Simon Burnton’s report is in so I’m going to wrap things up here. Join us for the next match on Wednesday. See ya!
Top stuff at the death from the left-armer. He was impressive with the ball against Pakistan, too. The intriguing bit now is what happens when Livingstone is fit and ready to play. Does he come in for Curran? Or do England slide Curran down the order and have Livingstone replace another quick?
Sam Curran makes things happen 💥
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) October 9, 2022
Sam Curran with some words to BT Sport: “Jos and Halesy played beautifully, beautiful platform. Great to have Jos back in the side after an injury… We knew that Australia would come really hard, they’ve got such a powerful batting line-up, so we’re really pleased the way we bowled and what a great start to the series.”
One of my favourite nerdy things to do is to have a regular look at Jos Buttler’s numbers opening the batting for England in this format. Feast your eyes on this: 1,299 runs @ 48.11, striking at 153.36. 68 off just 32 balls for him today – the perfect return after a couple of months on the sidelines.
I imagine there’s going to be some chat about this moment over the next day or two:
Matthew Wade has surely got away with one here? 🤨
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) October 9, 2022
Crazy scenes as he seems to deny Mark Wood a catch...#AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/UTvzBmwXjc
England win by eight runs
A terrific final over from Sam Curran, who cleans up at the end by adding Nathan Ellis to his collection – the slower ball outfoxes and bowls the tailender. That’s ended up being a cracking game, with Warner, Stoinis and Wade giving England a real scare.
WICKET! Wade c Stokes b Curran 21 (Australia 197-8)
Wade pulls for four first ball! The perfect start for Australia. Curran goes full next delivery and it looks like it’s in the slot – but he can’t get it away. Dot. A pull shot follows from Wade, but he finds Stokes in the deep!
19th over: Australia 193-7 (Wade 17, Ellis 0) 16 needed from the final six then.
WICKET! Sams c Brook b Topley 6 (Australia 193-7)
After two singles form the first three balls, Australia get a prized boundary: Sams waits on a slower ball, shifting over to the off side to scoop the ball over fine leg for four. But Sams is gone next ball! He gets some serious meat on a straight hit but Harry Brook hold both his nerve and the ball to pouch it.
18th over: Australia 187-6 (Sams 1, Wade 16) Curran fires in a yorker that Wade can barely get away. Australia still go for the single as Curran races in to try and kick the ball onto the stumps… and he misses the target! He had time to pick it up and take the stumps down. The final ball of the over is a good one for Australia as Curran’s full toss is helped over the fine-leg rope by Wade. 22 needed from 12.
WICKET! Warner c Hales b Wood 73 (Australia 173-6)
Oh my. What’s happened there? Wood fires in an electric bouncer and the ball flies straight up in the air. Wood is running towards it, so is Buttler, and Wade decides against the run so he’s caught in-between Wood and the stumps as the ball drops down. Replays show the batter putting his arm out to block Wood... but the match continues.
England do have a wicket to celebrate, though! Warner cuts the final ball of the over into the hands of deep point. Another terrific set from Wood.
17th over: Australia 173-6 (Wade 3, Sams 0)
16th over: Australia (Warner 72, Wade 0) Moeen is thrown the ball to turn it away from the two lefties. But Warner turns himself into a right-hander, switch-hitting the second ball for four! Too short from Moeen with his fourth ball and Warner pulls through square leg for another boundary. Australia need 40 from 24 balls.
WICKET! David c Hales b Wood 0 (Australia 158-5)
The hulking frame of Tim David emerges. He can’t get a hold of Wood’s first couple of deliveries and then holes out to Alex Hales at deep backward square. What an over for England!
15th over: Australia 158-5 (Warner 61, Wade 0)
WICKET! Stoinis c Malan b Wood 35 (Australia 158-4)
Wood back in and Stoinis pulls his first ball for six! He’s seeing them so, so well. And just as I type… he’s out! Wood goes short, Stoinis tries to hit it through the off side, but the edge flies high and Dawid Malan does very well to hold on outside the ring in the cover region. Cracking knock, though.
14th over: Australia 152-3 (Stoinis 29, Warner 61) Top shot from Stoinis. He gives himself room to lift the ball over short third man off the bowling of Topley. A wide off the last ball gives Warner another chance and he steals four with a hit over extra cover. Australia need 57 from 36 balls.
13th over: Australia 138-3 (Warner 55, Stoinis 23) Stoinis is hobbling about after a throw at the non-striker’s end smashes his right foot. That gives everyone time for a little breather. Stoinis’ first ball after that blow goes for six; he rocks back to Rashid’s googly and smashes the ball over deep midwicket. Another six closes out the over as Stoinis gets down on one knee to nail the sweep.
12th over: Australia 122-3 (Stoinis 9, Warner 53) Stoinis grabs his first four of the innings: it’s a nice late cut that beats the dive of short third man. Stokes follows up with a bouncer, but it’s too high, forcing the umpire to signal a wide. Three singles follow to close out the over. Australia need 87 from 48.
11th over: Australia 111-3 (Warner 51, Stoinis 1) It’s up to Warner now to win this for Australia. He brings up his half-century – his second of the week – with a boundary off Rashid.
WICKET! Finch run out Curran 12 (Australia 105-3)
Rashid twirls once again, and Finch gets a good look at him from the second legitimate ball of the over: tossed up, full and the skipper goes straight for six. There’s a push for two next ball and it looks tight as Buttler takes down the stumps at the keeper’s end… and Finch is gone! The dive didn’t save him after Curran’s excellent throw from the deep out in the off side.
10th over: England 96-2 (Warner 45, Finch 5) Stokes is in for a bowl. He bounces back from a wide first ball to limit the Australians to an over of singles. Australia need 113 from 60 balls.
9th over: Australia 89-2 (Finch 2, Warner 42) So Warner and Finch, usually together up top, meet in the middle in the ninth over. There’s a big job ahead.
WICKET! Marsh b Rashid 36 (Australia 86-2)
Rashid is in and Warner effortlessly pumps a fuller ball down the ground for six. What a welcome. A single brings Marsh on strike… and he’s bowled! It’s a googly from the leg-spinner and Marsh doesn’t make any connection on the attempted cut.
8th over: Australia 79-1 (Warner 34, Marsh 36) Curran’s playing with his pace, changing up his lengths, and it’s doing a job. Mitch Marsh nearly has four through extra cover from the final ball of the over, but Harry Brook pulls off a strong diving stop. Just six runs off it.
7th over: Australia 73-1 (Warner 32, Marsh 33) Marsh nails the pull again! This time it’s off a 92mph Wood ball, with the ball spending an age in the air before crossing the rope. Australia are liking that bit of extra pace right now.
6th over: Australia 62-1 (Warner 30, Marsh 26) Slower ball into the surface from Sam Curran and Marsh pulls for four more. Warner and Marsh run hard to collect 10 from the over. A very decent Powerplay for Australia.
5th over: Australia 52-1 (Marsh 17, Warner 30) Big man v big man: Marsh gets on top of Topley’s threatening bounce, clubbing the second ball of the set over cover for four. From the penultimate ball of the over, Topley gets in the bouncer and this time Marsh pulls for four through square leg.
4th over: Australia 41-1 (Marsh 8, Warner 29) Mark Wood races in to bowl his rockets and lands his first one at 92mph. Marsh tries to pull him next ball but can’t get the desired connection, picking up just a single at fine leg. Warner uses the pace well, smashing the first ball he faces from Wood over point for four. And then another smash! Wood goes from around the wicket this time, and Warner cross-bats the ball through the covers. Make that three boundaries on the trot – Wood goes short and Warner upper-cuts for four more.
3rd over: Australia 28-1 (Marsh 7, Warner 17) Awesome from Marsh as he whips Woakes for six behind square on the leg side.
2nd over: Australia 20-1 (Warner 16, Marsh 1) Top start from Topley. It’s Mitch Marsh in at No.3 for Australia, by the way.
WICKET! Green c Buttler b Topley 1 (Australia 15-1)
Topley runs in and there’s definitely a sound as the ball passes Green’s inside edge on the way to Buttler. The finger doesn’t go up but Buttler reviews immediately, and Hot Spot shows a mark. The big man is on his way.
1st over: Australia 14-0 (Green 1, Warner 13) A top-edge for six! Warner shuffles across the crease and pulls off a crazy swat that flies high and away behind the keeper’s head. From the very next ball he goes big over mid-on for four. A good start for Australia.
Interesting from Australia. Cameron Green opens up with David Warner which means Aaron Finch drops down the order, just like he did against the West Indies earlier this week.
Australia need 209 to win off 20 overs
A monster total from England. They looked as if they were going to go even bigger at one stage, with Hales and Buttler smashing it everywhere. But Australia fought back with regular wickets at the backend, Nathan Ellis their star bowler with 3-20 off his four overs. Still, the hosts are going to have to give it a proper wallop from the get-go if they want to chase these down.
20th over: England 208-6 (Woakes 13, Malan 2) England get to 200 thanks to Chris Woakes, who pumps Richardson for four through the off side. And then a massive hit for six off the penultimate ball! It’s a swing across the line from Woakes and the sound off the bat is just unreal. England close with a single, taking them to 208-6.
WICKET! Moeen c Marsh b Ellis 10 (England 194-6)
Ellis wraps up a brilliant performance with another wicket. He digs his slower ball into the surface and Moeen’s upper cut can only fly to Marsh at short third man. 3-20 from four overs for the Australia quick.
19th over: England 194-6 (Malan 1, Woakes 0)
WICKET! Curran b Ellis 2 (England 193-5)
Ellis goes full and straight; Curran tries to go for a ramp but misses. Ellis hits.
18th over: England 193-4 (Curran 2, Moeen 10) It’s a good over for Australia until Moeen gets a decent look at a Sams slower ball: he slaps it over deep midwicket for six. Gorgeous hit.
WICKET! Brook c Richardson b Sams 12 (England 183-4)
Brook departs, gifting Richardson – running in from deep midwicket – with a simple catch off the bowling of Sams.
17th over: England 181-3 (Moeen 3, Brook 12) Things have calmed down since that monstrous opening stand, but England are still on for a very decent total. After plenty of singles, Brook squeezes away another boundary from the final ball of Stoinis’ over.
Some thoughts from Guy Hornsby:
This is an excellent start @tahahash, though against any admittedly callow Aussie attack. I'm still not convinced Stokes is nailed on for the XI, especially given his time away. I'd rather have Duckett, with Curran as the all-rounder. But I guess he's being picked on aura now.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) October 9, 2022
16th over: England 173-3 (Brook 6, Moeen 1) Brook is offered some width and brings the bat through to find four behind point – a lovely shot from a man in excellent touch. He tries the inside-out through cover – a shot he showed off in Pakistan – but doesn’t get the right connection. In fact, he drops his bat in the follow-through before scrambling for a single.
WICKET! Hales c David b Richardson 84 (England 167-3)
There won’t be a ton for Alex Hales. Richardson unfurls a slower ball, and Hales’ heave results in the ball flying into the hands of Tim David at long-off.
Here’s a little throwback to Buttler’s knock. Ridiculous shot.
Buttler! 🤯#AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/rNm7rUIxdh
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 9, 2022
15th over: England 167-2 (Hales 84, Brook 1) Still no Malan then. It’s Harry Brook who’s in as England get ready for the last five.
WICKET! Stokes c Warner b Stoinis 9 (England 165-2)
Stokes comes down the ground but doesn’t get the right connection, hitting the ball safely into the hands of long-on. That was a rusty knock – understandable considering how long it’s been since his last short-form hit.
14th over: England 159-1 (Stokes 4, Hales 83) Oh my. Dropped first ball of the over by Kane Richardson – it was a tough one – Stokes tries a reverse-hit off Sams’ second ball. He’s nowhere near it, gloving the ball onto his grill. The doc comes out to have a look. Stokes is trying to feel his way into this game; Hales, on the other hand, is motoring, hitting back-to-back boundaries in the over.
13th over: England 148-1 (Stokes 1, Hales 75) Buttler’s gone but Hales is still running. Green is short with his third ball and Hales opens up for four over third man – he loves it there. A beamer follows later in the over; Hales does well to get out of the way of that. And then there’s a full toss from Green which Hales puts away for four. The Australia all-rounder is struggling to find his length here: a half-volley follows and Hales goes over extra cover for another boundary.
12th over: England 134-1 (Hales 63, Stokes 1) Interesting call from England. They’ve pushed Stokes up to No.3, ahead of Malan. A good over from Ellis, Australia’s best bowler today.
WICKET! Buttler c Richardson b Ellis 68 (England 132-1)
A strange few moments for Buttler. He takes a tumble running a single from the final ball of the 11th over, before regaining his composure to smash Ellis through midwicket for four. But he’s gone now, failing to get the middle of the bat as the ball lobs up to mid-off for a simple catch.
11th over: England 128-0 (Buttler 64, Hales 62) It’s just not going Australia’s way is it. When Hales doesn’t middle them, his edges fly away for four. 10 off the over – another good one for the visitors.
10th over: England 118-0 (Hales 53, Buttler 63) Hales joins Buttler in raising his bat for a half-century before the captain rocks back and smashes Swepson over midwicket for his fourth six of the innings. The final ball is short and Buttler is onto it once again, finding four more. The leg-spinner is coming under serious attack here.
9th over: England 101-0 (Hales 47, Buttler 52) 50 up for Jos Buttler off just 25 balls. He’s back!
8th over: England 93-0 (Buttler 46, Hales 45) Hales, once again, finds four behind point, slicing Marcus Stoinis with the bottom of his bat. And then there’s a six for Hales off another scruffy shot, a top-edge flying over the keeper’s head. A wide follows from Stoinis before Hales hits another six, and this one looks the part: it’s a straight and authoritative hit. Another massive over for England. Australia, who have already used six bowlers, are in trouble.
7th over: England 72-0 (Hales 26, Buttler 45) Jos Buttler, that’s just mean. Mitch Swepson is on for his first bowl and gets smashed for back-to-back sixes. The first was over long-on, the second over deep midwicket.
6th over: England 58-0 (Buttler 32, Hales 25) Nearly a brilliant catch from Mitch Marsh! Buttler tries to scoop an Ellis short ball but gets an edge that loops up to the left of Marsh at short third man – the fielder leaps for a one-handed grab but can’t hold on.
5th over: England 50-0 (Hales 19, Buttler 30) Very clever from Alex Hales. He backs away to Richardson first ball and creates just enough space to the angling delivery to carve it over backward point for four. And then that’s very, very clever from Jos Buttler. He moves over to the off side to play the ramp for four. But, wait a second, he plays the same shot next ball for six! Richardson went shorter with that ball, and that let Buttler get the elevation for the maximum. England have 50 and Buttler looks in fine touch.
Updated
4th over: England 35-0 (Hales 14, Buttler 20) Nathan Ellis replaces Richardson and shows off some neat changes of pace to produce the best over of the innings so far.
3rd over: England 30-0 (Hales 11, Buttler 18) A mean bouncer from Daniel Sams first up but Hales has his revenge a couple of balls later – he smashes it over long-off for six! A cracking delivery from Sams around the wicket to Buttler there, getting the ball to jag away from the right-hander. England finish the over by scrambling for a couple.
2nd over: England 21-0 (Hales 4, Buttler 16) Kane Richardson is in from the other end and Hales has his first four when the bowler goes short, giving the batter room to cut away behind point.
1st over: England 16-0 (Hales 0, Buttler 16) Green runs in and shapes the ball away from the right-hander – he’s too full with his second ball and Jos Buttler carves it away for four through point. And then… another four! Full again and Buttler times it beautifully through the covers. The sound off the bat there was *chef’s kiss*. And then another boundary! Full again and Buttler goes down the ground. A yorker follows from Green before Buttler smashes his fourth four of the over! He smacks this one over mid-off. What a return for Jos!
Alex Hales and Jos Buttler are out in the middle. Cameron Green has the ball. Let’s go!
Teams:
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Matthew Wade (wk), Daniel Sams, Nathan Ellis, Kane Richardson, Mitchell Swepson
England: Jos Buttler (c) (wk), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley
Hales edges out Salt at the top of the order for England, and Stokes is back at No.4. This is his first T20 since… July 2021! Don’t hate me for plugging my own work but here’s something I wrote about that earlier this week:
Australia win the toss and will bowl first
Aaron Finch is backing his side to chase. A raft of changes for the hosts who have rested quite a few players for this series opener. Jos Buttler is back leading England once again – he would’ve bowled first too. Oh well.
Jonny Bairstow’s in the BT studio! Gutting for him and England that he’s not out there in Australia.
Simon Burnton is on the ground at Perth:
“Greetings from Perth. Not much to report here. It’s overcast today, slightly too cool to wear short sleeves but too warm to wear a jumper. Life is complicated sometimes. As I type there are 11 England players doing catching practice around the boundary rope, and they can’t all be in the outfield, but they include Ben Stokes, left knee heavily strapped as it has been all week, as well as Chris Jordan and Alex Hales.”
Preamble
Hello, hello and hello. Welcome to Perth where we’re all set for the first of three T20Is between England and Australia.
Let’s be real here: this is all a warm-up act for the World Cup that gets underway later this month. There’s still time for tinkering, room for guesswork over who starts the main show, opportunities to grab some form before things actually matter.
Both sides, I should add, are in decent nick. England closed out their enthralling series again Pakistan with two dominant victories to win 4-3. Australia fell to a 2-1 defeat away to India last month but secured a couple of wins over the West Indies earlier this week.
The hosts have rested their first-choice bowlers for this weekend getaway to Perth so England won’t have to take on Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Zampa until Canberra, where the final two matches are. Not all the big names are missing, though; Jos Buttler is fit and ready to go – and Ben Stokes is in town, too. This is still gonna be loads of fun.
