†ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA 1989

At Manchester, May 25, England won by 95 runs. Toss: England. Gower quickly captured the initiative by making 36 off 33 balls with a six and five fours, mainly at Lawson's expense, and after this Australia were never in the game. Gower's decision to open was unexpected in his first match back as captain since he was discarded in 1986. Out of fairness to Smith, however, who had been making more runs than any of the other batsmen, and because it would have been pointless to name Botham in the thirteen and then not play him after his 21 months' absence from international cricket, it was the logical solution to the selection problem. In the event, England fielded the same team in all three matches, omitting Barnett and Jarvis. Australia's target was within range, given a good start, despite the surprising slowness of the outfield. But Boon, driving at a good-length ball, was bowled in the fourth over, and when Jones and Border followed cheaply there could be only one result.

Man of the Match: P. A. J. DeFreitas. Attendance: 20,000; receipts: £262,841.