England under UTBash

[UTBash]

T20I VS West Indies

The final game of the tour, a one off T20I. There is one change to the squad, with Broad replacing Briggs.

Here are the teams...

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Match Summary

West Indies won the toss and batted.

Everybody bowled pretty well, with all bowlers apart from Swann going under 7's. Powell once again top scored for the West Indies with 39 as we restricted them to 129.

Kieswetter got a golden duck in the first over, but apart from that, we made the win look very easy in the shorter format which I pride myself on. The main men Cook and Trott led the way, both getting 61, striking at more than a run a ball.



Batting Award: Alastair Cook. 61 off 44, quicker than Trott.

Bowling Award: James Anderson. Pips Patel to the line due to taking the wickets of batsman 1 and 3.

England win the "series" 1-0

I won't be doing the stats as this was just a one game series.

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ODI SERIES VS AUS squads

Alex Hales gets the nod ahead of Chopra due to his one day form for his county. Chris Tremlett joins the squad in place of Bairstow who may have limited opportunities in this series, but will play a part against South Africa.

England Squad



Australia Squad

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1st ODI XI's

We've gone with 4 pace men and 1 spinner in this game, Bell will open with Cook.

[UTBash]

1st ODI Summary

We won the toss and bowled.

Australia started well from the off, going at 5 an over in the first 10. We struggled to take wickets and this helped Australia kick on early. 3 of the top 4 batsmen passed fifty with the other, David Hussey, scoring an unbeaten 105 off just 77 balls! Anderson was the only bowler to go under 5 an over.

Wow, I can't believe we got as close as we did. We started badly, 8-3 off 2 overs, Hilfenhaus had bowled a triple wicket maiden. And after 10 overs we were 5 down. Prior (67 from 57) and Bresnan (128* from 118) put on 107 to take us to 153-6. At this point we were looking at being bowled out for 200, but our run rate was our saving point, and Bresnan continued to take the Aussie attack apart whilst being supported by Broad and later on with Anderson in a partnership of 53. We fell 8 short in a surprise comeback, if it wasn't for Hilfenhaus we would've won easily!



Batting Award: Did i hear that right? Tim Bresnan! 128 not out from 118 balls, what an innings! We didn't bat well enough at the start.

Bowling Award: Stuart Broad. Only conceded 2 more than Anderson and picked up a wicket, we didn't bowl well enough even though the wicket was good.

Australia lead 1-0.

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2nd ODI vs Aus

Team News: Patel replaces Broad on a spinners wicket.


Australia won the toss and chose to bat.

It was Australia's turn to show their depth in their batting, with bowling all rounder Mitchell Johnson scoring a quick 34 at the end to make them competitive. The Aussie line up failed to push on, much like us in the West Indies series. A good team bowling performance, limiting runs, resulted in the Aussies trying to attack Swann, who, although expensive, picked up 3 important wickets and bowled a very good second spell of 7-1-30-3.

We always stayed on top as the Aussie attack failed to make the early impact they made in the previous game. Cook and Bell made an explosive start, but Bell fell for just 16 and Trott followed soon after cheaply. Cook powered on to make 74 from 61 balls as we dominated and kept way ahead of the run rate. A few 20's and 30's in the middle order were followed by another great innings by Tim Bresnan who scored 41 not out from 24 balls. Pattinson was left with embarrassing figures of 9.3-0-70-1. We cruised home in the 41st over!



Batting Award: Alastair Cook. I'd love to have given it to Tim again, but Cooky got us off to the best start!

Bowling Award: Graeme Swann. 3 expensive overs in his first spell ruined his figures but that doesn't take away from the other excellent 7!

Series State: 1-1 with 3 games left.

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3rd ODI vs Aus

Team News: None for England. Bailey replaces Forrest for Australia.

Australia won the toss and batted.

Once again the Australians played an innings similar to that of ours when the West Indians visited. Many of them reached 20's and 30's again without pushing on, with the top scorer (Clarke) reaching only 42. Our bowling is improving in every game and it was once again a great team effort in the field.

Our approach to this chase was more measured this time after losing both openers early on a difficult track. Trott (75) and Morgan (54) were the main scorers for us and were supported well by the other batsmen. Patel and Prior saw us home easily in the end to take us into the lead for the series.



Batting Award: Jonathan Trott. A good 75 off 81 balls.

Bowling Award: Tim Bresnan. When he doesn't do it with the bat, he does it with the ball!

Series State: England lead 2-1 with 2 games left.

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4th ODI vs Aus

Team News: None for England. Forrest is back in for Bailey for the Aussies.

We won the toss and bowled.

An even worse batting performance by the Aussies, with only Watson showing some fight, scoring 73 and batting most of the innings. The best innings after Watson's was Hilfenhaus's 23 not out off 14 at the end. Our bowlers were too good for the Australians once again with Swann finally coming into some real form.

Relief. A series well won! Bell finally found some form scoring 77 off 73, whilst being supported with teens and 20's by the rest of the lads. The scoring rate which lacked in the West Indies series has been massively changed in this series as we've scored freely in every game against a better attack! We cruised to victory and Bresnan very nearly earned himself another red inker, falling with only 2 needed to win, scoring an explosive 15 off 9 balls. Now a bit of room for manoeuvre in the last game!



Batting Award: Ian Bell. He's been out of form but came back with a bang.

Bowling Award: Graeme Swann. Same story for him! Coming back into form at a vital time!

Series State: England lead 3-1 with one game remaining.

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5th ODI vs Aus

Team News: Hales, Kieswetter and Tremlett in for Bell, Bopara and Anderson.

We won the toss and batted for a change.

Our free scoring game continued into this final match. Cook scored a magnificent 104 from 111 balls, with Morgan scoring 69. Hales failed to impress reaching only 18 and Kieswetter only reached 11. An unbeaten partnership of 66 between Prior (31* off 29) and Bresnan (46* off 46) took us to the end on 289-5.

With the pressure off, we relaxed and so did they, especially David Warner who seemed to recover some of the freedom with which he plays. From ball one he was destructive and he took Australia home with 147* off just 126 balls with Hussey supporting, scoring at a run a ball himself. Tremlett had appauling figures of 5.2 overs 0-58, laughable, but who cares? We beat the world number one team!



Batting Award: Alastair Cook. A good century at a good scoring rate!

Bowling Award: Tim Bresnan. Okay, nobody deserves this one today but he took the only 2 wickets.

Series State: England win 3-2!

[UTBash]

ODI SERIES VS Australia (STATISTICS)

Top 5 English Batsmen (Runs & AVG)
1. T Bresnan - 236 runs @ 118.00
2. A Cook - 224 runs @ 44.80
3. M Prior - 173 runs @ 86.50
4. E Morgan - 155 runs @ 31.00
5. J Trott - 105 runs @ 21.00

Top 5 Australian Batsmen (Runs & AVG)
1. David Warner - 283 runs @ 70.75
2. David Hussey - 248 runs @ 62.00
3. Shane Watson - 197 runs @ 39.40
4. Michael Clarke - 158 runs @ 39.50
5. Matthew Wade - 77 runs @ 38.50

Top 5 English Bowlers (Wickets & AVG)
1. G Swann - 10 wickets @ 26.20
2. S Finn - 8 wickets @ 34.75
3. T Bresnan - 7 wickets @ 35.57
4. J Anderson - 3 wickets @ 61.00
5. S Patel - 2 wickets @ 80.00

Top 5 Australian Bowlers (Wickets & AVG)
1. B Hilfenhaus - 11 wickets @ 18.09
2. B Lee - 10 wickets @ 28.10
3. S Watson - 4 wickets @ 57.50
4. J Pattinson - 4 wickets @ 72.00
5. M Johnson - 2 wickets @ 113.00


Series Awards

Batting Award: It's a surprise but Tim Bresnan. How could i give it to anyone else? His hard hitting high scoring innings' were some of the best an England all rounder has played since Freddie Flintoff!

Bowling Award: Graeme Swann. Provided a constant danger to opposition batsmen, even when slightly out of form!

SUMMARY

A contrasting series to the dull series against the WIndies! Althought the Aussies had their stand out men, we performed excellently as a team! For example Patel was the most economical yet took the least wickets, Swann was relatively expensive but took the wickets. Our men complemented each other very well. Our hard hitting approach provided entertainment and destroyed the morale's of the Australian pacemen, maybe they needed a good spinner to play.

[cricfan1]

Top 5 English Batsmen (Runs & AVG)
1. T Bresnan - 236 runs @ 118.00
2. A Cook - 224 runs @ 44.80
3. M Prior - 173 runs @ 86.50
4. E Morgan - 155 runs @ 31.00
5. J Trott - 105 runs @ 21.00

Top 5 Australian Batsmen (Runs & AVG)
1. David Warner - 283 runs @ 70.75
2. David Hussey - 248 runs @ 62.00
3. Shane Watson - 197 runs @ 39.40
4. Michael Clarke - 158 runs @ 39.50
5. Matthew Wade - 77 runs @ 38.50

Top 5 English Bowlers (Wickets & AVG)
1. G Swann - 10 wickets @ 26.20
2. S Finn - 8 wickets @ 34.75
3. T Bresnan - 7 wickets @ 35.57
4. J Anderson - 3 wickets @ 61.00
5. S Patel - 2 wickets @ 80.00

Top 5 Australian Bowlers (Wickets & AVG)
1. B Hilfenhaus - 11 wickets @ 18.09
2. B Lee - 10 wickets @ 28.10
3. S Watson - 4 wickets @ 57.50
4. J Pattinson - 4 wickets @ 72.00
5. M Johnson - 2 wickets @ 113.00


Series Awards

Batting Award: It's a surprise but Tim Bresnan. How could i give it to anyone else? His hard hitting high scoring innings' were some of the best an England all rounder has played since Freddie Flintoff!

Bowling Award: Graeme Swann. Provided a constant danger to opposition batsmen, even when slightly out of form!

SUMMARY

A contrasting series to the dull series against the WIndies! Althought the Aussies had their stand out men, we performed excellently as a team! For example Patel was the most economical yet took the least wickets, Swann was relatively expensive but took the wickets. Our men complemented each other very well. Our hard hitting approach provided entertainment and destroyed the morale's of the Australian pacemen, maybe they needed a good spinner to play.

Time Bresnan Is good Batsman Yes he is best all rounder after Flintoff Good to know Best Allrounder too

[UTBash]

South Africa in England (Squads)

I was hoping to bring James Taylor back in the mix but it seems he's having a horrible domestic season and is in poor form, so Bairstow joins the squad.

England 1st Test Squad



South Africa touring squad

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1st test Starting XI's

I debated for a long time on whether to play Broad or Bairstow, I decided on Broad for this first test, which seemed the safer move to me.

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1st test VS SA

We lost the toss and were put into bat, a strange choice by the Saffers, they must know something I don't.

Day One
We struggled, finishing the day on 261-8, Cook and Trott just missed out on half centuries after a good partnership together, with Bell being the only man to pass fifty, just. Philander led the way with 3 wickets and the South Africans were sure to clean up early on day two.

Day Two
With day two came the threat of rain and overcast conditions. Swann was out LBW the first ball of the day and Anderson was gone soon after as we were dismissed for 272. South Africa unfortunately took the day, reaching 290-3, with Kallis unbeaten on 92. We hope to do better on day three with the ball.

Day Three
South Africa started the third day well and continued to bat strongly. Kallis and Rudolph were the centurions, with Rudolph scoring 108 off 113 balls, taking South Africa to 504-9 before they declared. We started with a disaster, Cook and Strauss gone with only 4 runs being scored. Steyns opening spell claimed 3 wickets. Pietersen and Bell passed fifty before Bell fell and Prior continued the rebuild with Pietersen.

Day Four
Prior didn't last too long. Pietersen, however, made a great 165 and was helped by Swann who scored a vital half century to give us half a chance as we reached 404 all out, with a lead of 172. South Africa cruised to 108-1 by the end of the day and things were ominous.

Day Five
South Africa recorded an easy 8 wicket win, enough said....



Series State: South Africa lead 1-0 with 2 games left.

Batting Award: Kevin Pietersen. A good 165 to put us in a position in which we may not be totally battered. A shame we still were.

Bowling Award: James Anderson. He bowled the best but wasn't good enough, much improvement needed in this department.

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2nd test vs SAfrica

No changes in the squad or team as I decide to persevere with the same XI!

We won the toss and batted.

Day One
It all looked good til the last session, as we collapsed from 209-4 to 263-9. Strauss made a century and Cook just missed out on fifty AGAIN, Steyn and Philander showed why they're among the best pacemen in the world.

Day Two
South Africa once again passed our first inns score, finishing the day on 301-6, we once again had no answer to Kallis's elegance with the bat. We bowled a bit better but still not good enough.

Day Three
Rudolph continued his excellent form as well as Kallis, finishing on 85 not out as we bowled them out for 388 with Swann hitting a high in his indifferent form. We finished on 211-4, not too bad, with Strauss hitting a half century, continuing his form. Other got starts and Pietersen frustratingly missed out on a fifty, reaching 49.

Day Four
A decent day for us. We ended on 440 all out, with a lead of 326. Everyone but the final two batsmen hit double figures and this showed our team spirit which has been displayed in earlier series'. We were given 38 minutes to get stuck into their batsmen before the final and telling day came. We removed Amla early and SA finished on 41-1, needing a further 286 to win.

Day Five
Things looked good as we had them for 130-4. But one thing was clear, Kallis and Rudolph were at the crease together, this wasn't to be easy. However, despite their 75 and 48, Philander showed his capabilities with the bat, hitting a half century with the support of keeper Tsolekile who was in the 30's. We were looking to be on the bring of defeat when SA were 295-6. However they collapsed and Finn ended with 5 wickets to take us to victory!



Series State: 1-1 with one game left.

Batting Award: Andrew Strauss. Two solid innings' by the skipper to help us to some decent totals.

Bowling Award: Steven Finn. 8 wickets in the game and a game winning final spell.

Squad News: No Changes for third test.