Mixing
England complete 5-0 whitewash over Australia as Jos Buttler’s brilliant century seals nailbiting win
24th June 2018,
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MOMENTS of history often need something special and Jos Buttler delivered with one of the great one-day innings.
Buttler rescued England from near-certain defeat with a sensational 110 not out that swept the Poms to a magical, magnificent 5-0 series triumph over Australia.
It is the first time England have whitewashed the Aussies 5-0 in any format of the game stretching all the way back to the early Test matches in the 19th century.
Buttler reined in his usual power-packed hitting to pilot England to a nerve-shredding victory by one wicket with nine balls to spare.
When they descended to 114-8 in pursuit of Australia’s modest 205 all out, little looked less likely than a clean sweep.
But Buttler found a stoic partner in Adil Rashid, who contributed 20 to a ninth-wicket stand of 81, and then Jake Ball survived for ten deliveries before Buttler laced the winning runs through the covers.
England’s super-charged batting has been the show-stopper in this series but, when runs were tight and panic possible at the Oval and Old Trafford yesterday, they were able to keep their nerves.
There is no more dynamic white ball batsman in the world right now than Buttler, who has scored ten fifties in his last 14 innings in all formats. He also enjoyed a superb day behind the stumps with a catch, stumping, run out and run out assist.
Buttler said: “In a way, that sort of innings is more rewarding and enjoyable. It’s a great feeling to hit the winning runs in a game we probably didn’t deserve to win.
“I think this is the best I’ve played. And, when you are performing well in one area of your game, it gives you confidence in the other and helps you relax.”
Australia completed a whitewash of their own as captain Tim Paine won all five coin tosses but, whether he batted or bowled, the outcome was the same.
This time, perhaps trying to copy England’s pyrotechnics at the top of the order, Travis Head and Aaron Finch tore into the early overs.
Sam Curran was manhandled on his one-day international debut and Joe Root, on for just the fifth over, but bashed for 13 runs.
But their innings went into terminal decline once Finch was bowled attempting to pull a skidding, short ball. The Aussies never throttled down from fifth gear and they were bowled out inside 35 overs.
Curran picked up a couple of cheap wickets in his second spell and, at 20 years and 21 days, became the youngest one-day wicket-taker for England – beating Stuart Broad, who was 20 years and 67 days.
Moeen finished with 4-46 – his best ODI figures – and he shared 24 wickets in the series with his spin buddy Rashid.
England were soon in trouble as Jason Roy missed a slog in the first over, Jonny Bairstow dragged on, Root edged to slip and Eoin Morgan was beaten for pace.
The 6ft 8ins Billy Stanlake unsettled England’s batsmen with his pace and bounce although, perhaps crucially, his later spells were far less potent. Moeen lobbed a catch to point and Curran and Liam Plunkett departed in successive balls before Buttler’s sensational rescue mission.
Captain Morgan added: “Jos has produced that sort of innings in the past so we almost take it for granted. Winning those close games creates so much belief in the dressing-room.”
MOMENTS of history often need something special and Jos Buttler delivered with one of the great one-day innings.
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