Tri-Series 2007 Game 4: Australia scrape victory by 4 wickets
Australia knocked up their 9th consecutive victory over England and although they won the bonus point tonight, things didn't go all their way after winning by 4 wickets in the 4th Tri-Series game. England came out of the blocks strongly, knocking up 50 runs in the first 10 overs with no wickets to fall. 34 year old newcomer Mal Loye opened the batting without a name or number on his uniform which you'd have to say is pretty slack from the England squad. Even at our local touch footy comp, we'd whip up a makeshift number with masking tape when a new guy joined the team. Speaking of which, only 4 guys turned up last week so if you're up for a touch footy game next Tuesday night and live in the Brisbane north side, get in touch.
But I digress. Loye had a dream debut, playing a front foot sweep off Brett Lee for six in the 5th over. I don't recall anyone playing that shot against Binga before - an extraordinary stroke. He also struck McGrath for two boundaries off his first two balls but Pigeon had the last laugh. Once Bracken had Loye caught at first slip, the floodgates opened with McGrath taking 3 quick wickets. Brad Hodge was a surprise recall replacing Ponting and pulled off a catch as spectacular as Punter's diving one-hander in Game 1 (unfortunately it was all downhill from there for Hodge).
Ian Bell ran himself out in embarrassing fashion. He played the ball towards third man with gully Cameron White diving to stop the ball. While White fumbled the ball, Bell changed his mind over whether to run or not about half a dozen times. The back and forthing had him too dizzy to regain his ground while the ball dribbled into the stumps from White's feeble flick. It was worse than Bell's panic attack at Adelaide.
As with Adelaide, Bell's run was part of a disastrous England collapse, losing 5 top-order wickets for 19 runs. With England at 6 for 93, any chance of a competitive match (or indeed prolonging the day/night game past sunset) depended on Flintoff. He started well, continuing his good form of the last few matches, but on 27 lofted Lee out to deep mid-wicket where Hodge took another running catch. It was not a shot befitting a captain - there were 20 overs left and in the end, England were all out for 155 with 8 overs remaining.
McGrath and Bracken both starred with identical figures of 3 for 24 (Bracken off 9 overs, McGrath off 8) but I must say Bracken deadset needs a haircut. An Australian cricketer is the epitome of Aussie masculinity, a paradigm of mental toughness, mateship and intimidating presence. But who's our premier bowler heading into the World Cup? A long haired metrosexual with a girly headband.
Gilchrist and Hayden began Australia's innings in surprisingly circumspect fashion, especially considering Gilly's prediction of 400+ scores. Eventually Gilly let loose, pulling a ball so high, it came down with snow on it. Unfortunately it also landed in the field of play and into Anderson's hands. Soon after, Hayden fell to a similar shot hit to the same spot.
Hodge fell cheaply to an unconvincing leading edge to backward point and Symonds was caught behind off Lewis. Suddenly Australia were 4 for 48 and it was game on. Clarke and Hussey came together and bunkered down to withstand the English onslaught. On a bouncy Brisbane pitch, Lewis and Anderson were steaming in and troubling the batsmen. It was one of the few times all summer that England were able to maintain pressure at both ends - something they managed to do throughout the entire 2005 Ashes. But the batsmen survived and just when Clarke was starting to hit boundaries, he flicked one through to the keeper and Australia again looked vulnerable at 5 for 93.
Cameron White came out and looked confused in his new role of grinding out runs. He fell to a peach from Anderson that swung then moved off the pitch, trapping him plumb LBW. In that same over, Hussey may have nicked one through to the keeper - the entire England side went up and you didn't need to be a lip reader to work out Nixon's words. It was a decisive moment as Hussey was given not out and batted through to the end of the match.
At the other end, Lee withstood a barrage of short stuff from Flintoff. I still don't get why they persist with short bowling at Lee. It nearly lost them a Test at Edgbaston and while Lee looks awkward, he shows great courage and preserves his wicket. So he did tonight as he and Hussey polished off the 48 runs needed for victory. It was a modest chase and by rights, Australia should've cantered home. Fortunately, Mr Cricket played his usually reliable role of carrying us over the line (and boosting his batting average) once again. England bowled well on a pitch offering them assistance and will rue the 8 overs they failed to use in their own innings.
| Posted by JC on Fri 19 Jan |  4 comments |
Although the English bowlers seemed to have the better of the conditions, some of the Aussie batsmen need a clip over the ear for showing a total disrespect for the opposition tonight. That's what happens after a summer of thrashings, the respect disappears.
Ian Bell can add the nicknames Goose and/or Ding-a-Ling to his others after today. The run out just shows that he does not think about what he is doing. Prior to the run out he stood admiring one of his shots. When he finally realised it wasn't going to the boundary, he struggled to get back for two. Too many brain fades for my liking.
Did anyone see Hussey shake Nixon's hand after the game. I didn't. Reckon Hussey must have copped a gob full of sledge after the caught behind appeal.
And Symonds may have something to answer to after his reaction to an unsuccessful lbw shout.
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-01-19 22:53:54
Ian Bell can add the nicknames Goose and/or Ding-a-Ling to his others after today. The run out just shows that he does not think about what he is doing. Prior to the run out he stood admiring one of his shots. When he finally realised it wasn't going to the boundary, he struggled to get back for two. Too many brain fades for my liking.
Did anyone see Hussey shake Nixon's hand after the game. I didn't. Reckon Hussey must have copped a gob full of sledge after the caught behind appeal.
And Symonds may have something to answer to after his reaction to an unsuccessful lbw shout.
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-01-19 22:53:54
Flintoff's captaincy is again puzzling me..How can he bowl only 4 bowlers
Posted by Anon on 2007-01-20 01:04:01
Posted by Anon on 2007-01-20 01:04:01
I remember Michael Slater playing the sweep shot off Allan Donald and getting a couple of fours in a one day tournament in India years ago. Slater, playing in the middle order, and Bevan had a rocking partnership but the Aussies lost by a few runs.
Always wondered if Slater and Bevan could have formed a great middle order partnership in ODI's. Much the same way as Symonds and Hussey are doing now.
Posted by jethro on 2007-01-20 02:36:37
Always wondered if Slater and Bevan could have formed a great middle order partnership in ODI's. Much the same way as Symonds and Hussey are doing now.
Posted by jethro on 2007-01-20 02:36:37
Re Flintoff bowling only 4 bowlers, it made perfect sense to me. Australia only needed 150 runs so they were always gonna get it within 40 overs. England's only chance was to bowl them out hence he bowled their frontline bowlers. There wasn't much point having a parttimer bowling dibbly dobblies to make up 50 overs.
Posted by JC on 2007-01-20 08:47:41
Posted by JC on 2007-01-20 08:47:41
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