Tri-Series 2007 Game 1: Australia cruise to victory while Pietersen flies back to England

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You'd think after the Ashes whitewash, England's tour couldn't get any worse. It just did as Australia cruised to victory by 8 wickets in the Tri-Series Game 1. England won the toss and batted, hoping to set a worthy target. Nathan Bracken opened the bowling and enhanced his reputation as a wicket taking one day specialist (a tag he's not so keen on) by having Strauss caught behind early. Bracken should've been on a hattrick but Gilchrist dropped Bell first ball. It was a catch a wicketkeeper should take and with an earlier fumble raises questions over Gilly's waning abilities (lucky the guy can bat).

Michael Vaughan looked sharp at the crease, striking several crisp boundaries until Bracken had him caught at first slip. Surprisingly, when Pietersen came in, England's innings becalmed. Clark and Johnson bowled tight and the batsmen, particularly Bell, couldn't buy a run. Mitchell Johnson was bowling at 145kph and when Bell attempted to break the shackles, he only succeeded in miscueing Johnson to mid-off. Pietersen and Collingwood then proceeded to build a slow but steady partnership when KP lofted a high ball straight to Cameron White at long leg. At the last moment, White flinched and jumped out of the path of the ball, blinded by the sun. A bizarre piece of fielding. Put some sunnies on, Cameron!

White's reward was some severe punishment from Pietersen who hit him three times into the crowd, an impressive effort at the expansive MCG. But the turning point of the game came when McGrath struck Pietersen in the ribs. Pietersen crumpled to the ground like a sack of spuds and while he managed to bat on for a few more overs, he was in great pain and England's momentum was stunted. While it's never a worthy thought to take pleasure in another's misfortune, McGrath must've been thinking "gee, I can still drop one of the world's best batsman - maybe I announced this retirement thing too early!"

The other highlight of the innings was Australia's catching. Matt Hayden took two great catches at first slip and it looks like we have a replacement for Warnie's first slip position in next summer's Test series (if Haydos is still playing then). And Ricky Ponting's dive to dismiss Lewis was an instant front-runner in Channel 9's classic catches (or extreme catches or whatever they're calling it these days). I thought England batted fairly well against some sharp and skillful Aussie bowling. They built the innings well, accelerated in the middle and Flintoff finished things off nicely after Pietersen fell by the wayside. But 242 was probably 30 runs below par and maybe Pietersen's injury cost them that many runs.

Australia came into bat chasing 243 on a good pitch and England's only chance was to bowl as well or better than the Australians. Flintoff's first over was Shoddyline Mach II. The first delivery headed towards the slips, the second delivery went down the legside for 4 wides. The over ended up costing 11 runs, all wides, which must be some sort of record. Paul Nixon didn't exactly cover himself in glory either - any wicketkeeper worth his salt should've stopped both wides that went for boundaries. Guess that's what you get when you debut a 36 year old wicketkeeper selected for his cheerleading abilities.

Once the bowlers were able to land the ball straight, Gilchrist started smashing boundaries, hitting a run-a-ball 60. Typically, I was unable to watch his innings - Channel 9 in Brisbane missed the first hour of the innings due to daylight savings, dammit! Consequently, when I finally sat down with dinner relishing Gilly reaching his hundred, the next ball, he was out caught behind. Bloody Queensland daylight savings! There are two great entertainers in Australian cricket - Warne and Gilchrist. Warne is gone forever and we probably only have a year or two left to enjoy Gilly. Maybe I'm just going to have to move south of the border to avoid these kinds of dilemmas.

Matt Hayden fell soon after but any hopes of a middle-order collapse were snuffed out by Ponting and Clarke who both made half centuries and cruised Australia home with 8 wickets in hand and 5 overs remaining. England lost the match but the consequences went far deeper than a single defeat. England as a one day side are essentially a two man team - Pietersen the batsman and Flintoff the bowler. Tonight, Pietersen suffered an injury ruling him out of the rest of the series while Flintoff bowled like he was channelling the spirit of Steve Harmison. It's hard to see anyone but Australian and New Zealand playing out the finals in 4 weeks time.

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Posted by JC on Fri 12 Jan

7 comments

Sad to see England now without Pietersen for the remainder of the series. As a cricketing purist, glad to see Pietersen getting his just reward. Charging the world's premier quick bowler, as he has all summer, meant it was about time something went wrong, as it did big time today.
And the Pommie keeper, I've seen better ones playing "C" Grade club cricket on a Saturday afternoon! Just what is his claim to fame? Certainly can't be a "youth policy".

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Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-01-13 00:00:56

It is very weird, debuting a 36 year old keeper after already going through two keepers in the Test series. By the end of summer, every keeper in the English county system will have had a go.

I'm also sorry to see Pietersen go. The game was never boring when he was batting, that's for sure. I can't see England clawing out of this one either which makes the tri-series just that little bit more predictable.

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Posted by JC on 2007-01-13 00:13:34

Was that Nathan Bracken's sister Nadine playing yesterday? After that headband what is next? Pink ribbons?

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Posted by Ian on 2007-01-13 09:26:51

Why do the Australian shirts makers insist on putting the players names on the lower back where you are flat out reading them, for those that need help identifying. Australia is written across the prime spot on the shoulders. Do they think we don't know what country they are representing?

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Posted by Ian on 2007-01-13 09:36:09

Yes, Nathan Bracken's girly headband is a bit of a worry. The guy won't cut his hair cause his model wife says the long hair suits his face. This metrosexual tendency among Australian cricketers is a bit of a worry - the boy needs a date with a number 1 razor!

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Posted by JC on 2007-01-13 10:23:12

I agree that long hair does suit Nadine's face, but only when worn in the Cousin IT style. Ekk the guy is a monster.

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Posted by Ian on 2007-01-13 10:27:52

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