England aim for series sweep
Thursday, January 13th, 2011Australia will be looking to avoid a sixth straight Twenty20 loss when they take on a bouyant England side on Friday, live on Sky Sports.
Having endured a difficult Ashes campaign that ended with a 3-1 series defeat, the hosts had hoped for a change of fortunes in limited overs cricket.
However, despite fielding a much-changed XI under the leadership of new captain Cameron White, Australia still came up short in the first Twenty20 International on Wednesday.
Debutant Chris Woakes managed a single from the final ball of the match in Adelaide to give England a dramatic one-wicket win.
Marvellous Morgan
Woakes finished up unbeaten on 19 after the tourists suffered a late batting collapse that was sparked by the departure of key man Eoin Morgan.
The Irish-born left-hander had looked set to be England’s finisher once again until a mis-hit drive saw him caught at cover having made 43 from 33 balls.
Still, it was a welcome chance to enjoy some time in the middle for Morgan, who, amazingly, didn’t show any signs of rustiness despite facing just 17 balls in his two months Down Under.
“Morgs has been superb in Twenty20 and one-day cricket,” Twenty20 skipper Paul Collingwood said.
“We probably keep leaving it up to him a bit too much if we are honest, but he showed his class again.
“He’s been waiting in the wings and is very patient but when it comes to this form of the game he’s a special talent.”
While England are riding the crest of a wave – the victory at the Adelaide Oval was their eighth in a row in Twenty20 cricket, a new world record – their opponents are just desperate for any kind of success right now.
Another defeat in Melbourne would see Australia set an unwanted record of their own – they have never lost more than five T20 games on the bounce.
Shane Watson did all he could to end their barren run on Wednesday; the all-rounder hit a breezy 59 with the bat and then claimed 4-15 with the ball.
The 29-year-old was disappointed to be beaten in such a thrilling game but admits cricket has been put into perspective recently by what is going on in his hometown of Ipswich, Queensland.
