Australian star batter Travis Head was exceptional with the ball in his hand during his side’s 5th and final ODI versus England at County Ground, Bristol. Travis Head got the key scalps of Liam Livingstone, centurion Ben Duckett, Brydon Carse and finally, Adil Rashid. Travis Head bowled 6.2 overs and took 4/28. Notably, the Aussie spinners shared eight scalps to force an England collapse.
In 69 ODIs, Travis Head has raced to 24 scalps at 44.20. Notably, this was Travis Head’s maiden four-fer in ODIs. As per ESPNCricinfo, in 18 ODIs versus England, Travis Head owns six scalps at 28.16. 15 of Travis Head’s scalps have come in away matches at 38.40.
Travis Head picked four wickets and returned to star in a bitsy opening partnership in the run chase with Matthew Short of 78-runs in 7.1 overs to secure a series win in a rain-hit final fixture in Bristol. At 165 for 2 in 20.4 overs when rain stopped play, Australia left the field 49 runs ahead as per DLS calculations. That was the eventual margin of the win as the rain didn’t relent for there to be any further play.
Pitch and Toss
The pitch at County Ground in Bristol might offer a hint of seam movement to the fast bowlers early on with the new ball. With cloudy overhead conditions, the pacers will try to utilize the moisture in their favour. However, the track will become better for batting as the game progresses. After getting set in the middle, the batters will enjoy the pitch’s pace and bounce to score runs. The spinners generally don’t get enough help from the surface at this venue.
The pacers will focus on hitting the deck and varying their pace to succeed with the older ball. The wicket doesn’t deteriorate with time, so the chasing sides have been more successful than teams batting first in Bristol. Also, with overcast conditions predicted, the toss-winning team will likely bowl first.
Australia skipper Steve Smith won the toss and chose to field with Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey being replaced by Cooper Connelly being handed his ODI debut . England skipper Harry Brook batting first made one change to his playing XI with Olly Stone replacing Jofra Archer.
Australia spinners especially Travis Head 4-fer hit back after Duckett ton to restrict England to 309
Like at Trent Bridge, it was a game that fell away for England from a very strong batting foundation. A ferocious stand of 132 off 98 balls between Duckett and Brook brought up their 200 in the 25th over but from the moment Brook fell to Zampa the innings fell away with the final collapse being 107 for 8. Smith used 23 consecutive overs of spin and 28 off the last 29 in total.
After 2.2 overs Zampa’s figures read 0 for 42 but he became a significant threat on a dry surface that offered increasing help to the spinners. Travis Head winkled out a List A best of 4 for 28, including the key scalp of Duckett for a 91-ball 107, the highlight of which had been how quickly he picked up length against the quicks early on, a trademark of his batting during a productive home summer.
Yet such was the change of momentum that England only hit one boundary between the 27th and 43rd overs. The 194 balls of spin was a record for Australia in a men’s ODI.
At the end of a tour marked by illness and injury they had again been forced to shuffle their pack after Marsh pulled up sore after Lord’s where he bowled for the first time since early April. Aaron Hardie also replaced Sean Abbott and Cooper Connolly was handed an ODI debut. Speaking on TV before the game, Ricky Ponting said Australia would rate a series win very highly given the challenges within the squad.
Phil Salt set the tone in the opening over which included three boundaries off Mitchell Starc and two plays and misses. It meant, at that moment, Starc’s last two overs of the series had cost 40 following his pasting at the hands of Liam Livingstone at Lord’s. Salt continued to alternate between missing and connecting, outside edging a swish over deep third for six against Starc before a brace of far more convincing sixes against Hardie’s first two deliveries which brought up England’s fifty in the seventh over.
But Hardie struck back. Firstly, he had Salt well taken at deep point by Marnus Labuschagne, the ball after adjusting the field, then produced a gem of a delivery to clean up Will Jacks for a duck.
There were a few overs of consolidation from England before Brook scooped his first boundary off Josh Hazlewood from his ninth delivery then he continued the team’s approach of being aggressive to Zampa by ending his first over with a four and six; a delightful late cut which drew comparisons to Mahela Jayawardene by Eoin Morgan on commentary then a blow to the short, straight boundary.
Much more was to come from Brook when he took three further sixes from Zampa’s second over leaving Smith searching for options. Duckett went to his fifty from 45 balls and Brook raced to the mark from 39 with another six over the leg side against Hardie. Brook took his sixes tally to seven with another back-to-back brace off Zampa when he returned for the start of his second spell and had the attack at his mercy.
But then came a break for Australia when Brook miscued Zampa down the ground and found Glenn Maxwell at long-off. Maxwell continued to do an excellent job with the ball, finding significant grip from the surface, and pushed one through Jamie Smith. Zampa then found Livingstone’s top edge with one that turned and bounced and all of a sudden, the lower middle-order was exposed.
The onus was on Duckett to try and guide the remainder of the innings as he brought up an outstanding century. Both he and Jacob Bethell held themselves back for a period, but after sending Travis Head’s third ball over long-on Duckett tried a repeat and skewed a catch to long-off which meant Carse was walking in during the 34th over.
Travis Head then turned deliveries sharply to have Bethell stumped and Carse lbw, leaving Rashid to nurse the total towards 300, but eyes were already turning to the sky and Australia flicked successfully into T20 mode to earn the spoils.
Ben Duckett continued to enjoy life as an England opener in ODIs as he notched up his second century in the format. He and Harry Brook put together an important partnership of 132 runs in 16.2 overs but the Aussie spin troika of Travis Head, Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell hit back to keep England from posting a mammoth total. The hosts still went past the 300-run mark, thanks to Adil Rashid who scored a handy 36 off 35 and added 33 runs with Olly Stone for the final wicket.
Amidst gloomy conditions in Bristol, Phil Salt made a part-streaky, part-stylish start to England’s innings after Australia’s stand-in skipper Steve Smith sent the hosts in first. Salt started and ended the first over with two cover drives, and had one go beyond second slip’s reach off the toe-end of his bat in the middle. He and Duckett made a breezy start until an eventful Aaron Hardie over in the seventh.
Salt smashed two successive sixes and a four, but reached out for more to a full delivery outside off-stump and hit it straight to Marnus Labuschagne at deep point. Duckett kept the tempo up, clinching three fours off Hazlewood in the following over but Hardie struck again to clean up Will Jacks for a four-ball duck. Australia’s bowlers would’ve felt they had things under control following the two wickets but Brook had other intentions. He started cautiously but Zampa’s introduction into the attack was the cue for him to tee off.
He smashed the first of his seven sixes in the 15th over and kick-started the pivotal partnership with Duckett. Brook needed just 52 balls for his 72 – that also included three fours, and in the process amassed most runs as captain in a bilateral ODI series against Australia (312). This was also his third consecutive half-century. The pair took England past the 200-run mark in just the 25th over but then came the downward spiral, initiated by Zampa.
The leggie, who had already been thumped for two more sixes by Brook, tossed another one up and succeeded as Brook holed out to long-off. Maxwell soon breached Jamie Smith’s defence and Liam Livingstone fell to Zampa, leaving England five down for 216.
Duckett then became Travis Head’s first wicket of the evening – he too fell trying and failing to clear long-off. Travis Head then had Jacob Bethell stumped and trapped Brydon Carse leg before in two successive overs. Maxwell then reduced England down to 276 for 9 with the wicket of Matthew Potts.
At this stage, Australia were set to chase a sub-300 total to clinch the series, only for Rashid to deny the visitors that in the company of Stone. The final-wicket pair dragged the innings till the last over where Travis Head dismissed Rashid to finish with a four-fer.
Travis Head’s all-round show helps Australia clinch series 3-2
Travis Head picked four wickets and returned to star in a blitzy opening partnership in the run chase with Matthew Short of 78-runs in 7.1 overs to secure a series win in a rain-hit final fixture in Bristol. At 165 for 2 in 20.4 overs when rain stopped play, Australia left the field 49 runs ahead as per DLS calculations. That was the eventual margin of the win as the rain didn’t relent for there to be any further play.
With dark clouds hovering over the County ground even through the first innings, Short and Head made a fiery start to keep Australia ahead of the par-score. After a couple of quiet overs, Travis Head punished Matthew Potts with two fours. Short went after Olly Stone too before Travis Head laid into Will Jacks in the sixth over with two fours and two sixes.
Australia’s break-neck pace didn’t suffer even as Brydon Carse dismissed Head – for 31 off 26 – at the start of the eighth over. By the end of the PowerPlay, Australia were cruising along at 103 for 1. Even as Steve Smith didn’t match the openers for the aggression, Short carried on to bring up his maiden half-century – off 23 balls – with a six.
Potts had Short caught behind in the 13th over but Australia were still well ahead of the asking rate. England though, felt they had the looming weather on their side as the threat of rain became more and more imminent with every passing over. England sensed it and even took Adil Rashid off the attack despite being effective to try and delay getting to the 20th over mark before rain arrives. They even had a drinks break after the 17th to take some more time away but didn’t have the rub of the green for rain’s timely arrival.
Josh Inglis added to their woes by adding more quick runs to Australia’s tally, as he hit Stone for two fours in the 19th and Carse for two sixes in the 20th. Four balls into the 21st over, showers forced the players indoors and refused to relent. After about an hour’s wait, Australia were awarded the game – and the series – for being well ahead of the par-score.
Earlier in the day, Ben Duckett led England’s hopes of completing a dramatic come-from-behind series win with his second ODI century. Harry Brook kept him company in a vital third-wicket stand of 132 runs but Australia’s spinners turned the tables midway through the innings. But, England slipped from 202 for2 in the 25th over to 276 for 9 in the 44th, with most batters departing while trying to clear the straight boundary.
Brook got his third successive fifty and scored the most runs as captain in a bilateral ODI series against Australia (312). But those efforts were off-set by Travis Head’s four-wicket haul, while Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell picked two each. Adil Rashid battled on in the final-wicket stand with Stone to drag England past the 300-run mark but in the end it proved insufficient.
Australia’s chase was never going to be about 310 in 50 overs – the 20-over DLS, which moved with wickets lost, was the vital figure. The visitors clearly knew the sums and after a watchful first three overs, Travis Head and Short cut loose as 62 came off the next four. Being 100 for 1 after 10 overs put them so far ahead they had breathing space for the loss of a couple of wickets.
Brydon Carse struck first ball to remove Head and Short edged behind after a 23-ball maiden ODI fifty. But Smith, who successfully reviewed being given lbw to Matthew Potts on 10, and Josh Inglis ensured against further setbacks although England missed reviewing for an edge off Inglis at 122 for 2 in the 15th.
However, England needed more than one further breakthrough given Australia’s flying start and the tactics became clear when Brook returned to all pace instead of Adil Rashid on a pitch assisting spin (and Potts suddenly realised he needed a new boot).
The rain, which had initially arrived during the interval, then returned four balls after a result had been assured with a DLS of 116 for 2. Australia didn’t entirely defend their way there as the weather closed in a little more slowly than first looked likely: Inglis pulled consecutive sixes off Carse in the 20th over. In normal circumstances, Rashid and England’s other spinners might have turned the game around but Australia were good value for victory given the way they fought back in the field.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Mitchell Marsh the winning skipper said : They were on track for a big total. But our bowlers assessed the conditions well, it was a fantastic effort by them to bounce back. We need more bowling options and need to make sure the batters don’t settle. Needs to continue.
Five ODIs in 12 days is always going to be a challenge. We had some experienced cricketers who led the way. We have a lot in the tank, those trophies are hard to win. We look forward to Pakistan in a few months’ time. We have emphasized on the young guys coming in, we have many players waiting to play for Australia in future.
Harry Brook the losing skipper said : Nice to get some runs on the board and contribute in wins. Haven’t played much, but have just tried to get a tempo of ODI cricket. It’s not just the present, we are thinking of the long term. It’s a new and entertaining brand of cricket we are playing.
Duckett has done well. Jacks are done well. Carse, Archer and other seamers have put the pressure. Rashid is world class. Captaincy has been good, something I might think of doing in the future, for now I think Jos is the one to do it. We have to go above and beyond.
Travis Head is Player of the series and Player of the Match for his scintillating performances said : Would have liked to go (and play some better knocks) in a couple of games, but it was a good opportunity. Moving really well, would like to add one good score. Just relaxed. I am moving well, doing things well and enjoying this environment. I think we have played well forever, especially in this format. We need to make sure we get up and running.
As expected, the heavens have opened up. Play stopped due to rain. Australia clearly ahead and they’ll clinch the series if there’s no more play possible. Chasing a 300+ score, the Australian openers wasted no time to get going. Short was the aggressor and he recorded his maiden ODI fifty off just 23 deliveries.
After his downfall, Smith was happy to see off Rashid while Inglis batted positively against the pacers. England tried to slow down the proceedings but 20 overs have been completed. The pitch, main square and the bowlers’ run-up have been covered. The forecast isn’t promising.
A power-packed powerplay by Travis Head and Matthew Short, followed by astute batting by stand-in captain Steven Smith, ensured Australia beat the rain and England in the nick of time to take the one-day series in Bristol on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern. For the second time in the five matches, their spinners engineering a collapse, including a career-best for Head, after Ben Duckett’s second ODI hundred alongside a Harry Brook onslaught had put the home side on track for a huge total.
Australia win the match by 49 runs (DLS method) and clinch the series 3-2. The visitors had an idea about the dicey weather and their batters came out with a really positive intent, treating it as a T20 game. Short and Head gave them a brisk start and although the latter departed in the 8th over, Short made sure to notch up a crucial fifty. Both of them were aggressive upfront and once they were dismissed, Smith and Inglis took control of proceedings.
Rain arrived just after the 20th over and at that point the Aussies were 49 runs ahead of the DLS par score. Earlier in the day, Duckett notched up a superb ton and Harry Brook played another impressive knock, however, the Australian spinners pulled things back dramatically to restrict the English side. Travis Head was the star performer with a four-wicket haul as he bagged his best figures in ODIs. The two first games were won by Australia, the next two by England and the tourists have taken the final game of the the 5-match ODI series.
Marsh collects the trophy as the Aussies pose for the cameras along with it. That’s all from our side folks. It was a pleasure bringing you the live coverage of the five ODIs over the last couple of weeks. Harry Brook played some breathtaking knocks throughout the series, however, Australia came up with a collective team effort to topple the England captain’s heroics. Head played some lovely knocks too. Was a fun and entertaining series at the end of it.