England break all the wrong records as Australia end hopes of whitewash

The loss of their first five wickets for only eight runs inside seven overs constituted the third lowest score for five wickets down in one-day international history

England slumped to defeat in Adelaide after a well below par batting display (AFP)

England’s one-day players have talked a lot recently about breaking records. This was not the kind they had in mind. For all the pre-match talk of ruthlessness, England were left only with ruefulness.

The loss of their first five wickets for only eight runs inside seven overs constituted the third lowest score for five wickets down in one-day international history, after Sri Lanka’s six for five against Bangladesh in 2009 and Canada’s seven for five against Netherlands in 2013.

This is not how the traditional Australia Day one-dayer at the Adelaide Oval is supposed to shape up. The weather was cloudy after rain showers in the morning and the ground that holds 53,000 was less than half full.

Those who did attend were treated to 96 from one of their own and a much closer match than looked possible after the first five overs.

Adelaide-born Travis Head’s only one-day century came a year ago against Pakistan, on the same day and the same ground. That was also the last time Australia won a home ODI. This victory was only their second in 12 but a much-needed one after already losing this series.

The left-handed Head played the first two matches of this series at number four but was dropped for the third after a stodgy innings at Brisbane. He admitted to indecisiveness. But here Head was given the chance to open in the place of the injured Aaron Finch on his home ground with a modest total to chase.

He looked confident and assured, pounding 15 boundaries including many with his favourite cut shots to the fence. But then with only 17 required he pulled Mark Wood straight to Eoin Morgan at mid-on to leave Australia 180 for six. Australia were making this harder for themselves than it need have been.

Pat Cummins’ farcical run-out going for a needless second run with 12 needed summed up the relative ineptitude of Australia’s chase.

England never got going after their record-breaking start (AFP)

England have previous at this ground. In 2007, following a 5-0 Ashes whitewash, Andrew Flintoff’s team were bowled out for 110 and lost by nine wickets with 153 balls remaining – even before the floodlights came on.

Today there were echoes too of those old county one-day finals at Lord’s in September – originally sponsored by Gillette just like this series – when the 10.30am start meant captains always inserted the opposition and often the destiny of the match was decided soon after.

Australia’s seam bowling was excellent though both Jonny Bairstow, who chased a wide one from Josh Hazlewood, and Joe Root, who top-edged a hook off Pat Cumins, were complicit in their dismissals.

Woakes' lower order striking helped England to a defendable score (AFP)

Jason Roy’s second-ball drive to backward point can be forgiven because that sort of aggressive intent is England white-ball policy these days.

Alex Hales and Jos Buttler both received unplayable balls from Cummins and Hazlewood respectively.

Cummins recovered well from his late-innings mauling by Buttler at Sydney to take for for 24, his best figures in this format.

Travis Head anchored Australia's chase (AFP)

Chris Woakes came to the rescue, just as he had in the tight run chase at Brisbane and in the last-chance saloon stand with Buttler at Sydney. He became the first No.8 batsman in ODI history to make successive fifties.

He spoke earlier in the week about how he felt he had lost the knack of free-scoring which was one of his attributes when he first came into the side in 2011 here in Australia.

His work with Graham Thorpe, England’s one-day batting coach, has certainly paid off. After Sydney he said: “Having been ducking and weaving a lot in the Test series it’s nice to be able to swing at a few to be honest. A few came out of the middle – it was a good day.”

Australia wobbled but eventually chased down the total with three wickets to spare (Getty)

A few more came out the middle in Adelaide, as well, as he almost single-handedly restored some respectability to England’s innings, with a little help from Surrey’s Tom Curran in only his second one-day international.

Woakes’ judgement was impeccable as was the cleanness of his striking. He hit five sixes before clubbing Andrew Tye to long-on where substitute Glenn Maxwell held the catch.