke 30, D Hussey 1) Two from Bopara's over. He's bowling excellently. "Since someone brought up Simon and Garfunkel, I have to mention The Graduate," says Phil Morton. "But I do like the choice of Once Upon A Time In the West. It's sorta like the opening chord in Don Giovanni."
25th over: Australia 75-4 (Clarke 32, D Hussey 2) Clarke is dropped again! This was a much tougher chance to Anderson at slip. He drove outside off stump at Broad, with the ball moving off the seam just enough to take the edge. Anderson, who was probably put off by Kieswetter diving in front of him, couldn't hold on as he dived low to his left. Those chances are very difficult when somebody dives in front of you. Remember the gem that Graeme Hick took at Headingley in 2000?
26th over: Australia 76-4 (Clarke 33, D Hussey 2) Bopara beats Clarke again. He is an excellent fifth seamer in conditions like these, and currently has figures of 4-0-6-1. "Not the greatest film ever," says Tony Cowards, "but the opening animation for Catch Me If You Can is pretty good."
27th over: Australia 77-4 (Clarke 34, D Hussey 2) The two wickets of Watson and Bailey have inevitably slowed the Aussies down, with only 11 runs from the last six overs. "In terms of more modern movies this is one of the best opening sequences I have seen in a few years," says James Lace. "There is something about most of the tracks used in this film I like." Of course! I feel thoroughly inadequate for forgetting Drive. The most exhilarating opening credits in years.
28th over: Australia 83-4 (Clarke 34, D Hussey 7) Clarke, beaten by another fine legcutter from Bopara, survives a fairly close LBW appeal on height. Hussey clips a rare boundary wide of mid-on and then shoulders arms at a nipbacker that bounces this far over off stump. Bopara is bowling outrageously well and beats Clarke with consecutive deliveries later in the over.
"I once gave a class on how film has represented the city and started with two of my favourite opening titles, both of which are sensational in their marrying of images to music and contrast wonderfully well: Manhattan and Taxi Driver," says Gary Naylor. "But the best opening titles question is always settled by mentioning Aguirre, The Wrath of God. Herzog's camera, Popol Vuh's ethereal music and Machu Picchu – and Klaus Kinski still to come!"
29th over: Australia 83-4 (Clarke 34, D Hussey 7) Another over, yet another LBW appeal turned down. This was from Broad against Hussey. Broad thought it was out, and was about to celebrate when he realised he should probably turn roumd to appeal. It hit him on the back leg, but Hawkeye showed it was bouncing over the top. Good umpiring from Marais Erasmus.
"I agree with your point regarding the DRS, but conspicuous by it's absence is any criticism of what was a really poor decision by the umpire," says Brad McMillan. "I can't understand him not giving Clarke out, was he influenced by the review of the previous delivery?" No idea. Yes it was a bad decision, if not a complete shocker. We are so spoilt by the exceptional standard of umpiring that it can be easy to forget how difficult it is.
30th over: Australia 86-4 (Clarke 36, D Hussey 8) Samit Patel might be a specialist No7 today. You'd think Bopara will bowl 10 overs, so effective has he been. Hussey gets a late and crucial inside-edge for a single, one of three runs from the over. Bopara's figures are 6-0-14-1.
"Enough already about film credits, let's get back to the cricket," says John Starbuck. "TMS are telling us about Bopara's magic bowling, beating Clarke's defence twice an over. Is he good enough to stay in the team, or is it the ideal weather out there for him?" Both. The next six months will probably define Bopara's career, but he has earned his place in the one-day team and, hopefully, the Test team as well.
31st over: Australia 88-4 (Clarke 37, D Hussey 9) Steven Finn comes back into the attack and beats Clarke with a monstrous delivery, a full-length awayseaming lifter. "You're unlucky if you nick those," says Sir Ian Botham on Sky. The next ball is a sharp bouncer that forces Clarke to jump out of the way.
"This has always been a favourite," says Ben Dunn. "As was Spaceballs, but I didn't want to look that up as I watched it when young and don't want to discover that it's actually rubbish." That's one of life's trickiest decisions, isn't it? If you loved something when you were younger, do you risk tarnishing it in the hope of a sort of Proustian rush. Exhibit A: pretty much everything from the Britpop era.
32nd over: Australia 92-4 (Clarke 39, D Hussey 11) Australia's innings hits nonagenarian territory when Clarke drives Bopara for a single. They will have to 'go' at some stage, but when? The batting Powerplay is coming up although they might wait until the last seven or eight overs to have a swing.
"Psycho," announces Harry Tuttle, who may or may not be talking about film openings. "Nothing fancy; just a design classic typeface dancing and an all-time great theme. Stylish and anxiety-inducing."
WICKET! Australia 96-5 (Clarke b Finn 43) Steven Finn knocks Clarke over with a beauty! This boy is so good. Clarke tried to drive a full delivery that came back off the seam and through the gate with enough force to send the off stump flying. Finn has three from 15 and has bowled magnificently. Clarke goes for 43, a fortuitous but admirably defiant innings in very difficult conditions.
WICKET! Australia 96-6 (Wade c Kieswetter b Finn 0) Finn is on a hat-trick for the second time today, and Craig Kieswetter has taken an outrageous catch! The new batsman Matthew Wade inside edged another nasty delivery that lifted and seam, and Kieswetter flew like a goalkeeper to his right to take a stunning catch at the second attempt. He dropped it while he was in mid air but was aware enough to clasp the loose ball while he was on the way down. That was absolutely brilliant.
33rd over: Australia 100-6 (D Hussey 11, Lee 4) Lee shoulders arms to the hat-trick ball, is struck on the arm by a lifter and then screams a boundary through the covers.
"I see Mr Naylor's credits representing cities e-mail and add the opening credits to Taxi," says Neil Mackie. "Please note that this is the original French film (and the first time I saw Marion Cotillard) and not the abomination of an American remake. I suppose 'abomination' is redundant when talking about American remakes."
34th over: Australia 106-6 (D Hussey 16, Lee 4) Hussey gets his second boundary with a crisp drive through extra cover off the bowling of Bopara, who drops an extremely difficult low chance off his own bowling next ball.
"Re: 31st over," says David Wall. "I've had the box-set for Star Fleet in the 'save for later' section of the basket on Amazon for just that reason. Has anyone revisited it in the past few years to offer reassurance that it'll live up to memory, or if not for me would at least be a nice gift for friends' kids (and that they'll actually enjoy watching and not just mock me for what I liked when I was their age)?"
35th over: Australia 113-6 (D Hussey 17, Lee 10) Lee inside edges another sharp lifter from Finn for four. Finn has been close to unplayable today. Lee is beaten by consecutive deliveries and then drives a couple back over the bowler's head. Lee seems to have decided to get a few before the pitch gets him. "Run Lola Run!" says Charlie Bird, not unreasonably. Some irredeemable swine has had my DVD of that for years, and I can't remember who it is. Come on, own up.
36th over: Australia 116-6 (D Hussey 19, Lee 11) Australia have to take their Powerplay now, from overs 36 to 40. Three from Bresnan's over, which includes a good short ball that pins Lee on the bottom hand.
"Even more obvious," says Andrew Williams. "Obviously obvious in fact, but every young boy should feel a tremor of excitement when they see this..."
37th over: Australia 119-6 (D Hussey 21, Lee 12) Broad replaces Finn, who has two overs remaining. Nothing happens. "'Outrageous catch by Kieswetter' is one of those phrases that you never expect to write, on a par with 'No emails from Gary Naylor today' or 'Stuart Broad does't look too disappointed with that decision'," says Richard O'Hagan. "I am still not convinced of the merits of picking Kieswetter over Prior, but I think this is probably the best I have seen him play in an England shirt." He has the happy habit of catching the edges and dropping the ones that beat the edge, although he clearly still has a lot to learn, especially as he's now in a new role at No6.
38th over: Australia 124-6 (D Hussey 25, Lee 12) A poor ball from Bresnan is cut for four by Hussey. This is turning into a pretty useful partnership in the context of a low-scoring game; they have added 27 already. "The Naked Gun," says Matt Dony. "'Nuff said."
39th over: Australia 126-6 (D Hussey 26, Lee 13) Two from Broad's over. "This week I have been showing my daughter old episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine, as I'm fed up of the CGI descendant that's currently on tv," says Brad McMillan. "She loved it, particularly the hilarious facial expressions on the different trains. I was also genuinely surprised by how enjoyable I found it, one of the few things from my childhood that actually seems to be as good as I thought it was then. Simple pleasures!" I bet Bananaman has aged well.
40th over: Australia 129-6 (D Hussey 27, Lee 14) This has been a very sleepy Powerplay, with Australia slowly inching towards what might be a competitive total. They are still in this game, especially as they have five good seamers. Bresnan has a lone appeal for caught behind against Lee. It brushed something but I think it was the arm guard.
"I've always thought this was the greatest opening sequence ever," says Marie Meyer. "But like all other movies about American high school life that aren't Clueless, the rest of the movie is wretched." Don't forget Heathers. It wouldn't be very to forget Heathers.
41st over: Australia 131-6 (D Hussey 27, Lee 16) Alastair Cook decides to have a look at Samit Patel. Quite right too, because Patel's second delivery turns a mile to beat Brett Lee. 'Deadly' pops another from a length to hit Lee on the glove.
"Sorry to distract you with a cricket question, but I'd like you to settle a pub argument," says Darryl Anderson. "I argued that our bowling attack in 2005 was better than it is now but we're just doing better now due to our competition being poorer. My friend disagreed. What do you think?" There's only one way to settle a pub argument, and it doesn't involve email. Erm, yes, it's pretty close, and you could make a strong case for both attacks. I'd maybe go for this lot: they have proved themselves in all conditions (their bowling in the winter was unbelievably good), they have Swann, and they are slightly tougher mentally as a group.
42nd over: Australia 136-6 (D Hussey 32, Lee 16) Another catch goes down, the fourth of the innings I think. Hussey drove Bopara towards deep cover, where Bell charged in and put down a difficult low chance.
"I rather like the simplicity of the twanging zither that opens The Third Man," says Stephen Davenport. "But that's really an unsubtle attempt to expand the discussion by suggesting the closing scene as one of the best ever film endings of one of the best ever films."
43rd over: Australia 138-6 (D Hussey 33, Lee 17)
"Walk on the Wild Side," offers Mark Jelbert.
44th over: Australia 146-6 (D Hussey 38, Lee 20) Lee slaps Anderson high in the air but the ball lands safely; then Hussey edges a booming drive just wide of the diving Kieswetter for four. These are really useful runs for Australia, and a quick single brings up a fine fifty partnership. I have a feeling they are going to win this game.
"Whilst ineptly using Statsguru to try find out where Anderson and Broad are in the all-time England ODI wicket takers, I discovered that Anderson's next wicket will be his 500th for England," says Eleanor Stanley. "Of course he'll probably now fail to take a wicket in today's game rendering this email useless."
45th over: Australia 160-6 (D Hussey 51, Lee 21) Patel's third and almost certainly final over goes for 14. There's a run-out referral when Lee scampbers back for a second to long on. Hussey puts consecutive pieces of rubbish to the boundary at fine leg and deep midwicket, and then takes two to deep backward point to reach a superb fifty from 62 balls.
"How about the original Django from '66?" says Philip Bradwell. "Enjoy it before Tarantino's reimagining spoils it for you."
WICKET! Australia 166-7 (Lee c Broad b Anderson 27) That's Jimmy Anderson's 500th wicket in international cricket. Lee, who had slugged the previous ball for six, clouted this one straight down the throat of Broad at long on.
46th over: Australia 168-7 (D Hussey 52, McKay 1) Anderson is only the second man, after Sir Ian Botham, to take 500 wickets for England, and the 24th person overall. "Darryl's got the right idea but on the wrong basis," says Sean Clayton. "England's current bowling attack are a good bit better than the 2005 vintage (no worries about which Harmy will turn up, and Swann vs KoS is no contest) but the 2005 batting line-up is marginally better than this one, at Test level, anyway. By contrast, the 2012 Australians are a pale shadow of their 2005 team - how many of the current Aussie side would get into the 2005 Test team?" Clarke, Mike Hussey, maybe Pattinson or Siddle. That's about all.
47th over: Australia 170-7 (D Hussey 52, McKay 2) McKay appears to edge a drive through to Kieswetter to give Finn his fifth wicket. It seems routine, and a shocker from Marais Erasmus when he says not out. In fact it was a wonderful decision. The apparently incriminating noise was bat on pad and Hotspot shows there was no edge. That's a sensational piece of umpiring. McKay can barely lay a bat on Finn in the course of a fabulous over. Finn's figures are 9-2-28-4. This, by the way, is the list of English five-fors in ODIs. There have been 23 in all, and the list includes a few relatively unlikely names: Patel, Jarvis, Ealham, Irani, Collingwood, Hick, Woakes. And Hendrick. Not because he wasn't a wonderful bowler, but because he famously never took a five-for in Test cricket.
WICKET! Australia 174-8 (McKay c Bresnan b Anderson 6) McKay lofts Anderson miles in the air, and Bresnan runs round from mid off (I think) to take a very good diving catch with the ball swirling nastily. Anderson has 501 wickets for England.
48th over: Australia 177-8 (D Hussey 54, Pattinson 1) Hussey keeps the strike with a single off the last ball. Anderson ends with figures of 10-3-34-2.
49th over: Australia 186-8 (D Hussey 62, Pattinson 2) Hussey makes room to clout Finn straight back over his head for four, a fine shot. Finn's final over costs nine, so he ends with outstanding figures of 10-2-37-4. It's amazing to think he almost certainly won't be playing the first Test against South Africa in a fortnight's time. He is developing into a glorious fast bowler. Look at his figures in one-day cricket this year.
WICKET! Australia 194-9 (D Hussey c Anderson b Bresnan 70) After hitting Bresnan for consecutive boundaries, Hussey holes out to long on, where Anderson takes a nonchalant running catch. Hussey goes for a fantastic 70, made from only 73 balls, and there are three balls remaining.
50th over: Australia 200-9 (Pattinson 8, Hilfenhaus 0) A trio of twos from Pattinson get Australia up to 200, a fine effort considering they were 96 for six in the 33rd over. England are favourites but this target of 201 won't be easy. I'm off to do some food. Scott Murray will be with you for the first 10 overs of their reply; you can email him on scott.murray@guardian.co.uk.
INNINGS BREAK
Please accept my apologies in advance for the basic nature of the following ten overs. Straight Bat Scotty's not been at the helm of an OBO for years, and no wonder, because the last time I was sent out to bat, my report contained two descriptions of Kevin Petersen clattering sixes into the stands. The first one was fair enough; the second however turned out to be a television replay of the first one. Oh Straight Bat Scotty! How could you! So this is what we're dealing with. But Po' Bob needs to eat and ablute. Don't worry, he'll be back soon, fresh and raring to go! But in the interim, you'll be nice to me, no? It's not my fault I was put through the wrong stream at school.
Hola, dear people. Now, then, what are England going to do in this here second innings? Should be a fascinating reply, because while 201's a perfectly achievable target on the face of it, the ball's doing a wee bit. But first things first...
Right, here we go. The Aussies take to the field in their pretty yellow outfits. Most summery, which is apt enough, because while it's breezy in Chester-le-Street, the sun's out. Brett Lee will open the attack for Australia, fizzing the first delivery upside the head of blue-clad England captain Alastair Cook...
1st over: England 0-0 (Cook 0, Bell 0) In an email with the subject heading "Being gentle", Harry Tuttle writes: "How many hole-in-ones do you think Australia will hit today?" I don't know about that, Harry, but England haven't done any cricket points yet. It's nil nil a maiden. Lee has the ball moving all over the shop; Cook takes a tentative waft towards one but withdraws his bat just in time. He wasn't far from edging that one.
2nd over: England 1-0 (Cook 0, Bell 0) Ben Hilfenhaus steaming in from the other end. His first delivery swerves hither and yon, like a teenager full of Special Brew. Then a loose one down the leg side; wide. He's getting plenty of movement, though, the ball swinging wildly to the offside. Nothing to tempt Bell into anything rash, though.
3rd over: England 13-0 (Cook 11, Bell 1) A loose, short delivery by Lee, crashed through square leg by Cook for four. And another! The second ball by Lee wasn't quite so short, but wide enough for Cook to shimmy backwards, open up, and crisply clip the ball to the boundary. Then a collected swish through midwicket for another three. The final ball of the over is nudged to extra cover for a single for Bell. So anyway, it didn't take long before I got an email beginning "Oh dear oh dear Scott!" And here it is. "Oh dear oh dear Scott!" writes Clare A. Davies. "Are you deliberately taking your life in your hands by describing the Aussies' glorious gold and green pyjamas as 'pretty yellow'? Or hoping that, being the middle of the night Downunder, you'll get away with it? Risky business, my friend, very risky! Still at least you didn't call it 'canary yellow'!" Well in fairness, it is yellow. And it is very pretty. Golden and gorgeous. The aesthetes of Aus. Doesn't matter what hemisphere one resides in, we're all comfortable with our sexuality these days.
4th over: England 16-0 (Cook 12, Bell 3) A nudge here, a clip through the covers there. Painting pictures with words here! Admittedly the sort parents stick up on the fridge, but pictures nonetheless.
5th over: England 22-0 (Cook 12, Bell 9) A change of bowling for the Aussies, Chris Isaak vague-a-like Clint McKay coming into the attack. Keeping right up to date with the pop zeitgeist there. Roxette references coming up soon. A beautiful shot by Bell, creamed through extra cover for four. Then a huge shout for lbw, Bell stepping down the pitch, the ball swinging in and clattering into his pads. Australia don't bother with the review, and a wise thing too, it was going way over the stumps.
6th over: England 26-0 (Cook 13, Bell 12) Unlike Lee, Hilfenhaus hasn't been quickly and quietly hooked, keeping things much more tight up his end. And again he's not leaking too many runs, just the single off the first five balls. Oh hold on, here comes another three, stroked through mid-wicket by the in-form Bell, not quite with enough oomph to make the rope. A nice steady start here for England.
Any old excuse to put some Nilsson up. Animals Schmanimals.
7th over: England 27-0 (Cook 13, Bell 13) Another fairly uneventful one, just the single off it. Meanwhile the Australian reserve Steven Smith came on for Shane Watson for a couple of minutes, causing Sky genius Bumble to drift off on a reverie regarding Alan Price's cover of the Randy Newman song Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear.
8th over: England 36-0 (Cook 13, Bell 21) James Pattinson comes into the attack. His first delivery is smashed through square leg for four, and he's overstepped the mark too, so Bell's gifted a free hit. He makes absolutely nothing of it with a wild swish. Pattinson keeps it fairly tight afterwards, until the final ball, that is, which is short and loose and skelped through mid-wicket for four.
9th over: England 36-0 (Cook 13, Bell 21) McKay screams lustily, claiming to have trapped Cook plum lbw, but that ball's drifting way outside the off stump, and the batsman's hit the ball in any case. Nope. A maiden, though, which is good news in anybody's language.
10th over: England 42-0 (Cook 13, Bell 27) Pattinson sends a ripsnorter down the track, Bell doing well to withdraw his bat at the last, with the ball doing all sorts off the seam. And then the bowler's so unlucky, Bell flailing wildly and over-reaching for a ball he should never go for, finding a thick outside edge, the ball spooning over second slip and away for four. A couple of inches lower, and that would have been that for Bell. He flicks another couple off his legs. Australia could have done with a wicket during that powerplay, but nothing's doing. Still, they've shored the runs up a tad, and could have had a breakthrough during that last over. And more good news: Bob's back!
11th over: England 43-0 (target 201; Cook 14, Bell 27) Thanks to Straight Bat Scotty. And, if you have an England head on, to Clint McKay, who has just dropped Alastair Cook off his own bowling. It was a sharp chance to his right, but he might feel he should have taken it. Cook slices a drive over the vacant gully area later in the over.
"I got an email from a woman who I chatted up (spilled my drink on) at a bar and she sent me her mobile number so we, she says, can write to each other," says OBO lothario Ian Copestake. "Am I now in an SMS relationship? Do I have to do smileys?" Never sell out. Never. Unless you suspect she's going off you, in which compromise ever principle you have in a desperate attempt to hang on.
12th over: England 48-0 (target 201; Cook 19, Bell 27) Watson is on for Pattinson, with Wade up to the stumps. His third ball is a lamentable wide half-volley that Cook crashes to the cover boundary. Watson, a reluctant bowler at the best of times, is limping a little and has a face on.
REVIEW! England 48-0 (Cook not out 19) Cook survives a massive LBW shout when Pattinson shapes one back into him. Was there an inside edge? If not, Cook is in trouble. I think this will be out. There was no inside edge – but in fact it pitched outside leg stump and Cook survives. That's another excellent decision from Marais Erasmus. Australia have used their only review.
13th over: England 48-0 (target 201; Cook 19, Bell 27) A maiden from Pattinson. "I think the current Test side is a far better side than the 2005 team, but the 2005 team was just so bloody exciting," says Tom Bason. "The four seamers were wonderful to watch, especially Simon Jones. As for the batting, with Trescothick, Vaughan, a young KP and Flintoff, it was far more exciting to watch, as opposed to the relentless run machines in the team now, especially at the top of the order."
I know what you mean, although it's interesting to note that, in 2011, England scored their Test runs faster than ever before. A lot of that was down to the lower middle order of course.
14th over: England 58-0 (target 201; Cook 23, Bell 32) Shane Watson has gone off to receive treatment, so back comes Ben Hilfenhaus. Michael Clarke is playing around with the field; he has a first slip and a fourth slip for Bell, who ignores those distractions and waves a wonderful extra-cover drive for four to bring up the fifty partnership. Early days of course, but these two have started well as an opening pair. Hilfenhaus bowls a front-foot no-ball, although Bell can only heave a single off the ensuing free hit. Cook tucks four more through square leg to end an expensive over. England are cruising.
15th over: England 65-0 (target 201; Cook 24, Bell 37) Bell times a short ball from Pattinson deliciously through the covers for four. He is playing just beautifully at the moment, and this pinch-stroking role looks perfect for him.
"I have visited old haunts, I have eaten old favourite dishes, I have dropped bundles on box sets of gogglebox nostalgia from Captain Scarlet to UFO via The Champions, The Persuaders and The Professionals and have been roundly disappointed each and every time," says Grant Cartledge. "The Past, I have decided, is a place best viewed through rose-tinted beer glasses." Er, hello? Kula Shaker?
16th over: England 66-0 (target 201; Cook 25, Bell 37) Andy Flower is smiling on the balcony. What next, a glimpse of Ivan Lendl's teeth? (I don't mean that in a bad way. We are all madly in love with Andy Flower. It's just not often you see him smile.) Brett Lee comes back into the attack, with Australia taking their bowling Powerplay, but now he is struggling as well. It's a problem with his right calf, and he leaves the field to generous applause after bowling two balls of the over. Ben Hilfenhaus completes the over.
WICKET! England 70-1 (Cook c sub b McKay 29) One down, nine to go. Australia will probably have to bowl England out to win this game, and Clint McKay has taken the first wicket. Alastair Cook drove low to short extra cover, where the substitute Steve Smith took a sharp low catch.
17th over: England 71-1 (target 201; Bell 37, Trott 1) Trott is beaten first ball and then edges his third wide of the slip for a single. "Wouldn't it be fun if someone on the England team could whack the ball like Chris Gayle is doing today in the ODI against New Zealand?" says Cheri Powers. "As for memory lane, I have the first two seasons of The Avengers (1965 and 1966) – actually the show is quite interesting despite lack of computer-generated graphics. I refuse to watch the later seasons. Once Diana Rigg left, I didn't want to see any wannabes. Mrs. Peel was the greatest role model – a scientist and often rescued Steed and wore great clothes."
18th over: England 76-1 (target 201; Bell 40, Trott 3) England comfortably milk Hilfenhaus for five. The target is down to 125 from 192 balls.
19th over: England 80-1 (target 201; Bell 42, Trott 4) Two runs from a good over by McKay. England used to, almost as a matter of course, blow winning positions like these against Australia in one-day matches. Lord's 1993, Adelaide 1999 and Hobart 2003 are just three examples. It's a reflection of how they have come that nobody is really considering the possibility of it happening today.
20th over: England 84-1 (target 201; Bell 43, Trott 7) A precis of all the excitement in that over:
21st over: England 86-1 (target 201; Bell 44, Trott 8) Michael Clarke brings himself on in an attempt to make something happen. There was some turn for Samit Patel earlier in the day. A harmless first over costs two. "I was given all three Smokey and the Bandit films for Christmas," says Richard O'Hagan. "The third one is rubbish but the first two are classic, even if CB radio seems as dated as a double scoop bat or those mitten gloves that Botham wore in his early days."
22nd over: England 88-1 (target 201; Bell 45, Trott 9) It's spin from both ends – well, slow bowling at least – with David Hussey coming into the attack. Actually, it is spin. The second ball turns fairly sharply to Trott, who defends. Two from the over. This is not exactly sexy cricket, but England won't care; at the moment they are cruising towards victory.
"Amazingly, Chris Gayle is not the best thing about the other ODI currently uinderway," says Gary Naylor. "For Sabina Park is sporting a rope to mark the boundary - and it's a hairy old rope to boot. That may not seem much, but I've been flushed with a Proustian nostalgia." Which is as good a reason as any to link to this lovely scene.
23rd over: England 94-1 (target 201; Bell 50, Trott 10) Bell late cuts Clarke for four to reach another high-class half-century, from 71 balls and with seven fours. He has recovered extremely well from his Ajmal trauma earlier this year.
24th over: England 98-1 (target 201; Bell 51, Trott 13) Trott reverse sweeps Hussey for a couple. I don't know what else to say.
25th over: England 99-1 (target 201; Bell 52, Trott 13) Pattinson comes back for Clarke, who didn't really get much out of the pitch. Australia really need a wicket. Trott has a non-fatal fiddle outside off stump. Nothing else happens. Life goes on.
"Seeing as Dave Warner reacted to the moving ball this morning in the manner of a man who had been quantum leeped to a parallelt dimension that looked remarkably similarly to the one he had been inhabiting with a few slight but very important differences I'd imagine Anderson and Broad can't wait to have four slips, two gullies and a dark red ball in their mitts on damp morning at lords next summer," says Peter Robertson. "I really can't see, with the exception of Michael Clarke and maybe Michael Hussey, where the Aussie runs are going to come from against good bowling." I'd be loath to write Warner off. I didn't think he struggled particularly this morning; he tried to build an innings carefully but then missed a good one.
26th over: England 103-1 (target 201; Bell 54, Trott 15)
"Afternoon Smyth, afternoon everybody," says Josh Robinson. "Anyone else think the Australians should be pleased with their improvement since they last played a series against England? After all, they've not lost by an innings yet. (Sorry.)" A life-affirming joke, truly one of the greats and no mistake, tarnished only marginally by the fact the last series between these sides, just after the 2010-11 Ashes, ended Australia 6-1 England.
27th over: England 108-1 (target 201; Bell 54, Trott 20) This is a clinical, almost dispassionate chase from England. Trott pings Pattinson through square leg for four more. England need 93 from 23 overs.
28th over: England 109-1 (target 201; Bell 54, Trott 21) Hussey is rattling through his overs economically enough; he has bowled four for 11 runs. I suppose Australia will hope to sneak the required rate up to around 5.5 per over and then induce a bit of panic with a couple of wickets. "Just when you think you can't love your kids anymore, one of them does something completely unprompted that leaves you with bursting with fatherly pride," says Chris Davis. "Here's a portrait of Ian Bell that my four-year-old son, Danny Davis, just presented me with. I think it's a forward defensive stroke." The considerable temptation to say 'Aw, bless!' is tempered slightly by the realisation that it's better than anything I could draw even now.
29th over: England 117-1 (target 201; Bell 54, Trott 29) Our satellite signal is down. Not much point me hanging around then. Bye! Ah, it's back down. Pattinson is too straight to Trott, who breadandbutters him through square leg for four more. The next ball goes for four as well thanks to a comedy misfield from the sub Doherty. He hared round the boundary from third man and ran straight past the ball as it pitched and turned past his left leg.
30th over: England 122-1 (target 201; Bell 57, Trott 31) "Who would you have in your World Test XI right this minute?" says Lee Rodwell. "(And I might well ask you again at the end of the summer to see if there've been any changes.)" I don't know. It's so hard to keep up with Test cricket these days, such is the volume. I suppose the bowling attack would have to be Steyn, Anderson, Ajmal and one other, maybe Broad to bolster the batting at No8. Prior would certainly be keeper. AB de Villiers would also need to be in, and Clarke, perhaps as captain. Sangakkara as well maybe. Chanderpaul of course. Not sure about the openers. I suppose Sehwag, even though there is evidence he is fractionally past his best.
31st over: England 123-1 (target 201; Bell 58, Trott 31) McKay is back on for Pattinson. Nothing happens. How about this team: Sehwag, Cook, Sangakkara, Clarke (c), de Villiers, Chanderpaul, Prior (wk), Broad Steyn, Anderson, Ajmal. Too many England players? Maybe. You could put Smith instead of Cook, or Philander for Broad, although the latter would mean a long tail.
32nd over: England 131-1 (target 201; Bell 65, Trott 32) Michael Clarke has not so much rolled the dice here as said three wishes to it. He has brought on David Warner, who usually bowls legspin but is going to try medium pace here. He has never bowled before in an ODI, although he does have three Test wickets. It's probably a worthwhile move from Clarke, straight from the Mark Taylor book of captaincy, although it doesn't work here. Warner's second ball is a full toss that Bell dismisses over midwicket for four. "It just feels so strange and oddly sad to be saying 'poor Australia'," says Cheri Powers.
WICKET! England 136-2 (Bell b McKay 69) Bell drives McKay effortlessly over mid off for four. This is exquisite batting. He is playing like Mark Waugh used to at the top of the order. You don't need me to tell you what happens next. Bell chops on, trying to steer to third man a ball that was too close for the shot. That was very similar to Watson's dismissal earlier in the day. It's a soft end to another fine innings from Bell. Since he replaced Kevin Pietersen as opener he has scored 126, 53, 41, 75 and now 69.
33rd over: England 136-2 (target 201; Trott 33, Bopara 0) England need 65 from 102 balls. "From the pavilion end: Warner, Right Arm Steak and Kidney," says Ant Pease.
34th over: England 138-2 (target 201; Trott 34, Bopara 1) Warner is replaced after one over, with Clarke bringing himself on. England are cruising, very slowly but very surely, to victory. "I'd take that first XI you picked, definitely," says Lee Rodwell. "Feels like a lot has changed over the last few years with parallel generations of Australian and Indian greats on their way out. Sehwag and Cook would be a great opening partnership though – both thoroughly demoralising for opposition bowlers and captains for completely different reasons."
35th over: England 140-2 (target 201; Trott 36, Bopara 1) Trott chips the excellent McKay just short of mid off. He has been Australia's best bowler in this series by a reasonable distance. Trott survives a very strong LBW shout later in the over, and of course Australia have no review left. I'm not sure what was wrong with that. Actually Hawkeye shows it was only shaving the top of the bail, so that's a fair enough decision from Marais Erasmus.
"Sangakarra in as a pure batsman?" says Sean Boiling. "With Prior keeping wicket? Aren't you losing a slot for a 'proper' batter if you do that? Surely you'd have Sangakarra (or Dhoni for that matter) keeping wicket ahead of Prior?" Sangakkara hasn't kept wicket for years, not in a Test. In Tests he averages 40 when he keeps wicket and an awesome 70 when he plays purely as a batsman. Plus I think Prior is the best counter-attacking No7 in the world.
36th over: England 145-2 (target 201; Trott 40, Bopara 2) England have to take their Powerplay now, so Michael Clarke goes back to Ben Hilfenhaus. Trott waves him through the covers for a couple. "Can't see how you can pick Sehwag after his pathetic efforts in Australia this year," says Martin Gillam. "He was so pathetic against anything that bounced above hip high that as an erstwhile Sehwag fan, I now have to question whether he has ever been much good except under friendly conditions." You might be right, and he hasn't got runs in Tests for 18 months now, although I'm not sure who else there is. Too early for Warner, too late for Strauss. Dilshan? Smith? Maybe we could ask Slugger Gayle to play.
37th over: England 150-2 (target 201; Trott 43, Bopara 4) Trott drives the willing McKay pleasantly for three more. McKay bowled very well and ends with figures of 10-1-29-2. England need 51 from 78 ballzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
38th over: England 151-2 (target 201; Trott 44, Bopara 4) This is not meant particularly as a criticism, but this has been one of the most boring run-chases in living memory. It's like watching Spain dry.
"You highlight how well Bell has done as an opener of late so... I know England's winning run began with KP in the team, but is it possible that England are better off without him?" says Ben Hendy. "Could his ... erm ... big personality act as a distraction for the rest of the team? Is there more of a team ethos without a figjam in there?" It's hard to say. I suspect not, although we don't know the dressing room. There will be an interesting decision to make if he does come back, though.
39th over: England 155-2 (target 201; Trott 48, Bopara 4) Trott pulls the new bowler Pattinson expertly for four to bring the target below 50. "Hello Martin," writes Gabriela Stacy. "At the present even in diplomatic circles you will feel like you belong there. Now, with just a few simple clicks, you can have that watch you ve always wanted!"
40th over: England 157-2 (target 201; Trott 49, Bopara 5) Chris Gayle has reached his century. Just eight sixes this time.
41st over: England 162-2 (target 201; Trott 50, Bopara 9) Trott takes a quick single off Pattinson to reach the usual half-century, a serene effort from 87 balls. It's his 17th in ODIs to go with three centuries and an average just shy of fifty. Bopara gets his first boundary later in the over, inside edging a big flash to fine leg.
42nd over: England 172-2 (target 201; Trott 56, Bopara 12) David Hussey comes back into the attack and is milked for 10 from the over, none in boundaries. "Afternoon Martin," says Phil Sawyer. "This is indeed dull, but there's an enjoyably grim satisfaction in seeing England say sod it to all these newfangled ideas about how to win 50-over matches and going with what's worked so well for them in the Test arena for the last few years. Starve the opposition of runs, then remorselessly grind their way to the total required. It ain't pretty, but it's pretty effective. I for one am not complaining."
43rd over: England 175-2 (target 201; Trott 58, Bopara 13) Nine sixes for Gayle now. "Come on boys!" says Matthew Wade. "Who knows?" I'll tell you who knows, Matthew. Every single person on the planet. What's that?
"Could we just say big congratulations to a couple of British cyclists today?" says Clare Davies. "Chris Froome (yes I know born in Kenya, cue the usual comments) won the seventh stage of Le Tour de France and Bradley Wiggins (yes I know, born in Belgium, Aussie father etc etc) took the Maillot Jaune just 50 years and one day after Tommy Simpson took Britain's first ever Yellow Jersey. A magnificent effort from the lads and all of their team."
44th over: England 181-2 (target 201; Trott 61, Bopara 16) I wonder when England last enjoyed a passage of play against Australia quite so easy as this. The Packer years? Bopara whaps Hussey through midwicket for two more and then drives a single down the ground. Twenty to win.
45th over: England 182-2 (target 201; Trott 61, Bopara 17) Bopara fresh-airs an expansive drive at Pattinson, who ends with figures of 10-1-46-0. For those of you who asked, England have never before won four matches in a bilateral ODI series with Australia. They've only won three on two occasions.
46th over: England 193-2 (target 201; Trott 62, Bopara 27) Bopara pulls some rubbish for Hussey for four, and then heaves a full toss for four more. He has developed the peculiar habit of getting out with one or two needed for victory, so he'll be keen to see England home today.
47th over: England 196-2 (target 201; Trott 63, Bopara 29) Trott survives a stumping referral after being beaten by a peach from Clarke that turns sharply. England need five to win.
ENGLAND WIN BY EIGHT WICKETS AND WIN THE SERIES; 47.5 overs: England 201-2 (Trott 64, Bopara 33) That's it. Bopara does get England over the line at last, driving Hussey for three to complete a crushing victory in both the match and the series. They were in control of this game before a ball was bowled: Alastair Cook won an important toss, and Steven Finn took advantage with a magnificent bowling display. That aside it was a pretty boring game, in truth, but that should not detract from what England have achieved. They have hammered Australia and lead 3-0 with one match to play at Old Trafford on Tuesday. One day, when we're old and in the special chair, we'll look back and realise that these were very special times for English cricket. Thanks for your emails; night.