It’s time for all England, heck, any non-Australian fans to be very pleased. So long have cricket teams been punished for their non-Antipodean ways (New Zealand excepted) but for now at least, times are changing. Australia have now lost the last 4 out of 5 one day games, 3 times at the hands of England, once at New Zealand. And New Zealand have the opportunity to give Australia their second series defeat on the trot.

No doubt I sound like a very smug git right now. Well, it’s true. I am. For a number of reasons. Firstly, it ought to offer some perspective to all those people who dismissed England’s performances as not being in part attributable to the long list of injuries. Australia are currently playing without some key players, such as Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds (not to mention the recent retirements). When England suffered a similar fate, the majority of critics came out saying “England should do better, despite the injuries”. Well it’s good to see the same problems afflict teams such as Australia. Secondly, it’s great to see Australia lose. Whilst Australia were thrashing England in the Ashes, any Australian fan was only too quick to dish it out to the “pommie” fans that England sucked. And it’s true, we did suck. But in Australia losing, it reassures us of the fact that even the best teams are not infallible which, ahead of the World Cup, is an important thing of which to be reminded. It really opens the whole competition up, which is exactly what was needed.

Despite their recent run of bad form, however, Australia are still undeniably favourites for the World Cup. Even if they lose the remaining two matches against New Zealand, you still feel like they’re going to get to the final of the World Cup. Australia are still the best team in the World, but the recent run of bad form will affect them. They have the ability to bounce back, as they did from the Ashes defeat in 2005. It does of course expose the considerable changes that have been made to the side following the recent retirements and that an injury here and there, from which they’ve been remarkably immune, can bring the best side in the world down.

It just got interesting.

Post from: EveryJoe

What a difference a month makes

In fact, Australia did have to play an extended game of fetch. Ed Joyce led from the front in treating the Australian bowling with the contempt that it deserves, as Glenn McGrath was below par and Shaun Tait had an uninspiring debut, Australia really looked to be missing Brett Lee. Dropped twice, Ed Joyce made his maiden ODI century, ably supported at varying times through the innings by Ian Bell (51), Loye (29), Strauss (26) and Dalrymple (30). Loye and Bell will both be unhappy that they made promising starts but failed to score heavily, but that Joyce capitalised on Australia’s mistakes is important. England totalled a respectable 292/7. Such a target was by no means beyond the reach of Australia who have consistently scored over 300, but with Ponting rested, things didn’t go their way. Matt Hayden made 50 and Symonds was going well until he ripped his bicep, an injury which has ruled him out of the rest of the series and makes him unlikely for the World Cup. Liam Plunkett had a dream game with the ball with 3/24 off 9.4 overs and was instrumental in dismissing Australia for 200, including Adam Gilchrist first ball.

Fortunately, though, the response to the victory has been necessarily muted. That is, no-one has yet announced the revolution of English cricket, which might ordinarily happen. England will know that the win was important, but that it is merely a drop in a bloody big ocean and they must aim to continue to improve their cricket if they’re to make a mark on the World Cup.

Post from: EveryJoe

Warm up the MBE machine