White's powerplay punishes England
Wed Sep 09 11:35PM
Cameron White's timing in producing a commanding century was as impeccable as Andrew Strauss's timing was lousy in his inept deployment of the batting powerplay.
The result? England lost their third one-day match in succession.
White paced his knock like a 1975 Austin Maxi: it started painstakingly slowly, built up speed steadily and then, gloriously, topped the ton on a seemingly unstoppable downhill and downwind stretch... before hitting 105 and screeching to a halt as the wheels came off.
"Good tossing Straussy" was the call as the England captain won his third coin toss in succession, but Michael Clarke was about as concerned as Australia's bowlers when confronted with Ryan Sidebottom during the hosts' final batting powerplay.
The pre-match frivolities created a surreal atmosphere at a packed Rose Bowl, with lots of random paratroopers attempting in vain to land on a big pink, but not very soft cross on the outfield - presumably a target - while the rain was spitting like a chav in a cloudy Southampton.
England's innings began in promising fashion with Strauss, leading from the front with a composed 63, ably supported by the other England batsmen in very fleeting installments. (18 runs were mustered by Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior and Owais Shah combined.)
Bopara and Prior both picked out Jamie Hopes in the outfield with incredible precision before Shah proceeded to wreak havoc in the middle as he again suffered the yipes when running between the wickets.
After starting, stuttering, stalling and stopping mid-pitch, Shah was finally dismissed as he walked nonchalantly across his stumps and played a ball from Mitchell Johnson as if it were a long hop rather than a yorker: he was plumb LBW.
Perhaps it should be suggested to Shah that to create less indecision he adopt the Denis Compton approach to running between the wickets: simply offer a vague call of 'waiting', then either run or not run as the mood takes him.
Paul Collingwood fell to the excellent Shane Watson - three for 36 - after scoring a quickfire 28 off 64 balls, before Luke Wright fell for nine, bowled by the innocuous medium-trundle of Hopes.
It was not until the 41st over of England's already petering-out innings that Strauss decided to unleash the powerplay, with Eoin Morgan at the crease along with Tim Bresnan, but the Middlesex man swiftly departed for a tidy 43.
A farcical situation then ensued in which Sidebottom was faced with the arduous task of exploiting England's powerplay while Brett Lee tore in to bowl to him at 94mph. It was like watching a First World War general sending catering corps staff in the first wave of troops over the top.
Credit to Sidebottom, though, for he rose admirably to the challenge - a challenge usually reserved for more established batsmen - and plundered 24 runs off 27 balls to the delight of a bewildered Rose Bowl crowd.
Bresnan also scored a considered 31 to salvage a total of 228 for the hosts, with the floodlights making a tardy appearance to provide some hope that Australia's run-chase may be partially affected. It would be the highlight of a miserable night for the Yorkshireman.
After his side's timid innings, Strauss needed an incisive opening spell from his seamers as Australia set about their run-chase, but Tim Paine helped build pressure on his side himself with a bizarre innings.
The tourists' wicket-keeper played as though his pay packet were directly related to his fledgling average before Collingwood trapped him leg-before for a stodgy 29.
Watson was also dismissed LBW for a wafty shot which exposed his pad which brought White to the crease, with Aussie skipper Michael Clarke joining the former Somerset slogger.
Clarke brought up his 50 with his first boundary after 92 balls in the sort of gritty rear-guard performance rarely seen in limited-overs cricket, while Collingwood bowled slower and slower until he was almost delivering the ball backwards. He even made Graeme Swann look positively nippy.
White was struck where it really hurts in nasty fashion by Sidebottom, but an under-dressed spectator kindly intervened to provide him with some time to gather himself by charging on to the field and probably flicking an agitated Strauss's ear lobe.
Bresnan dropped White in the nineties with a dolly on the boundary which even had the England fans behind him jeering, with James Anderson giving him the Peter Siddle-look of disapproval. However, White thoroughly deserved his ton and it followed in the very next over.
Mike 'Mr Cricket' Hussey is acclaimed by Ricky Ponting as a 'tremendous finisher', but he had just nine runs to see off after striding to the wicket in such sprightly fashion that he was either extremely keen, or had simply forgotten to go to the toilet in the Rose Bowl prior to his innings.
Huss promptly finished the match with the utmost efficiency and England were left to mull over a third match in which their fortunes have plummeted, directly following the coin toss.
SHOT OF THE DAY: Sidebottom, on the pull, wellied a short ball from Lee over the midwicket boundary for a stunning four which prompted the loudest roar of the day from the Rose Bowl crowd.
STAT OF THE DAY: Cameron White's six off Sidebottom in the 40th over was the first maximum Australia have mustered in the third match of the one-day series.
USER COMMENT OF THE DAY: "Hi, my name is Paul Collingwood, and I am here to tell you about my new video that is out now, titled: 'The top 100 forward-defensive pushes into the offside for a gentle single in a one-day match.'" (Stu_Johnson, with his latest purchase on Amazon).
We really are rubbish at one dayers aren't we...
From soul.limbo on Wed Sep 09 11:39PMAbsolutely right #1 and not having a clue how to use a power play makes it worse!
From jiveman5 on Wed Sep 09 11:41PMCan someone tell Strauss that it helps to take a batting power play when there are decent batsmen at the crease - it's not brain science!!!
From smiling.phases on Wed Sep 09 11:43PMOk, so there really need to be wholesale changes now and let's start by bringing back Rashid. Why was he ever dropped in the first place?
From parksfields on Wed Sep 09 11:47PMEngland are cowards in 1 day cricket that is why they are and always will be rubbish at one day cricket. They cannot read flight and therefore cannot accelerate the scoring without getting out.
Also 1 day criket is dead and should be buried. only 20/20 and tests should be played one dayers are so boring
From freedomwarrior15 on Thu Sep 10 05:54AMHi, my name's Paul Collingwood, and I'm here to tell you about my new video that's out now titled 'The top 100 forward defensive pushes on the offside for a gentle single in a one-day match.'"...
thats absolutely hilarious!
i want the addition signed by geoffry boycott and forwarded by atherton - the one endorsed by the england board of selectors.
From coslb on Thu Sep 10 08:22AMmust say this has been one of the most boring series ive seen for a while. aussies one six in three matches on small grounds - can you believe it! could you imagine that in the team of old featuring gilchrist, hayden and symonds? the only fierce personal contest of any note is between collingwood and clarke for the Mike Athurton lowest-strike-rate-of-the-series trophy. the middle overs of both sides have in general been painful to watch. this style of play is the primary reason 50 overs cricket is dying.
From coslb on Thu Sep 10 08:33AMOne day cricket can be brilliant - you just need two competitive teams!
From parksfields on Thu Sep 10 09:33AMLet's bring in some new young guns with talent - and especially Rashid!
From ever.hopeful on Thu Sep 10 09:35AMno, freedomwarrior15 may be right. perhaps one day cricket is old hat now that 20/20 has taken over. these one dayers certainly aren't inspiring anyone.
From jiveman5 on Thu Sep 10 09:41AMWell it just goes to show that like the English football squad
prior to Capello the England cricket squad have become a clique
how many more times must Bopara Shah and Prior fail with the bat, both Bopara and Shah have not got the temperment for international cricket and Prior ( as a Ex-wicketkeeper Foster is still better than Prior and at present is making more runs) the Aussies have got it right with No 3 being a player who can pick the right ball to hit and has the power to do so bring in Trott, Carbury Napier, or the Hampshire skipper someone who can attack the Aussie bowling as Peterson would have done equally put Collingwood as a opener with Straus to keep the singles coming in the early overs because he slows down the run rate at very important times by the lack of attacking shots. We need a complete purge of the present team and a different attuideFrom dtaylorfitzgerald on Thu Sep 10 09:41AMI know Strauss should use the batting power play when decent batsmen are at the crease. The real problem is there are no decent batsmen. At least 3 of the top five fail dismally each game. Collingwood is no One Dayer. He plods around for 50/60 balls for a dozen or so runs.
I think we need a completly new eleven. They couldn't do any worseFrom overspin1 on Thu Sep 10 09:53AMGood Morning, Henry Bloejobb,lovable TMS commentater and all-round good egg,here.
England might as well draft in a double decker bus and a pigeon to the side.They couldn't do any worse.
My co-commentater,Christopher Martin-Jpeg is in accord with this view.From fetchthat on Thu Sep 10 10:08AMWhen are the England players going to learn that you don't have to panic, just because it's only 50 overs. Any team worth its weight, can produce totals of 250 plus in 50 overs, by playing basic cricket, just play strokes as you would normally do in any type of cricket. If you are a good stroke player, you will score runs quick enough, without having to resort to HOIKING IT! I played cricket for 50 years and scored many hundreds in only 45 overs and without having to resort to HOIKING IT! STROKE PLAY first, then you develop your shots and hit big boundaries, it's normal cricket. Listen to BOYC's, he will tell you that occupation is paramount, the runs will come with occupation !!
Get rid of these so called ONE DAYER's and put good batsmen in, like Cook, Bell, Trott, Etc.
Auatralia have won the first three games by batting properly, they have only hit ONE 6 in all three games, they have good batsmen, not HOIKERS! Think about it england. ???
From davedenness on Thu Sep 10 10:21AMI thought this match was very exciting unlike the rest of the series. A lot of funny stuff happened as Cowers said and it shows that ODIS can be good if people give it a chance!
From jenysiss on Thu Sep 10 11:31AMI thought this match was very exciting unlike the rest of the series. A lot of funny stuff happened as Cowers said and it shows that ODIS can be good if people give it a chance!
From jenysiss on Thu Sep 10 11:31AMEngland need to stop batting as though they are scared to get out all the time! Cameron White showed that you need to hit the ball hard and take risks in this game
From perfectparfit on Thu Sep 10 11:33AMCan anyone tell me what is wrong with Jimmy Anderson? He is bowling tripe at the moment and it is really bugging me. Hes supposed to be our main strike bowler apparently?????
From perfectparfit on Thu Sep 10 11:34AMCome on people get behind this England team. That is what too many people keep saying! It is rubbish! We have been appalling for too long now and something needs to be done about it quickly
From garyplatt7 on Thu Sep 10 11:35AMWhite is just an average county player but England bowled to him as though he was Don Bradman! If we can bat like we should be then it would not matter if he gets a 100.
From garyplatt7 on Thu Sep 10 11:36AMScrap the powerplays that is what I say
From parsnip10 on Thu Sep 10 11:37AMIs this the worse one day Eanglad team ever? They look either knackered or totally without confidence. Give us spectators a break selectors and bring in some new blood.
From revstevewright on Thu Sep 10 11:57AMHow can playing the Aussies not be exciting?! Come on England, we could still win this series!
From parksfields on Thu Sep 10 01:58PMThe balls could well have been sitting on a special device which printed the numbers onto them as soon as they were revealed on the BBC show? And if he wanted us to really believe there was no trickery involved like the above then why did he not also have the numbers put into a sealed envelope and given to a an assistant to hold in their hands in full view of everyone.?Or ever more convincing would have been if he had done the trick outside so he could choose a random member of the puplic to hold such an envelope in front of what would have been a gathering crowd.
From neilmicmac112211 on Thu Sep 10 02:10PMOn the Derren Brown Lotto trick last night...
The balls could well have been sitting on a special device which printed the numbers onto them as soon as they were revealed on the BBC show? And if he wanted us to really believe there was no trickery involved like the above then why did he not also have the numbers put into a sealed envelope and given to a an assistant to hold in their hands in full view of everyone.?Or ever more convincing would have been if he had done the trick outside so he could choose a random member of the puplic to hold such an envelope in front of what would have been a gathering crowd.From neilmicmac112211 on Thu Sep 10 02:17PM
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