England v Australia, 2015
Wisden's review of the third ODI, England v Australia, 2015
Nick Hoult
15-Apr-2016
At Manchester, September 8 (day/night). England won by 93 runs. Toss: England. One-day international debut: A. C. Agar.
England won an important toss, allowing their spinners to operate second on a dry pitch, and capitalise on Taylor's maiden international century. The upshot was their first victory against Australia in eight one-dayers, and Australia's first defeat by anyone in ten. For Taylor, promoted to vice-captain after an exhausted Jos Buttler was rested for the remainder of the series, it put a gloss on a frustrating year. Having been denied a hundred against the Australians during the World Cup by an umpiring error, he had begun the summer captaining England in a one-off game in Ireland, only to lose his place against New Zealand. Rarely expansive but always busy, he reached three figures from 112 balls. The pitch precluded grand gestures: Taylor hit only five fours, happily scurried 47 singles and 11 twos, and dealt well with Cummins, who clocked speeds of 96mph. He unsettled Morgan, who still managed 62 off 56 deliveries, and Hales, again eclipsed by his opening partner. Roy's fluency brought 63 off 45, including four fours in five balls from Starc, who leaked a career-worst 79. Australia pegged England back, but a target of 301 was always tough on a turning pitch: Ali and Rashid claimed five for 73 from 20 overs. Smith was brilliantly - and unexpectedly - caught by a diving Finn at short midwicket off Rashid, who then had the dangerous Finch caught at long-on. Ali changed his pace to great effect, removing Maxwell, aiming a third successive reverse sweep, en route to his best one-day figures. It was left to Wade to avert the threat of Australia's heaviest defeat by England.
Man of the Match: J. W. A. Taylor.
England won an important toss, allowing their spinners to operate second on a dry pitch, and capitalise on Taylor's maiden international century. The upshot was their first victory against Australia in eight one-dayers, and Australia's first defeat by anyone in ten. For Taylor, promoted to vice-captain after an exhausted Jos Buttler was rested for the remainder of the series, it put a gloss on a frustrating year. Having been denied a hundred against the Australians during the World Cup by an umpiring error, he had begun the summer captaining England in a one-off game in Ireland, only to lose his place against New Zealand. Rarely expansive but always busy, he reached three figures from 112 balls. The pitch precluded grand gestures: Taylor hit only five fours, happily scurried 47 singles and 11 twos, and dealt well with Cummins, who clocked speeds of 96mph. He unsettled Morgan, who still managed 62 off 56 deliveries, and Hales, again eclipsed by his opening partner. Roy's fluency brought 63 off 45, including four fours in five balls from Starc, who leaked a career-worst 79. Australia pegged England back, but a target of 301 was always tough on a turning pitch: Ali and Rashid claimed five for 73 from 20 overs. Smith was brilliantly - and unexpectedly - caught by a diving Finn at short midwicket off Rashid, who then had the dangerous Finch caught at long-on. Ali changed his pace to great effect, removing Maxwell, aiming a third successive reverse sweep, en route to his best one-day figures. It was left to Wade to avert the threat of Australia's heaviest defeat by England.
Man of the Match: J. W. A. Taylor.