Wade's sitter, Finn's blinder
Plays of the day from the third ODI between England and Australia
George Dobell at Old Trafford
08-Sep-2015
Aaron Finch played some sublime strokes on his return from injury • Getty Images
Delivery of the day
This game was billed, in part at least, as a peek into the future for Australian cricket. The three young fast bowlers, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson, had never played an international game together and should have provided some encouragement. All three bowled in excess of 90mph at times and suggested that, if they do feature in the next Ashes series, England's batsmen could face a torrid time. Perhaps the highlight came when Cummins, bowling as quickly as 96mph, tested Eoin Morgan with a series of short balls that had the England captain looking extremely uncomfortable. Perhaps the best of them, a 91mph delivery reaching Morgan at about chin height, resulted in an involuntary flinch from the batsman who, having taken his eyes off the ball, was fortune that it hit his gloves and went safely to ground.
This game was billed, in part at least, as a peek into the future for Australian cricket. The three young fast bowlers, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson, had never played an international game together and should have provided some encouragement. All three bowled in excess of 90mph at times and suggested that, if they do feature in the next Ashes series, England's batsmen could face a torrid time. Perhaps the highlight came when Cummins, bowling as quickly as 96mph, tested Eoin Morgan with a series of short balls that had the England captain looking extremely uncomfortable. Perhaps the best of them, a 91mph delivery reaching Morgan at about chin height, resulted in an involuntary flinch from the batsman who, having taken his eyes off the ball, was fortune that it hit his gloves and went safely to ground.
Shot of the day
Aaron Finch is not, supposedly, in the best of form. After an injury-aborted IPL, he has struggled for form and fitness in an injury-interrupted spell with Yorkshire. But here, with little lateral movement to concern him, he looked a high-class player. The highlight of his half-century was a back-foot force off a good-length delivery from Liam Plunkett that sped back past the bowler to the boundary.
Aaron Finch is not, supposedly, in the best of form. After an injury-aborted IPL, he has struggled for form and fitness in an injury-interrupted spell with Yorkshire. But here, with little lateral movement to concern him, he looked a high-class player. The highlight of his half-century was a back-foot force off a good-length delivery from Liam Plunkett that sped back past the bowler to the boundary.
Miss of the day
Matthew Wade enjoyed a good return to the side in the first game of the series in Southampton. But there were never too many doubts about his batting; it was more his keeping that caused concerns. Here they resurfaced when, presented with a regulation stumping - by the high standards of international cricket - he was unable to cling on to the ball and Morgan, on 15 at the time, survived. Not only was it a reminder that Wade's keeping remains a work in progress but it was scant reward for a fine piece of bowling by Ashton Agar. Morgan went on to make 62.
Matthew Wade enjoyed a good return to the side in the first game of the series in Southampton. But there were never too many doubts about his batting; it was more his keeping that caused concerns. Here they resurfaced when, presented with a regulation stumping - by the high standards of international cricket - he was unable to cling on to the ball and Morgan, on 15 at the time, survived. Not only was it a reminder that Wade's keeping remains a work in progress but it was scant reward for a fine piece of bowling by Ashton Agar. Morgan went on to make 62.
Reprieve of the day
James Taylor was on 41 when he missed an attempt to turn a delivery from Glenn Maxwell into the leg side. The bowler appealed but his captain, Steven Smith, did not call for a review and Taylor survived. Replays subsequently suggested that, had Smith done so, Taylor would have been given out leg before. Taylor went on to top score and record his maiden international century.
James Taylor was on 41 when he missed an attempt to turn a delivery from Glenn Maxwell into the leg side. The bowler appealed but his captain, Steven Smith, did not call for a review and Taylor survived. Replays subsequently suggested that, had Smith done so, Taylor would have been given out leg before. Taylor went on to top score and record his maiden international century.
Catch of the day
Long gone is the time when fast bowlers would be sent to graze in the outfield, with the likes of Trent Boult, Chris Jordan and Mitchell Johnson making a habit of taking great catches. Here it was Steven Finn, fielding at a fairly short midwicket, who dived at full stretch to his right to cling on to a ball clipped off the toes by Smith off Adil Rashid's bowling. It was a brilliant catch and an important moment in a game England had to win to keep the series alive.
Long gone is the time when fast bowlers would be sent to graze in the outfield, with the likes of Trent Boult, Chris Jordan and Mitchell Johnson making a habit of taking great catches. Here it was Steven Finn, fielding at a fairly short midwicket, who dived at full stretch to his right to cling on to a ball clipped off the toes by Smith off Adil Rashid's bowling. It was a brilliant catch and an important moment in a game England had to win to keep the series alive.
Obstruction of the day
With memories of Stokesgate - as nobody is calling it - at Lord's fresh in the mind, it didn't take the crowd long to remind the Australia side of their feelings on the matter. After Taylor called Morgan for a quick single, Maxwell's throw from backward point quite accidently hit Morgan as he scurried home the other side of the stumps. It saw sections of the crowd howling ironic appeals for obstructing the field but, with Maxwell quickly apologising, there were smiles all round on the pitch.
With memories of Stokesgate - as nobody is calling it - at Lord's fresh in the mind, it didn't take the crowd long to remind the Australia side of their feelings on the matter. After Taylor called Morgan for a quick single, Maxwell's throw from backward point quite accidently hit Morgan as he scurried home the other side of the stumps. It saw sections of the crowd howling ironic appeals for obstructing the field but, with Maxwell quickly apologising, there were smiles all round on the pitch.
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo