Stokes battled hard, knowing he is out of nick and got out just as he was starting to tick. Dawid Malan was the most free flowing but could not stay in, falling two balls after reaching his fifty. Moeen Ali replayed a few hits from his back catalogue but no one could hang around long enough to make a difference, which is what happens when confidence is flat.
The bowlers did a decent job, knocking over the dangerous openers – Travis Head and David Warner – with 38 on the board, exposing Australia’s soft underbelly. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne should not play together and only were here because Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh were unavailable. Without their power, Australia could only cobble together a score. Smith and Labuschagne put on 75 off 96 and were contained easily.
Australia lost wickets at crucial points, England always pegging them back as Buttler handled his bowlers well and they fielded sharply. Wood deserved better than two for 70 as he had Australians hopping around again and Chris Woakes was dead eyed, just like he was in the Ashes. But Zampa’s late hitting, 29 off 19, lifted the score to dangerous levels for England.
Australia’s attack is strong, they fielded brilliantly, taking every catch after Stoinis dropped the goober off Root, and with power to add in Maxwell and Marsh they are peaking at the right time. England are bottom of the table. You really have to rub your eyes looking at it. Surely it is upside down. Sadly not.
