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‘New level of intensity’ as England reach for whitewash
CHESTER-LE-STREET, United Kingdom, June 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – England
captain Eoin Morgan hopes his side can maintain their “new level of
intensity” after moving to within sight of a first 5-0 one-day international
series whitewash of Australia.
Morgan’s men, the number one-ranked side in this format, beat Australia by
six wickets at Chester-le-Street on Thursday.
Set an ODI ground record of 311 to win, England finished on 314 for four
with more than five overs to spare after Jason Roy (101) hit his second
hundred of the series.
Following their century partnership during England’s 481 for six — the
highest total in men’s ODI cricket — at Nottingham on Tuesday, Roy and Jonny
Bairstow (79) again overwhelmed a novice Australia attack while putting on
174 for the first wicket.
There was a brief wobble when both openers fell in quick succession, but
Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 54 put the result beyond doubt.
This latest victory left England 4-0 up in the five-match series against
world champions Australia heading into Sunday’s finale at Old Trafford.
It was further confirmation of England’s dramatically altered approach to
one-day cricket after a humiliating first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup.
England, the 2019 hosts, are now among the favourites although, following
last year’s Champions Trophy semi-final loss to Pakistan in Cardiff, doubts
remain over their ability to cope with the particular pressures of winner-
takes-all knockout games.
– ‘Unbelievable tone’ –
But if Roy and Bairstow can maintain anything like their current form,
England will have high hopes of at last winning a maiden World Cup title,
after more than 40 years of trying.
“If it does become the ‘normal’, that would be awesome — because it
creates an unbelievable tone at the top of the order,” said Morgan when asked
about his openers.
“I think the form the two guys are in is phenomenal.
“I think we’ve found a new gear, or a new level of intensity.”
If England did not take early wickets on Thursday, they at least kept
Australia in relative check in a total of 310 for eight featuring hundreds
from Aaron Finch (100) and Shaun Marsh (101).
Test skipper Joe Root, best known as a top-order batsman, bowled 10 overs
of part-time off-spin for a meagre 44 runs.
“We didn’t take wickets, which is an area we hope to improve, but we
certainly controlled the run-rate,” said Morgan.
England did, however, strike late on, thanks to a double blow by fast
bowler Mark Wood and three wickets in an over from left-arm paceman David
Willey, who finished with four for 43.
“We know it falls on a couple of guys to do really well, or else it can go
badly — and Dave stepped up to the plate and bowled really well,” said
Morgan.
Meanwhile Finch was frustrated to have been dismissed when well set.
“For me to get out just past a hundred was disappointing, when we could
have really kicked on, put the foot down for that last 12 or 15 overs,” he
said. “I take full responsibility for that.”
Australia, however, are currently missing six senior players — banned
batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner as well as injured pacemen Mitchell
Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh.
And Finch said there was little point in the five-times men’s world
champions slavishly adopting England’s approach.
“They’ve got a pretty good blueprint. (But), do we need to copy that? No.
“I think we’ve still got to stick to our strengths, but just find a way to
stay in the contest for longer,” Finch added, after Australia’s 15th defeat
in 17 completed ODIs.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0849 hrs