You can also share your thoughts via the Twitter handle, @fancricket12
England vs Australia, Match 32 - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
Finch led the way for Australia with a hundred © Getty
Eoin Morgan, England captain: A lot of today, we were outplayed. Thought we bowled well upfront. Little bit unlucky as Australia played and missed a lot. They built a fantastic partnership. Wicket got a little bit better, but still challenging. Wicket this morning was soft when we started. Choosing to bat would've been a horrific decision. Finch played really well, capitalized on the start he got. We pegged it back really well. For a long time it looked like they'd get 330. When you're 20/3, it pegs you back substantially. Given the circumstances, it's not hugely disappointing. Our fate is in our own hands. Everything we need to turn around is simple. Won't search for anything that's not there.
Aaron Finch, Man of the Match: Didn't play too badly, anytime you contribute to a team win is special. I think that is the most important thing. Nice to get a hundred in a win. Wicket was seaming around a bit initially, Woaksey bowled a hell of a spell upfront, he bowled 7 overs in a row, we were hoping that he will quit after 5 but he kept coming. Laid a reasonable foundation with Davey(Warner). Bit more confidence when you walk out when you know you have done well against an opposition. It was nipping around, it was seaming. I think we played quite well. We were as tight as we could and we tried to cash in on the width.
Clinical win
And it is Starc who finishes it off by picking up Rashid's scalp. Australia have put up a clinical show and thoroughly deserve to win. On a tricky pitch, Warner and Finch laid the platform for a very challenging total. Starc and Behrendorff then blended together to send the home side packing. To put icing on the cake, they have also qualified for semifinals.
What about England then? A couple of defeats don't make a good side bad. But they have cracked under pressure far too often in this tournament so far. Stokes yet again stood alone amidst the ruins but with virtually no support. Woakes and Archer bowled well upfront, but the duo could have gone a tad fuller.
They still have two matches to go and it could come down to them winning both to make it to semis. Of course, if other results go their way, one win could be enough. The English camp need to pick up the pieces quickly.
He also swung it today...
|
Prelude:
The year was 1788. Arthur Phillip led a Fleet from England to Australia and established a Penal colony in Sydney. It was also the year when the new settlers in Australia played a game of bat and ball that is known as cricket.
Time flies and as the clock tick-tocked ruthlessly, cricketing ties between England and Australia started to grow. In 1861-62, HH Stephenson, better known for his round arm pace bowling, led an English team to Australia and the side partook in 12 games; none of them were counted as first class matches.
A worthy mention also has to go to the Australian Aboriginal cricket team that toured England in 1868. The set-up was captained and coached by Tom Wills, with Johnny Mullagh being the star player of the side.
The first Test between England and Australia was played at the MCG in 1877. However, it was in 1882 when the legend of Ashes began. Fred Spofforth, the Australian fast bowler, motivated by W.G. Grace's gamesmanship, bowled a stunning spell, which included taking his last four wickets for just two runs to engineer a come-from-behind victory at The Oval. Before bowling that spell, the fiery pacer had said: "This thing can be done."
It resulted in a London journalist, Reginald Shirley Brooks penning down an "obituary'' in the Sporting Times. "In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval, 29th August, 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances, RIP. NB The body will be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia."
For a while, let's steer away from the legend of Ashes as we are looking at the ongoing 50-over World Cup, where the two age-old rivals would go head-to-head in a crucial clash at the home of cricket, Lord's.
England and Australia have certainly been a part of some thrilling World Cup games. In the 1975 World Cup semifinal, Australia were reduced to a precarious 39 for 6 in pursuit of just 94! However, Gary Gilmour, the hero of Australia's 1975 World Cup campaign, steered them home with an unbeaten 28. Earlier, he had also picked up an astonishing 6 for 14.
In the 1987 World Cup final at the iconic Eden Gardens, at 135 for 3, in pursuit of 254, England seemed to be on their way to hoisting the World Cup trophy for the first time. Mike Gatting, the England skipper, and one of their better players of spin in the side, was looking in fine touch.
Just that against the run of play, Gatting tried an ill-advised reverse sweep off Allan Border and was dismissed. Australia soon gained the ascendancy and hoisted first of many more World Cups. It also signalled a turnaround for a beleaguered Australian side that was repeatedly beaten by England in the previous season.
In 1992, Ian Botham had his final hurrah against his favourite opponent, Australia. Botham, who was past his peak, mixed his pace and swung it at gentle pace, to send Australia tumbling to a defeat. He even crunched an aggressive fifty. 'Beefy' always loved to play the Men from Down Under.
Since then, Australia have never lost to England in a World Cup game. Yes, Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel scripted a jailbreak in the 2003 World Cup game, but the harsh truth is England haven't beaten Australia in World Cups since 1992.
Can Eoin Morgan's men turn the tables on Australia this time around? England, one of the fancied sides of the tournament, slipped to a surprise loss against Sri Lanka, the other day. So they are also under a bit of pressure in terms of progressing to the semifinals.
It should turn out to be a mouth-watering clash. Jofra and Wood versus Warner and Finch. Cummins and Starc versus England's aggressive batting unit. England, though, would again miss out on the services of their injured opener, Jason Roy.
You can go through our detailed preview
Toss and teams in a while...
© Cricbuzz
LATEST NEWS
Move to top