England blown away in Tri-Series final as Mitchell Johnson shines
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Version 0 of 1. England have 13 days to lick their wounds and find a way to counter the irresistible force that is Mitchell Johnson after the fast bowler’s sensational return to cricket inspired Australia to a landslide 112-run victory in the Tri-Series final. Johnson, England’s nemesis during last winter’s Ashes whitewash, reopened wounds from that ordeal with figures of three for 27 from seven overs in his first game this year after injury and personal problems. But there seemed little wrong with the left-arm paceman’s body or mind on his home ground when he neutered England’s pursuit of 279 with a golden spell of three wickets in 10 balls. There is little time for England’s batsmen to recover, with Australia and Johnson again the opponents for their World Cup opener in Melbourne on 14 February. Yet the result should come as no great surprise. Related: England captain Eoin Morgan reluctant to distort Mitchell Johnson effect Despite a couple of wins against India which secured their place in the Tri-Series final, England came into this contest as underdogs, having lost both their previous matches against the Australians in Sydney and Hobart. The presence of Johnson in the home dressing-room would have had English hearts ticking a beat or two faster. The 33-year-old had destroyed England in last winter’s Ashes series, taking 37 wickets at 13.97 as Australia completed a 5-0 whitewash. He had not played since the Boxing Day Test against India, but the leader of Australia’s attack presented the biggest examination of England’s batsmen on this tour. By the time Johnson was thrown the ball in the seventh over, Ian Bell had already fallen, edging Josh Hazlewood behind having made just eight. Johnson’s first over proved unproductive. But normal service was resumed when he took the wicket of James Taylor with the first ball of his next over, the Nottinghamshire batsman caught by Glenn Maxwell at backward point for four. Taylor, whose 82 runs had helped guide England past India on Friday, was unlucky as Johnson appeared to overstep in his delivery stride. Yet the TV umpire John Ward deemed it legal. There was no disputing Johnson’s next two wickets, though, as the Queenslander landed decisive blows against a punch-drunk England. First was Moeen Ali, flummoxed by a demon of a bouncer he could only steer to Aaron Finch at slip. It was short, fast and nasty bowling which had the batsman contorted in a desperate attempt to take evasive action. It was classic Johnson. As was the dismissal of Eoin Morgan next ball, England’s captain leaving a delivery which held its line and sent his off-stump cartwheeling. Related: Michael Clarke shrugs off rumours of row with Cricket Australia Ravi Bopara survived the hat-trick ball but England must have been feeling like they had gone back to the future. There was no DeLorean or Marty McFly, though. Just a pumped-up Johnson bowling in excess of 90mph and evoking nightmares of last winter’s Ashes horror. Johnson’s double-wicket maiden reduced England to 46 for four in the 11th over. And while his initial spell lasted four overs, his return of three for 14 told of the damage it had wrought. If England thought there would be respite with Johnson out of the attack, they were wrong as James Faulkner trapped Joe Root lbw with his first ball. After 20 overs, England were 77 for five and relying on Bopara and Jos Buttler to dig them out of a hole. It never seemed likely. And when Maxwell removed Buttler and Chris Woakes in successive balls to leave himself on a hat-trick, the contest was as good as over. The end was nigh when Stuart Broad, holing out in the 29th over, and Bopara, top-scoring with 33, became Maxwell’s third and fourth wickets to leave England on 160 for nine. Hazlewood then wrapped up victory by bowling Steven Finn, England all out for 166 with 65 balls remaining. Australia themselves had been in trouble, reduced to 60 for four in the 18th over after losing Finch, David Warner, George Bailey and Steven Smith. James Anderson had led the way when, with the third ball of the match, he deceived Finch with a beautiful outswinger. He accounted for Warner too, Taylor the catcher at backward point. Broad put Bailey out of his misery, Australia’s stand-in one-day captain taking 16 balls to get off the mark and then fending his 17th to short leg. Moeen’s off-spin then had Smith stumped at the second attempt by Buttler to manoeuvre England into a strong position. However, a 141-run stand between Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh rebuilt the innings. That was broken when Maxwell perished for 95, his highest international score, top-edging Broad. Marsh made 60 from 68 balls before he was run out after sharp work from Buttler. Yet Faulkner’s 50 off 24 balls, brought up with a six off the final ball of the innings, gave Australia a turbo-charged finale. That had helped the hosts score 86 off the last 10 overs and their total of 278 for eight always looked too big to overhaul. Perhaps the only real negative for Australia was a side strain to Faulkner which forced him to leave the field midway through the 25th over and makes him a doubt for the World Cup. For England, the main doubts before their next showdown against Australia at the MCG will all be psychological. |