England show balls

Update (2): At last, only 71 days after England started playing Australia on this tour, they have won a game. A much better display, far more positive play helped no doubt by the fact that the first three batsmen set the tone. England's second wicket didn't fall until 35 overs, which makes it much easier to gather momentum. Perhaps Flintoff should move up a place on England's league of bad one-day captains (see earlier post)?

Update: Looking more positive for England. Flintoff, who had bowled quite poorly early in the innings, conceding eight an over off his five overs, brings himself back on and immediately gets Cameron White to edge behind. News also comes through that Symonds's arm injury is so bad that he will not bat again. So Australia are effectively 160-7 and England can think not only of a win but also a bonus point.

Someone cynical might wonder whether Australia just want to play England in the final and are trying to set up a result that would deny New Zealand, but there is something different about the look of England today. Their fielding is smart, their heads are up, they are bowling accurately and batting aggressively. By Jove, Livingstone, I think we've discovered some balls.

As Peter McGuinness has just emailed to say, the temperature in Hell is dropping rapidly and Satan has called for a scarf. England might actually beat Australia in a one-day international. Chasing 293, Australia are 137 for five and Symonds has retired with a sore arm. Australia may yet do it from here but things have not been helped by Mike Hussey, the new Michael Bevan, being bowled just now.

Ed Joyce made 107 to give England a competitive total but I'm personally delighted for the latests wicket-taker, Ravi Bopara from Essex, who I have been boring people about for too long. He made seven not out with the bat earlier - but was put in at No 8, below Nixon, when he is usually a No 3 - and has proved his worth with the ball in only his second over, making Hussey play on. Ravi is a class support bowler, with excellent control and swing, just the sort of person you need coming on in the middle and end of an innings.

Comments

[Caro]

Can't think where you get these ideas about Oz wanting to play Pom in the finals since all polls in Oz show that the majority ( not Nigel) want to play the Kiwis. After all, we've thrashed you all summer, now we want to do it to the Kiwis, who are more interesting to play anyway, since they are as bloody-minded as us ( but won't admit it). Just because we had our annual fall-apart on Friday, it doesn't mean you now have on over on us. YOU'd have to beat us for 89 days to do that! One swallow does not a summer make!

[Humphrey B Bear]

No worries Nige.

Sportsbet-o-Rama was offering $7.50 on you mob today.

Irresistable.

I'm a grizzly, not a koala at the end of the day. And it wasn't a Test Match after all.

Nice. Very Nice.

My shout for the honey. Come on over to the cave old mate.....

I told young Patrick you'd win a couple. Oh well, you can't put an old snout on young shoulders hey?

Ching Ching!! Who cares?!!!

[Peter McGuinness]

Nigel.

As one of your closest electronic cricketing friends, I congratulate you wholeheartedly.

Personally.

You, above all people in the entire length and breadth of British Isles have deserved this victory.

Well done. Truly.

Are you close to Patrick? Perhaps you two could share a long-distant toast of some sort.

I've not always agreed with you Nige. But I've always admired your resilience and love of the game.

A win mate!!! Win again! Let's all see the summer out in fine style with a final against each other .....

Maybe we could call it the 'Breaker Morant/Gallipoli/Singapore Cup'? What do you reckon?

Well done tonight Nigel old mate. Keep in touch....

[nigel henderson]

Yeeeeeeeeeessssssssss! Peter McGuinness, Humphrey B Bear and Mr A Nel (the Australian one): your boys took one hell of a beating! Amazing what a bit of concentration, a bit of luck and a bit of rotating the strike can do. Or it could have been the full moon. Had to resist piping up on the Aussie-laden bus back to the hotel, but a beer in Randwick has gone down very nicely thanks. Now, all I need to return to England a happy man is for the Aussies to duff up the Kiwis, us to win at the Gabba, and an England victory in the finals. Impossible? Well, remember that old adage in sport: you're only as good as your last game.

[Mr A. Nel]

I loved the way Paul bounced back from his dropped regulation catch.

Every so often, when a truly high class player is working on his mannerisms and affectations, these things will happen.

I know this only too well.

The fact that Nixon quickly recovered to resume his tried and true methods of dramatic facial contortions and 'cool' body language; confirms to me his value as a master of the international game.

Rashid is right.

The sooner the Englanders select that pretender Read the better.

Send Paul down to us asap.

The Tommies would never have won tonight without him...

[Peter McGuinness]

You beauty!

Go Poms - make the finals now, for God's sake!

Ed has proved his ability and guts. Especially to doubters like me. He kept it simple and concentrated unbelievably. He played his own game without trying to 'out-Aussie the Aussies' with the banter and so forth.

At last - a win for Freddie. He deserves some joy. At least even something as inevitable as an eventual ODI victory provides something for the tour - for fans on both sides.

What a match against NZ awaits. Normally, I would barrack for the sight-board attendants in these games, but I actually want you Poms to prevail! Maybe there's an enth of spice left in this summer yet!