I really envy professional cricketers. I've just had an exam and it's freezing cold. Instead, if I was a little bit better, I could constantly follow the sunshine to play the sport I love all year round. That said, a little bit of Edinburgh came to Sydney to further disrupt the Aussies preparations for the Ashes. Here's how the rest of their ODI series with Sri Lanka panned out:
2nd ODI (Sydney) - Sri Lanka 213-3 (41.3 overs) (Tharanga 86* off 112) beat Australia 210 (37.4 overs) by 29 runs (D/L method). There is no doubt that Australia got shafted by Messrs Duckworth and Lewis in this game. 240 off 38 overs was always a stiff ask. But then, they hadn't taken enough Sri Lankan wickets, and looked impotent with ball in hand on a flat SCG wicket. The only Aussie bowler who vaguely impressed me was Nathan Hauritz and that was only the way in which he compensated for the way the batsmen were constantly trying to charge him and loft him down the ground. He clearly possesses the mental attributes for Test cricket, but I and the rest of the cricketing world will always doubt his actual ability. Shane Watson picked up the other 2 wickets and claims he is in the form of his life with the ball and wants more overs during the Ashes, having bowled a few overs of crap in 2009. Upul Tharanga stood out for Sri Lanka. Although his timing was not always perfect, his placement was and he held the innings together, allowing more flamboyant shotmakers to play around him to reach a match-winning score. I cannot see why his place in the side is constantly under scrutiny - so often has he been the perfect foil for Dilshan, Sangakkara et al and so often has he been the one to make a big score compensating for what can be a fragile middle order. The Aussie batting effort was short on highlights, save for the biggest six I've ever seen struck by Mitchell Johnson. The rain had caused the outfield to slow, meaning that shotmakers like Cameron White were failing to reach the boundary. Again, the Sri Lankan bowlers were disciplined without being amazing but that was enough in this instance.
3rd ODI (Brisbane) - Australia 119-2 (21.4 overs) (Clarke 50* off 51) beat Sri Lanka 115 (32 overs) (McKay 9-1-33-5, Starc 9-0-27-4) by 8 wickets with 170 balls remaining. A thrashing in a dead rubber will have eased some of the supposed tension in the hosts' dressing room. More interesting was the Gabba pitch, which offered sharp bounce to the pace bowlers, as well as some alarming movement - one delivery from Johnson was clocked at 90mph and yet seamed like on off-break. Clint McKay may appear the chief wrecker, but for me Mitchell Starc was the standout bowler. A tall left-armer, he utilised the sharp bounce to great effect and got just enough movement away from the right-handers to take the edge. Don't rule out an apparence in the Ashes for this lad - he's probably equivalent to Steven Finn in the England setup. Quite simply, the Sri Lankan batsmen didn't turn up and another middle order collapse was not papered over by Malinga and Mathews on this occasion. They will need to solidify their batting for the World Cup on home soil next year. If they can do that, and find a bit of consistency, then they have an excellent chance of winning it. The run chase was over after a wild first over from Dilhara Fernando - very quick, but plenty of no-balls and wides! It was good to see Michael Clarke, a great cricketer, leading his side hom to victory with a 50, after a week in which his future captaincy credentials were very publically brought under the microscope.
That's it for the Aussies for now, except a brief apology to Ben Hilfenhaus, for omitting him for the list of likely Aussie bowlers. He will most likely start at the Gabba, get injured and not be seen for another 12 months. It's what he does.
Now England - who actually won a warm-up match for a change:
England 223-8d (Pietersen 58, Broad 53*) and 243-4 (Strauss 120*) beat Western Australia 242-8d (Voges 72, Robinson 62) and 223 (Robinson 54, Swann 4-101) by 4 wickets.
There is plenty to rejoice about here - Firstly, Pietersen got some runs and in some style. That will boost his confidence and ego (the main source of his problems) no end. Also, Swann managed to pick up wickets on a different surface to that which he is accustomed. He admitted he struggled in the first innings, but found new ways to dominate the batsmen. And finally, there is skipper Strauss, who got his team home with a fairly tough required run rate and batsmen falling around him. And there is the bad news - as a unit, England are not quite adapted to bat in these conditions. Fortunately, time is still on their side. Steven Finn also struggled early on but bounced back well on the third morning to snare 3 wickets in the match.
England are now dominating their second warm-up in Adelaide against South Australia after two days. Collingwood, Bell, Anderson and Swann amongst the main contributors. I'll have a brief report on that and the Australia A match in Hobart next week.
And now ladies and gentlemen, presenting the England batsmen:
Andrew Strauss (captain, LH bat) - the rock of the batting lineup and an intelligent leader. The man who should have captained 4 years ago now gets his chance. Has expanded his game to be more aggressive more often and no longer relies solely on the cut or pull. In fact, it is these shots which most frequently get him out, such is the relish with which he plays them.
Alistair Cook (LH bat) - has been distinctly average for a good while now, with only a last-gasp hundred against Pakistan, Michael Carberry's blood-clot and the fact that management see him as the next captain keeping him in his side. Suspect technique was discovered by McGrath and Lee 4 years ago. These issues still remain. Get your foot to the pitch Cooky!
Jonathan Trott (RH bat) - the saviour at the Oval on debut in 2009. Has since proven himself as a solid and consistent contributor. Will need to avoid the yips that troubled him on tour to South Africa last winter. The Aussies may be well placed to exploit his weaknesses.
Kevin Pietersen (RH bat) - if KP fires, England win. If he doesn't it may not matter - he is no longer the man upon which they rely. Lovingly nicknamed FIGJAM (Fuck I'm Good, Just Ask Me) on the last tour by the hosts, he stuck two fingers up at them and played some wonderful cricket. Until McGrath broke his ribs. This tour will define him as a good player, or a great one.
Paul Collingwood (RH bat, RA medium) - the antithesis to KP. Lacks supreme talent and range of strokes, but really knows how to scrap and fight for his country. The man for a crisis and will relish returning to Adelaide, scene of his epic 206 four years ago.
Ian Bell (RH bat) - never mind that he denied my beloved Somerset the CB40 Trophy in September, this boy is class. Pleasing on the eye and with a new-found fire in his belly (pardon the pun), this is a completely different player to the one the Aussies have seen before. Will be interesting to see where he slots back in after injury
Eoin Morgan (LH bat) - not an automatic selection now that Bell has returned, did not digrace himself during the summer. Very talented ODI player, has the temperament to translate it to the highest level. Easily capable of stepping up if required.
Matt Prior (RH bat, wicket keeper) - another player who has matured recently. No longer getting out to irresponsible shots, he, along with Collingwood, are responsible for the best rearguard actions of recent times. Having worked so hard at Sussex, his glovework was almost faultless throughout the Test match summer, although it's a different prospect Down Under. Will be backed up by Steven Davies (LH bat), a capable deputy though yet to make his debut. There only for an emergency.
England's "Top Bloke of the Week" - Pietersen. A great range of shots in his 58, his first significant first-class runs in a long while. His candour during the proceeding press conference was also priceless, "I've been playing like a clown but now I'm on fire!" LAD
Bowlers next week
RM
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