England v Australia 3rd ODI

For the 3rd consecutive match, Andrew Strauss tells us, England’s batsmen have underperformed.  Tell us something we don’t know.   Actually, this is the 4th ODI in a row if you count the game against Ireland when England mustered just 203/9 and narrowly won a rain-affected match.

England were grateful to Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom for transforming their score from poor to a below-par 228/9.  Strauss himself was the top scorer, but yet again those who made a start could not progress beyond his 63.  Australia won with ease because one of their batsmen did, Cameron White scoring his first ODI century.

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, England’s batting in 50 over matches is best described as anaemic – not enough blood pumping through the veins.

So, what to do?  Start replacing batsmen?  Reshuffle the order?  Having been so inconsistent with their selections over the last few years in ODIs, England have put themselves in a difficult position.  Do they stick with the current players in the hope that they improve, or do they change things around yet again?

It is odd that they have omitted Jonathan Trott up to this point – after his heroics at the Oval he ought to have been given a chance to continue.  He did play against Ireland, made a duck and was promptly replaced.

Another who has a good claim to a recall is Alistair Cook, through his weight of runs for Essex in limited overs formats.  Cook seems to have been pidgeon-holed as a Test specialist, yet he has played a number of quick-scoring innings in county cricket in 2009.

Joe Denly has had one match (67 against Ireland) before being injured in a football warmup.  He has yet to return.  The return of Kevin Pietersen will strengthen the middle order considerably, but that will be no sooner than the tour of South Africa which begins in November.

With England virtually able to kiss this series goodbye before the halfway point, there is nothing to lose in making some changes, but they should avoid anything wholesale – continuity needs to start somewhere, even if it means putting up with an average team for a while.

Click here for the full scorecard

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