Jos Buttler admitted England’s thumping 3-0 one-day series defeat in Australia will not linger long in the memory, having come hot on the heels of winning the T20 World Cup.
England suffered a 221-run defeat – the heaviest margin in their ODI history – at a sparsely attended Melbourne Cricket Ground, a far cry from their jubilation at beating Pakistan on the same stage nine days earlier.
‘We tried our best but fell a long way short – Australia played really well,’ said skipper Buttler. ‘But there’s lots to be proud of. You don’t need long memories to remember the scenes here last week.’
This felt like a game too far and Australian openers Travis Head and David Warner took full advantage on a gloomy day.
Head crashed 152 off 130 balls while Warner weighed in with 106 off 102 deliveries as an opening stand of 269 set up the hosts’ daunting 355 for five.
Both were eventually removed by Olly Stone, who recovered from leaking 65 in his first seven overs to finish with four for 85.
‘I didn’t start great, a few pies in there which wasn’t ideal,’ said the fast bowler. ‘When you’re off at this level you get punished and it makes you learn quickly.
‘It was nice the way I came back. I enjoy bowling in those high-pressure situations at the end and it was nice to pick up four wickets and claw it back.’
Set an adjusted target of 364 after rain reduced the final ODI to 48 overs per side, England slumped from 57 for one in the 13th over to 142 all out in 31.4 overs. The loss of top scorer Jason Roy, with 33 off 48 balls, sparked a collapse in which Adam Zampa took four for 31.
Not that many people saw their embarrassment. At a ground with a 100,000 capacity, the 10,406 attendance was a record low for a men’s ODI involving Australia.
Jack has to make way for jumper
England have dropped Jack Willis for their final match of the autumn against South Africa on Saturday to boost their line-out options.
Willis came off the bench for the final quarter of last weekend’s 25-25 draw with New Zealand, helping to reel in a 19-point deficit.
But the Toulouse-bound flanker has been omitted from a 26-man squad with Eddie Jones opting for additional lock cover in Hugh Tizard, having decided three jumpers will be needed.
South Africa’s reliance on kicking is likely to produce more line-outs, pointing to Maro Itoje switching back to blindside flanker and Dave Ribbans partnering Jonny Hill in the second row. Bevan Rodd is among the 26 as loosehead prop cover for Mako Vunipola, whose back stiffened up yesterday.
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