The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Joy(ce) for England at last

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Saturday, Feb 03, 2007
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Joy(ce) for England at last

Ted Corbett

SYDNEY: They came, they saw and finally, after months of defeat and humiliation, they conquered. Certainly not Julius Caesar and his legions, but a face-saving success over the old enemy at last. England began its final qualifying game against Australia in the tri series one-day competition as 7-1 outsider and finished winner by 92 runs on Friday.

For once everything went right and Australia, hurt by injuries to its captain Ricky Ponting, who did not play, and its powerful all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who retired hurt after a hard-hit 39, had all its bad luck at once.

This game started with the risible suggestion that Darren Gough, whose vital statistics include 36 years of age, 15 kilos too much weight and a recent England runs-an-over rate above six, might be included in the World Cup 30.

Ridiculous thought

The idea of the ageing Gough using the new ball — he may retire at Essex — is too ridiculous to take seriously. He has been in training in a beach cricket competition designed to show off the oldies to a television audience.

If the selectors are dreaming Gough again they should be sacked; but that is not a novel idea this winter. David Graveney, the Chairman, said they were seeking clarification from ICC; why did they make the call unless they intended to make the change?

While this argument festered, England totalled 292 for seven. Ed Joyce, a dainty left-handed batsman, who followed his score of 66 against New Zealand with 107 today, held England's innings together.

Best opening stand

He and the adventurous Mal Loye, who has slog swept a six in every innings, batted for 12 overs and put up England's best opening stand of the tournament with 58.

It provided a solid basis on which Ian Bell scored another fifty, Andrew Strauss stroked his way to 26 off 24 balls and Jamie Dalrymple hit 30 with three fours and a six before he was bizarrely run out. Joyce, Strauss and Dalrymple are all Middlesex men who made it look as if England had been in this mood all southern summer.

Joyce should have been caught by Shaun Tait — whose one-day debut was hailed in the Australian press as if he might become a giant of the game — on six but now that Joyce has found he can perform at this level the more exotic claims for his batting may be realised. "I spent a long time qualifying for England," he said, "and this is a proud moment."

Superb delivery

Liam Plunkett seems to have put his spare time on this trip to good use. His opening delivery was a fast inswinging yorker which bowled Adam Gilchrist beyond doubt; ten overs later he had Michael Clarke caught behind off an outswinger.

Sajid Mahmood, playing for the first time in the series, made Brad Hodge play on.

The Aussies were careless too often for it to be anything but an excess of easy success, but Matthew Hayden, who at last found form, hit 18 off an over from Andrew Flintoff, another tired cricketer.

Australia was by the 20th over matching England run for run and when that demonstrative wicketkeeper Paul Nixon dropped Hayden off an inside edge the hints of an Australian win were clear to see.

But Symonds retired hurt with a damaged right arm, Michael Hussey fell to Ravi Bopara (making his debut) and the rest was a formality.

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