Ode to Joyce at Last for England

Ed Joyce with the bat and Liam Plunkett with the ball were the most influential figures and combined to hand Australia it’s first international defeat of the home summer and only their fourth at this venue in eight years. In doing so England kept its finals hopes alive.

England captain Andrew Flintoff won the toss to a resounding chourus of boos from the SCG crowd. To this point in the series, Australia bowling first to England has meant the spectators have often had to re-arrange their plans and make hurried dinner reservations. Not so today.

Irish-born opener Joyce starred for England with the bat, scoring a composed 107 after being dropped on 6 when debutant Shaun Tait (in for the rested Brett Lee) put down an easy catch at third man off Nathan Bracken’s bowling.

It seemed apparent from the outset that there was a renewed vigour in England. Joyce opened the innings confidently with Mal Loye, who not surprisingly continued to pay his trademark slog sweep. More surprising was the fact that Loye hung around this time and got England off to a flier, both he and Joyce being particularly savage on debutant Tait and the experienced Nathan Bracken.

Eventually, however, Loye’s slog sweep indirectly brought about his demise. He attempted the shot against the seemingly ageless Glenn McGrath and was struck on the helmet via the top edge of his bat. The blow opened up a nasty gash in his chin which required lengthy treatment from the England physio. It then came as no surprise that an unsettled Loye fell next ball to an attempted pull from the bowling of McGrath.

Ian Bell entered the fray and it appeared that he had taken a dose of whatever tonic it is that turns lethargic runners between wickets into an incarnation of Dean Jones at his busiest. Where Bell has dawdled between wickets in this series (never more comically than at the ‘Gabba when run out by Cameron White), here he was all aggression and intent at the crease, pushing his partner to take quick runs and refusing to be intimidated by the lofty reputation of Australia’s in-field. When he was caught behind by stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist off McGrath, he and Joyce had hustled and bustled the score to 169 for two, their partnership totalling 111.

Andrew Flintoff then promoted himself to number four in the batting order, however, the promotion did not come off. The England skipper was trapped in front by Cameron White for only 3, playing back when he might have been forward and looking the victim of a fatigued shot.

In recent times the demise of Flintoff has meant an England capitulation, but on this occasion a middle order which has proven so fragile stood up to an Australian attack missing the cut of Lee, the thrust of Mitchell Johnson and, perhaps most significantly at this spin-friendly venue, the turn of Brad Hogg. Whilst Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds and White were all used in this match, Australia’s want of a specialist spinner heading into the World Cup will be a concern. Hogg may not hit the ball has hard as White, but rarely has he let Australia down and his Chinamen still trouble many international batsmen.

Strauss then joined Joyce in a partnership suggestive of literary and musical genius, however, the stand was to prove no Ulysses in length. Strauss attempted to waltz across his crease and succeeded in only spooning a catch to short fine leg off Bracken. Once again, Strauss had flattered only to deceive on this tour, making an up-tempo 26 from 24 balls but not going on with the job. What a frustrating tour he has had. Not really in form, never really out of it, though always seemingly out of luck and out of favour with the umpires.

Useful contributions from the lower order of Dalrymple, Nixon, Bopara and Plunkett saw England complie their best score of the limited overs series – an imposing seven for 292.

Australia’s innings then began in sensational fashion, with Gilchrist bowled neck and crop by the very first ball from Plunkett – a superb full, inswinging offering to which Australia’s captain had no answer. Next to go was Brad Hodge, bowled by the reinstated Sajid Mahmood for one. Despite being in sublime domestic form, Hodge has failed to make the most of his two opportunities in Australia’s new one-day colours and his position in the World Cup squad must be in question.

Hodge’s departure left Australia reeling at two for 11 and it was left to Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke to build a partnership. This they did, despite incisive new ball spells from both Plunkett and Mahmood. The former has been here since November, yet despite all of its fast bowling problems, England has curiously only discovered him in the last fortnight. His movement through the air troubled all of the batsmen. As for Mahmood, it was like watching a different cricketer to the one who struggled so desperately through the latter stages of the test series. Whereas his previous contributions had been as meangingful as a Beyonce Knowles lyric, today he bowled with real pace, rivalling Tait as the fastest bowler on display and sending down several deliveries at over 150 kph.

Hayden’s one-day redemption continued, despite a scratchy start. He no longer seems able to work the ball into gaps at the start of his innings as he used to, although once set he is still a formidable opponent. So it proved tonight when, after a sluggish start he took 18 off one Flintoff over, including four fours struck with consummate timing and placement through the off side.

As Hayden slowly built momentum Michael Clarke looked to be in similar form to that which he has displayed all summer. Unfortunately for Australia, he was unable to convert his start and was caught behind from the excellent Plunkett.

Clarke’s departure saw the advent of Symonds and he was soon into stride, taking on Monty Panesar when the left arm spinner was brought on during the third power play. He and Hayden took the score from 45 to 116, but when Hayden smashed a catch to Dalrymple at extra cover off Mahmood for 51 from 62, one sensed that this would be England’s night.

And so it proved. Symonds soon retired hurt for 39 after apparently tearing a bicep muscle; Hussey was bowled via the inside edge by Bopara for six and White gave Flintoff his first wicket against Australia in the one-day series when he slashed at a wide offering but succeeded only in edging to Nixon.

With Lee, Hogg and Johnson out of the side, Australia’s tail was ridiculously long – Bracken batted at number eight and McGrath ahead of Tait at number 10. Despite some worthy lower order hitting from Bracken, Stuart Clark and Tait, the game eventually fizzled with Australia being bowled out for 200, giving England a comprehensive victory by 92 runs and a vital bonus point.

For Australia, missing Ponting and severl bowlers, the result is immaterial in the conext of making the finals. Nevertheless, the result demonstrates the risks of elongating the tail at the expense of playing a specialist spinner and of lacking variety in the attack. Tait on debut created chances and was frighteningly quick, but in between bouncers and wicket-taking balls bowled several wides and was expensive. Bracken looked flat by hs own recent standards and the jury is still out on Stuart Clark as an ODI bowler. McGrath, whilst tidy until the closing overs, did not impose himself upon the match. One feels he would revel in taking the new ball again. From the bowling perspective, this match did little to solve the riddle of the make up of Australia’s attack for the World Cup.

Hayden’s continued return to form also creates headaches, in that his slower starts than of yesteryear put extra pressure on the top order, particularly if Gilchrist fails as he did tonight. For his part Hodge appears to have done his chances more harm than good, while Symonds’ injury (if medium to long term) will adversly affect both the balance and the power of the side.

For England, their long winter of discontent against Australia now has a positive. In Joyce, Plunkett and Bopara they appear to have uncovered useful one-day players who deserve an extended chance at this level. Joyce’s hundred will doubtless put pressure on Strauss should injured captain Michael Vaughan return for the World Cup, whilst Bopara’s medium pacers proved a handful for the Australians. England’s fielding improved immeasurably on recent offerings, Nixon kept well, Panesar continues to impress and Mahmood found rhythm at last. It bodes well for the final stages of England’s tour. This match has put them back in th race to make the finals. Should Australia beat England on Sunday and England defeat New Zealand on Tuesday, then England will reach the finals and have a shot a redemption.

Looking ahead, several of these young players must now be given a chance in England’s World Cup squad. It can be no coincidence that the most influential figures in this victory were two players unsullied by the horrible drubbing in the recent Ashes series.

England 292-7 (50 overs)
Ed Joyce 107, Ian Bell 51
Glenn McGrath 2-51

England won by 92 runs and secured a bonus point.

Australia 200 (38.5 overs)
Matthew Hayden 51, Andrew Symonds 39
Liam Plunkett 3-24, Sajid Mahmood 2-38