Wonder boy Watson makes it 1-0 for Australia

Post Match Analysis: Australia v England, 1st ODI, Melbourne, Jan 16, 2011

This was a match to mark 40 years of One Day International (ODI) cricket. The first ODI was played here on the same venue on January 5th, 1971 which Australia won by 5 wickets. ODI cricket has changed a lot since that first match. As the first one 40 years ago Australia won this too quite easily.

Andrew Strauss beat Michael Clarke on the coin and elected to bat first. Collingwood missed out on form while Shaun Tait was out injured. After quiet 3 overs England set off to a flier having got the measure of the pitch and the bowling. Steve Davies enjoyed quite a bit of luck on his way to a quick-fire 42 off 35 balls. After being caught off a no-ball he was later dropped by Watson at short cover and then survived a stumping chance too. After 10 overs England were 70 for naught. Strauss and Davies were particularly harsh on Bollinger who gave away 26 runs in his 3 overs. Davies’ run of good luck was ended by David Hussey at the score of 90 in the 13th over. Then the wickets of Trott and Strauss (63 off 65 balls6 fours) brought the Aussies back into the game. But Kevin Pietersen put England back on track by batting sensibly and at run a ball. He shared a 53-run stand with Ian Bell but then saw wicks tumble in a heap again. Steven Smith got Bell and Morgan out cheaply while Yardy was undone by Bollinger. Pietersen and Tim Bresnan resurrected the innings again but Johnson ran out Pietersen by brilliant foot work to dent England’s chances of a big total. He made 78 off 75 balls with 2 fours and 3 big sixes all against spinners. After his departure England innings fell away and they were all out for 294 in the 50th over. UDRS was used for the first time in ODIs when Lee’s appeal against Ajmal Shehzad was turned down but umpire’s decision remained. Brad Haddin had a horror time stumps missing 3 easy stumpings. Lee, Johnson, Smith and Hussey all took 2 wickets each. Although the start of the innings promised more but nevertheless, it was a good total.

Australia’s start was even better than England’s. Shane Watson and Brad Haddin put on a magnificent 119-run partnership in just under 20 overs to give Australia a great foundation for the big chase. Watson was in great form and played his shots all around the ground. He gave a tough chance to Trott when he was on 46 but apart from that he was spotless with his timing and running between the wickets. Haddin was nipped out by Swann for 39. Michael Clark though was not timing the ball well but provided good support to Watson who completed his superb 100 off 110 balls. He hit two glorious sixes off Yardy but then Clarke and Smith went one after the other. The job for him was just not finished. With 73 required off the last 10 overs, Michael Hussey making use of the batting powerplay hit a four and a six in the 41st over bowled by Bresnan and kept the Australian ship afloat. But he perished soon after surviving second review of the match. Aussies’ hopes now rested mainly on Watson who was still going strong at the other end and. Yardy bowled a brilliant 44th over to put extra pressure on Watto had meanwhile had crossed his previous best ODI score of 136 and the new man Cameron White. Both played exceptionally well and their calculative batting did not allow England to claw back. They needed 39 runs from 5 overs and England required quick wickets. It did not happen for England as both batsmen brought the target down to just 15 from 3 overs with sensibly aggressive batting. Watson fittingly finished the match in dazzling fashion by hitting Ajmal for a massive six on the first ball of the last over. He remained not out for a magnificent 161 off 150 balls with 12 fours and 4 sixes. Australia won the match by 6 wickets to go 1-0 up in the 7-match series.

It was truly one of the best ODI innings by Watson who not only made big runs but also made sure he remains there to win the match for his team. The brilliant Queensland all-rounder gave Australia, the world champions, a rousing start in the series as well as gave his countrymen great joy amid the sufferings of devastating floods.