Dernbach dies a death
Plays of the day from the third and final T20 international at Stadium Australia
Brydon Coverdale
02-Feb-2014
Ben Cutting struck several handsome blows coming in at No. 4 • Getty Images
Finish of the day
There are plenty of contenders but Jade Dernbach has made a late claim for the title of England's worst tourist on this three-month trip. As a Twenty20 specialist who bats at No.11, it would be reasonable to expect Dernbach to pick up a few wickets or, failing that, to keep the runs tight. Nope. Dernbach's first two games of the series brought 1 for 50 and 0 for 42; in this game he was looking better with 0 for 23 from three. Then Stuart Broad asked him to bowl the final over. Nearly everything Dernbach delivered was in the slot for George Bailey, who plundered 26. It meant he finished the tour with 1 for 141 from 11 overs at an economy rate of 12.81. As Kerry O'Keeffe tweeted: "If Jade Dernbach is bowling at the death you normally live."
There are plenty of contenders but Jade Dernbach has made a late claim for the title of England's worst tourist on this three-month trip. As a Twenty20 specialist who bats at No.11, it would be reasonable to expect Dernbach to pick up a few wickets or, failing that, to keep the runs tight. Nope. Dernbach's first two games of the series brought 1 for 50 and 0 for 42; in this game he was looking better with 0 for 23 from three. Then Stuart Broad asked him to bowl the final over. Nearly everything Dernbach delivered was in the slot for George Bailey, who plundered 26. It meant he finished the tour with 1 for 141 from 11 overs at an economy rate of 12.81. As Kerry O'Keeffe tweeted: "If Jade Dernbach is bowling at the death you normally live."
Promotion of the day
Ben Cutting is primarily a bowler but is also renowned as a clean hitter of the ball and Bailey decided to use him as a pinch hitter during the Australia innings. Sent in at No. 4, which meant a demotion for Bailey and Brad Hodge, Cutting showed what he can do, hitting three sixes as he motored along to 29 from 16 balls. It was a gamble that paid off pretty well for the Australians.
Ben Cutting is primarily a bowler but is also renowned as a clean hitter of the ball and Bailey decided to use him as a pinch hitter during the Australia innings. Sent in at No. 4, which meant a demotion for Bailey and Brad Hodge, Cutting showed what he can do, hitting three sixes as he motored along to 29 from 16 balls. It was a gamble that paid off pretty well for the Australians.
Delay of the day
The other matches in this series have started at 7.35pm but this one didn't get under way until 7.40pm. The reason appeared to be that, with the TV ratings season having just started, Channel Nine were keen for as much air time as possible for the new series of The Block, which the TV guide listed as finishing at the very specific time of 7.38pm. For the record, The Block is not a reality show about finding Australia's next Test opening batsman.
The other matches in this series have started at 7.35pm but this one didn't get under way until 7.40pm. The reason appeared to be that, with the TV ratings season having just started, Channel Nine were keen for as much air time as possible for the new series of The Block, which the TV guide listed as finishing at the very specific time of 7.38pm. For the record, The Block is not a reality show about finding Australia's next Test opening batsman.
Veteran of the day
Brad Hodge was not quite in the thick of the action as much as he was in the field during his comeback match in Melbourne, but this time he at least got to bat. There was a one, a two and an inside edge for four before he was out hooking for 7 off 7 balls from 7 minutes. On the slot machines in Las Vegas, 777 indicates you've hit the jackpot and for Hodge, simply getting the call from national selector John Inverarity for this series provided much the same feeling.
Brad Hodge was not quite in the thick of the action as much as he was in the field during his comeback match in Melbourne, but this time he at least got to bat. There was a one, a two and an inside edge for four before he was out hooking for 7 off 7 balls from 7 minutes. On the slot machines in Las Vegas, 777 indicates you've hit the jackpot and for Hodge, simply getting the call from national selector John Inverarity for this series provided much the same feeling.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here