England v Australia, 2015
Wisden's review of the first ODI, England v Australia, 2015
Nick Hoult
15-Apr-2016
At Southampton, September 3 (day/night). Australia won by 59 runs. Toss: Australia.
England's run-making exploits against New Zealand had so raised expectations that even 306 felt gettable. But a late-summer pitch did not aid flamboyant strokeplay, and the skill of Australia's quicks underlined how much England missed the rested Joe Root. Australia, fielding only five members of their World Cup final side, were weakened too, but Wade filled the gap left by Brad Haddin. He had begun shakily, running out Watson from the last ball of Rashid's tenth over (his four for 59 were the best one-day figures on this ground by a spinner). That left Australia - at one stage 133 for one - on 193 for six with 13 overs left. The error spurred Wade on to the innings of the match, an unbeaten 71 off 50 balls, as Australia took 93 from the final ten overs - in which, for the first time in England since the introduction of new fielding regulations, five men were allowed outside the ring. His unbroken stand of 112 with Mitchell Marsh was the highest for the seventh wicket between the teams. Roy, with his first one-day international half-century, and Taylor gave hope to England supporters wrapped up against the biting cold. But Roy cut a gentle off-break from Maxwell to point, and Taylor had a rush of blood against Watson. Morgan's dismissal, gloving an attempted pull, sparked a collapse of three for none in four balls as England faded to a fifth successive one-day defeat in Southampton.
Man of the Match: M. S. Wade.
England's run-making exploits against New Zealand had so raised expectations that even 306 felt gettable. But a late-summer pitch did not aid flamboyant strokeplay, and the skill of Australia's quicks underlined how much England missed the rested Joe Root. Australia, fielding only five members of their World Cup final side, were weakened too, but Wade filled the gap left by Brad Haddin. He had begun shakily, running out Watson from the last ball of Rashid's tenth over (his four for 59 were the best one-day figures on this ground by a spinner). That left Australia - at one stage 133 for one - on 193 for six with 13 overs left. The error spurred Wade on to the innings of the match, an unbeaten 71 off 50 balls, as Australia took 93 from the final ten overs - in which, for the first time in England since the introduction of new fielding regulations, five men were allowed outside the ring. His unbroken stand of 112 with Mitchell Marsh was the highest for the seventh wicket between the teams. Roy, with his first one-day international half-century, and Taylor gave hope to England supporters wrapped up against the biting cold. But Roy cut a gentle off-break from Maxwell to point, and Taylor had a rush of blood against Watson. Morgan's dismissal, gloving an attempted pull, sparked a collapse of three for none in four balls as England faded to a fifth successive one-day defeat in Southampton.
Man of the Match: M. S. Wade.