They’re smooth operators again
still needed. Yet in between the captains of white and red ball had combined nervelessly for a 115-run partnership that gave England the platform to win. If the sandpaper stunt had raised a few smiles – if not from gatemen who ensured Surrey will never have to buy another piece again – it seemed appropriate enough given Australia were far from the finished article here. However, less than 12 months out from the World Cup, Australia showed they have options in the bowling ranks and a return to form from Glenn Maxwell – who posted 62 having struggled in two warm-up matches – was another positive. England had been happy to accede to Australia captain Tim Paine’s request for the two sides to engage in a ‘fair-play’ handshake beforehand as the detoxification process continued but it gave way to a stranglehold.
Justin Langer’s men had struggled against spin in two warm-up matches against Sussex and Middlesex and Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid applied a tourniquet to their innings in an 18-over spell of slow bowling – yielding 4-73 – from which they never escaped.
Moeen had been swept out of the attack by Scotland but bowled a better length here and took three crucial wickets, Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh and captain Paine.
But Rashid deserved just as much credit, with Australia struggling to pick his variations, his 10 overs going for a miserly 36.
Only Maxwell and Ashton Agar offered resistance.
However, after very nearly refloating Australia’s innings having arrived at 70-4 and taking them to 174-5 in the 37th over, Maxwell picked out Jonny Bairstow on the square leg boundary trying to flick Liam Plunkett to the rope. His exit left Agar battling with a long tail and Plunkett was able to pick up a couple of cheap wickets as Australia added just 21 for their last four.
Australia look likely to add a bit more ballast up front in Cardiff where Darcy Short’s brutal hitting could put a few balls in the Taff but England will know one more win gives them a potentially decisive lead in the series.