The summer of cricket 2020

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A very strong position for England with runs on the board and a series lead in hand.

Pakistan going to have to produce something special from here to rescue the series

Stoinis gone now ! Nice fierce lifter from Archer

Another one now would really see the pressure ramped up...

Has to be all about wickets now for england. Australia don't bat deep, the stand lasttime was a bit of a career highlight for Marsh and after him theres really not much.
Tailor made for someone like labuschagne though, aus don't need to score big just stay in.

Rashid on now the power play is over...

Think I'd have given Archer one more. He was revved up ; and he doesn't always come back so well in the middle overs.

Finch going for it straight away...

Another really good spell from Archer, but he only got two wickets and no one else contributed, plus Woakes was a little loose with the ball, so England well behind at this stage.

Game could disappear very quickly if Finch gets going.

Hasn't been the start Rashid wanted. 18 off two overs. Finch clearly doesn't want to let him settle into a spell.

Important partnership this. England probably need to break it pretty soon if they're to stay in this game. Still some good players to come but I think these two are the most reliable of the Aussie bats : if they can break them up I fancy things might get a bit tight.

Tom Curran has started very well. Wonder how Sam will bowl on this ? Not sure it will suit him but we will see. Days like this you wish Plunkett was still around ...

And an interesting difference here in that Australia were in no rush to get their leg spinner on...when Zampa did come into the attack they were already well on top.

Morgan by contrast has gone to Rashid very early. Doesn't look to have been a good choice , as these two are scoring quite freely off him , and don't look too bothered.

92/2 off 19. Not quite "need a miracle" situation yet ; but not looking too hopeful.
Finch and Labuschagne really don't look in any trouble ; and they aren't having to worry about pushing too hard for runs. Keep picking up singles like this and they're fine...

Morgan needs to do something to change this.

Ah...Rashid from the other end now. He's not been at his best today I'm afraid and he's just gifted Finch an easy boundary to reach an excellent fifty

Unless they do something silly I reckon Australia should cruise home from here.

Comms are suggesting Morgan made a mistake withdrawing Archer after five overs ; and I'm inclined to agree. It might have made no difference ; but he just might have taken another one. Guess he didn't expect Rashid to go round the park like this...

That was the opportunity England needed with Australia taking a terrible run but Roy misses the direct hit wildly from point and they get an overthrow. Contrast with the Stoinis direct hit just as Roy got going.

Key moments have gone Australia's way, they are just executing their basics better.

This innings illustrates where I don't see Sam Curran fitting into this attack. If you're going to pick him then Sam needs to bowl with the new ball, looking for swing and early wickets. England already have Archer and Woakes who have been excellent for this side opening the bowling. As 3rd change I just don't see Sam adding to the ODI side with the white kookaburra.

Time to give up on this one I think...4.30 here , and this appears to be done...

Australians have done this really well. It's not a great pitch for stroke play ; but having kept England to just 231 they've not needed to go nuts...have mainly been happy to run a lot of singles , take the boundaries when a bad ball came along. And they've run really well - though I suppose on another day one of the three potential run out shies would have hit...
Hasn't been England's day.  Or week , really. Quite a contrast to last year : they have looked a bit flat , to be honest.

Take nothing away from Australia though . After those first two rather scratchy t20 efforts they've been much the better team ...congrats to them.

Good review ...that looked out live anyway.

Woakes has made the break ; but probably much too late.

king_carlos wrote:That was the opportunity England needed with Australia taking a terrible run but Roy misses the direct hit wildly from point and they get an overthrow. Contrast with the Stoinis direct hit just as Roy got going.

Key moments have gone Australia's way, they are just executing their basics better.

This innings illustrates where I don't see Sam Curran fitting into this attack. If you're going to pick him then Sam needs to bowl with the new ball, looking for swing and early wickets. England already have Archer and Woakes who have been excellent for this side opening the bowling. As 3rd change I just don't see Sam adding to the ODI side with the white kookaburra.

Think you're right there , KC. Not that he's been rubbish : has not been expensive at all ; but he's not really given them the cutting edge they needed. Wood injured though so not much else they could do ?

Another one for Archer. Kept a little low, perchance? Door slightly open, if England can get Finch within the next 2-3 overs they might start to believe.

Hmm. Marsh gone ... Fast from Archer , and looked like it kept low...

Still need 87.

Get Finch and who knows ? But he doesn't look like going anywhere...

Woakes skittles Finch

Well.......

Oh Woakes does it with a corking delivery. What a ball.

Game well and truly on.

alfie wrote:

king_carlos wrote:That was the opportunity England needed with Australia taking a terrible run but Roy misses the direct hit wildly from point and they get an overthrow. Contrast with the Stoinis direct hit just as Roy got going.

Key moments have gone Australia's way, they are just executing their basics better.

This innings illustrates where I don't see Sam Curran fitting into this attack. If you're going to pick him then Sam needs to bowl with the new ball, looking for swing and early wickets. England already have Archer and Woakes who have been excellent for this side opening the bowling. As 3rd change I just don't see Sam adding to the ODI side with the white kookaburra.

Think you're right there , KC.  Not that he's been rubbish : has not been expensive at all ; but he's not really given them the cutting edge they needed. Wood injured though so not much else they could do ?

With Wood injured and Moeen rested they were picking the bowlers left. An argument that Mahmood should have been in the squad to backup Wood and Archer perhaps?

As said I've no issue with them trying Sam. I like that this side (Morgan especially) seem determined to keep reinventing. They are intentionally playing on tougher wickets at home, trying new players. I really like that.

I just think that if they want the left arm angle from Curran or Willey then they need the new ball. Which then means asking Woakes to bowl in the middle overs. That's tough on Woakes though who has been excellent for this side opening the bowling.

That said Sam bowling as 3rd change hasn't (yet...) been the weakness today. Zampa out bowling Rashid is currently the big difference. Or arguably Finch and Labuschagne playing Rashid better than England played Zampa.

Another excellent ball from Woakes who's turned this game right round. Magic spell from Woakes.

The dangerous Maxwell gone and England are ahead.

Need another one now though. Archer in his last over...they still only need five per over.

Archer done , excellent 3/34 Sometimes the pundits over praise him for just a few good fast balls ; but tonight he's really bowled well and taken three vital wickets.

And so has Woakes now ! Maxwell gone

WOW AND WOW AGAIN!!!

Now we see if I've recently bigged up too much how Cummins and probably then Starc can bat.

Cracking game but Warne needs to decide if he's a professional in the commentary box or a buffoon in the pub.

Carey and the bowlers left ...

Cummins and Starc can bat though. Still think Aussies are on track unless they lose one of these ...Woakes finished , excellent 3/32

Rashid and the Brothers Curran to try and follow up...

Woakes ends with 3/32. Him and Archer have been superb today.

144/2 to 147/6!

Rashid will hopefully find things easier now that Lab and Finch are nowhere to be seen.

Duty281 wrote:Woakes ends with 3/32. Him and Archer have been superb today.

144/2 to 147/6!

Rashid will hopefully find things easier now that Lab and Finch are nowhere to be seen.

He might find it "easier". But economy won't cut it from here : he has to take a couple of wickets , I think. The Currans might do a job here ; but I reckon Rashid needs to get in the wickets column...

alfie wrote:Carey and the bowlers left ...

Cummins and Starc can bat though.  Still think Aussies are on track unless they lose one of these ...Woakes finished , excellent 3/32

Rashid and the Brothers Curran to try and follow up...

Copyright warning.

Anyway, Cummins doing his best to prove us right with that 6.

Unfortunately Morgan probably used Rashid too much too early ...and didn't bowl Sam Curran , who now has to come on and work miracles...

Again I'd have had Sam on two overs earlier : would be happy to see Rashid bowling at the death if they were to lose another couple of wickets.

Broad wants Root to try an over ...

Sam does for Cummins

Glad I stayed up

S Curran uses that wide, left-arm angle to devastating effect. England strong favourites now - one more and they're into the proper tail. Run rate is over 6, too.

Oh, Starc goes first ball chasing a wide one! S Curran on for an hat trick and the Aussies are...er...barbecued.

Sam is on a hat trick ! Starc out first ball...

Glenlivet is going down nicely ...

There go my two Aussie batsmen in successive balls from Sam to completely turn the game on its head!

Just to add - that was a decent snaffle by Buttler. He's taken a few good ones lately.

Duty281 wrote:Oh, Starc goes first ball chasing a wide one! S Curran on for an hat trick and the Aussies are...er...barbecued.

Don't say it ! This game is totally crazy...

We did say this was a difficult pitch to bat on. Carey still there , mind.

Need 66 off ten. Don't think Root will get a bowl , somehow...

Question. Do you save Tom Curran's last over ?

I think I would. Try Rashid next , keep one for Tom to finish.

But it's tight.

Has been a mad game. Like the first T20 match where England instigated an Australian collapse and came back from an almost impossible position.

Required run rate of over 8 now, and Zampa struggling to hit the ball.

Would keep T Curran's last over in hand for now.

Ah, never mind now. Aussies nine down as Zampa's struggle is finished.

The series is alive.

Sam takes another one

King Carlos and I were wondering if there was any point in Sam if he didn't open the bowling , earlier on

Think he's answered that.

Ridiculous game ! Bit like England the other night...just two batsmen making any runs. Guess it is one of those pitches.

Tom to bowl his last...

Tom finished...0/28. No wickets ; but his economy has played a vital role. He's had a fine match

Five left. Two of them from Rashid . Presume Carey will try and blast him...

No wickets for Tom but still very good with the ball. 0/28 keeping it dry throughout and maintaining pressure.

He probably won't be - because the people who decide things aren't as smart as me - but he should be a strong MotM contender.

Here's Adil ... Carey has to show he's been waiting for him all along and actually knows what he's been doing. I somehow doubt he will!

guildfordbat wrote:No wickets for Tom but still very good with the ball. 0/28 keeping it dry throughout and maintaining pressure.

He probably won't be - because the people who decide things aren't as smart as me - but he should be a strong MotM contender.

I was thinking that myself. The vital runs ; and then the Hazlewood type economy. Think he'd be my choice .

Guess Woakes and Archer are in the mix too. And Sam.

Guess if Carey and Hazlewood hit another 37 off the last three it will be Finch

Geeky point but I can't fathom why Zampa bats above Hazlewood. The latter at least seems to understand basic requirements and is playing sensibly and accordingly.

And England win by 24 runs!

Another sensational comeback. Archer and Woakes superb with the ball...T Curran and Rashid's batting made the difference.

Rashid has had a dreadful night with the ball but he's finished the job ...

Carey had to go ballistic and no surprise he fell at the end. Poor Josh Hazlewood didn't deserve to be a loser tonight...

Glad I stayed up !

One all , one to play. Good weather Tuesday ? I mean Wednesday...

Having someone with Rashids quality batting at number ten is a huge positive, his partnership with Turran was the turning point.

Langer won't be happy. In truth I did think the 231 England reached would be challenging on this pitch ; but when Finch and Labuschagne were going it was looking all but done. Then ...four for three ; and then two for one...you just never know .

Have to love this game.

''Nice to see a low scoring 50 over game'' - Nasser Hussain.

Absolutely.

The England bowlers did brilliantly to turn that game on its head.

Tom my MotM for his vital runs which gave us something to bowl at and also his very fine bowling as flagged above.

Jofra gets MotM. He made a very significant contribution but, as just said, he was a touch behind Tom in my book. The egg in the final column of Tom's analysis will have counted against him; I can understand that but feel it's been given too much emphasis in reaching the decision.

alfie wrote:Sam takes another one

King Carlos and I were wondering if there was any point in Sam if he didn't open the bowling , earlier on

Think he's answered that.

Yep, it was very good from both the Curran's at the end. Sam was impressive at keeping things tight from round the wicket. Having the big legside boundary (and breeze) for Carey helped him too.

Tom Curran being so good at the death opens up the option of Archer and Woakes bowling in the middle overs as they did today. In the World Cup Archer especially would bowl up top and at the end. Whilst Plunkett was brilliant in the middle overs I do think that Tom is better at the death which opens up different options.

On the MOM, for me it would have been Woakes. 20-odd important runs in that game then the 3 vital wickets to break things open getting both Finch and Labuschagne, then the danger man Maxwell for good measure. Archer, Woakes and Tom Curran were all very good though.

Similarly to Guildford I was surprised that Hazlewood came out after Zampa. I think I'd have probably sent Starc out ahead of Cummins as well. Both those two are no mugs with the bat but Starc tends to take a big swing more. I'd have probably preferred the more conservative bat in Cummins at number 9, then Starc up first at number 8 to try to swipe 2/3 boundaries. Semantics really though, Cummins showed he can also strike a long ball with that big six.