England v Australia
Wisden's review of the third ODI, England vs Australia
15-Apr-2014
At Birmingham, June 8. England won by 48 runs. Toss: England.
From the first ball, clipped neatly for four through the leg side by Cook, England rarely ceded control of the first of 26 scheduled meetings with their oldest rivals in eight months. Cook's bowlers then made a par target of 270 appear formidable with an outstanding demonstration of reverse swing on a dry surface. Bailey, deputising as Australia's captain for the injured Clarke, was surprised how quickly England generated unorthodox movement: the ball began to shape as early as the eighth over, and the control of Anderson in particular made for an almighty challenge. When Marsh carved to backward point, Anderson overtook Darren Gough's record of 234 one-day wickets for England. Bailey tried to consolidate but eventually holed out, while Faulkner's powerful half-century merely limited the damage to the net run-rate. Earlier, England had faltered during the batting powerplay, but the foundation laid by the top three balanced that. Bell should have been run out before he scored, but looked set for a hundred until he played around a straight one from Faulkner. McKay helped check the scoring-rate, only for Bopara - justifying his inclusion ahead of Finn, No. 3 in the ICC's one-day bowling rankings at the time - and Bresnan to strike 56 from the last 41 balls. As if defeat was not bad enough, Australia were also fined for a slow over-rate.
Man of the Match: I. R. Bell. Attendance: 22,005.
From the first ball, clipped neatly for four through the leg side by Cook, England rarely ceded control of the first of 26 scheduled meetings with their oldest rivals in eight months. Cook's bowlers then made a par target of 270 appear formidable with an outstanding demonstration of reverse swing on a dry surface. Bailey, deputising as Australia's captain for the injured Clarke, was surprised how quickly England generated unorthodox movement: the ball began to shape as early as the eighth over, and the control of Anderson in particular made for an almighty challenge. When Marsh carved to backward point, Anderson overtook Darren Gough's record of 234 one-day wickets for England. Bailey tried to consolidate but eventually holed out, while Faulkner's powerful half-century merely limited the damage to the net run-rate. Earlier, England had faltered during the batting powerplay, but the foundation laid by the top three balanced that. Bell should have been run out before he scored, but looked set for a hundred until he played around a straight one from Faulkner. McKay helped check the scoring-rate, only for Bopara - justifying his inclusion ahead of Finn, No. 3 in the ICC's one-day bowling rankings at the time - and Bresnan to strike 56 from the last 41 balls. As if defeat was not bad enough, Australia were also fined for a slow over-rate.
Man of the Match: I. R. Bell. Attendance: 22,005.