Bad Day For Australia

It wasn't the same type of collapse that we saw yesterday with the Indian team but it was similar and had the same sort of result. This wicket offered a bit to the bowlers and the first three batsmen were back in the pavilion with only 14 runs on the board. The whole game changed to a rebuilding one for Australia trying to set a reasonable target to defend.

source
As you can see it was a bit one sided and England were way ahead of Australia in the run chase.

I think Smith and Carey did very well and maybe if they had stayed together a bit longer a bigger score may have been reached. On the day Australia were just outplayed and some luck went with the English team. Like yesterday with Dhoni, Smith was run out from a direct hit and once he was gone all thought of a bigger score evaporated. Scoring a modest 223 still gave them a chance if they bowled well.

What puzzles me is the selection of Stoinis. He failed miserably with the bat again scoring a big zero and was out second ball. He bowled only 2 overs offering no threat and penetration and is the weak link in the team. Surely another batsmen would have been the way to go and taken the gamble. I just don't know what the selectors see in him.

England started off briskly and maintained a run rate well above the asking rate knocking off the Australian score with more than a 100 balls to spare. They lost two wickets in the process but victory was never in doubt once they got going. The win predictor at the start of England's innings gave Australia a 7 percent chance which was more than generous.

source

On the day in a one off game it is the side that makes the fewer mistakes and takes their chances. I must admit I do fancy New Zealand but then again the English are on a high at home playing in front of their supporters. I wouldn't like to call it either way and just hope it is a close exciting game unlike the contest we witnessed today.