Roy and Root run rampant on England’s night of records
IF it was a campaign fundraiser, halfway through you were ready to scream “I believe” and sign a contribution cheque for the Australian one- day team.
But then Englishman Jason Roy muzzled what had seemed growing optimism for the cause with an epic innings of 180, the biggest ever- one day effort at the MCG, and sent Aussie fundraisers back to the drawing board.
Recent history had eroded much optimism for the home team and supporters going to the ground yesterday were apprehensive about what was going to be offered up.
The candidates seeking approval were shaky in their early offerings, and it looked as if the start of the new campaign, towards the 2019 World Cup, was going to leave spectators “I’ll just keep looking for now, thanks.”
But then Aaron Finch pounded out a century ( 107), his third at the MCG against England, and half centuries to Mitch Marsh ( 50) and Marcus Stoinis ( 60 off 40 balls) provided the middle- order reassurance that was missing through 2017 when just five wins came from 15 games.
Stoinis has only played nine ODI’s, but averages 81 and hits the ball so players wince. Australia racked up 8- 304, the 10th highest score ever at the MCG, against an English outfit which has a superior winning percentage to every other one- day team in world cricket over the past two years, playing with an attack- at- all- costs strategy under captain Eoin Morgan.
Australia won the 2015 World Cup, but had been all at sea since, and lost three of the past four clashes against the old enemy. But the new World Cup campaign had begun and through Finch’s innings and seven sixes from him, Marsh and Stoinis, supporters were on the hook.
Then Australia bowled, and Roy, a beneficiary of the English review, put on a brilliant show. Home supporters put their hands back in their pockets as they watched something special unfold.
Roy couldn’t hit it off the square during his Big Bash stint with the Sydney Sixers. Seriously, he had four single figure scores and passed 20 once in six innings. But he got 37 runs off his first 17 balls. Off Ashes heroes Starc and Cummins. He was swinging at everything. No fear.
England had 60 runs by the six over mark. That’s a BBL power play, and a score any team would take.
Australia got two wickets, but it didn’t halt Roy. Instead the 27- year- old swung away, got his hundred off 92 balls, then really got going. He swatted a bit, missed a few, but made runs. Loads of ’ em.
And With Joe Root getting 91 not out himself as the understudy up the other end, England chased down 304 like it was 250. Comfortably.
It was the highest successful one- day chase at the MCG on a night of records created by England.