Perhaps it was not the winning moment that England envisaged: sealed not with a six, but with a Durham deluge. Yet after their travails in the opening two one-day internationals, England are in no place to be picky.
The anticlimactic end at the Seat Unique Riverside could not obscure that England had secured a deserved victory, by 46 runs on the DLS method. This triumph was forged from an unpromising beginning: a few hours earlier, Harry Brook walked out to bat with England 11 for two in pursuit of 305, and facing slipping 3-0 down in the five-game series.
Brook, like the team that he is captaining for the first time in a series – in lieu of the injured Jos Buttler – is being forced to master 50-over cricket’s peculiar rhythms on the international stage. Owing to the marginalisation of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup since the Hundred’s launch, Brook did not play a single 50-over game between 2019 and his ODI debut in 2023.
Such inexperience only emphasises the brilliance of Brook’s 110 not out. His maiden ODI century, celebrated with a look to the heavens in memory of his grandmother Pauline, showed the range that the format demands from top-order players.
First, Brook encountered Test-style bowling from Mitchell Starc, who had snared both openers, and Josh Hazlewood. Brook responded with careful defence – even deigning to leave a ball from Starc alone – while being alert to over-pitched deliveries. Taking only 14 runs from his first 22 deliveries recognised how, in 50-over cricket, there can be ample time for consolidation.
Such early caution was the prelude to Brook unfurling his full repertoire. The pulls when Hazlewood dropped fractionally short, a scoop from Sean Abbott and another boundary off Abbott, backing away to carve the ball through the off side, showcased different facets of Brook’s game. As when greeting Matthew Short with a straight six, Brook targeted bowlers new to the attack: five of his 15 boundaries came from the first ball of an over.
Brook evoked AB de Villiers
By the time that Brook glided Starc past the wicketkeeper to bring up his century, he had found a one-day tempo that evoked AB de Villiers, his main batting hero. De Villiers embodied how batsmen could thrive across formats with the same essential technique. In the format that he has played least, Brook had done similar: accelerating from 14 to a half-century in 32 balls, and then to his century in another 33. Australia’s 14-game winning streak in ODI cricket had met a worthy end.
“It’s very similar to the way we want to play Test cricket,” Brook said. “We’re always looking to put the bowler under pressure but soak up pressure when needed.”
While Brook admitted to feeling “a bit frantic at times” on his England captaincy debut last week, his innings suggested a man at ease with greater responsibility. “I feel I have been stop-start this summer, a lot of 30 and 40s, not managing to convert. To do that today I feel I am back in a good place, playing the ball late and with my head still.”
A victory like this could yet be a significant staging post in England’s white-ball journey. While Brook will savour his first century against Australia in any format, Will Jacks played his best innings for England yet.
The promotion of Ben Duckett to open has pushed Jacks down to three, a position with which he is unfamiliar. As Australia pitched the new ball up in pursuit of movement, Jacks used his feet to hit their seamers off their length. He adopted the same ploy off Starc at the start of the 23rd over, before later crunching a pull for four: he hit 14 from four balls in the over, which leaked 19 runs.
While Jacks and Brook added 156 runs in 24.3 overs, their fluency and controlled aggression brought to mind the ‘cruising speed’ that was England’s hallmark in ODIs from 2015-19. Taking advantage of the absence of the masterful Adam Zampa, who was ill, England’s chase morphed from arduous to routine. After Liam Livingstone struck three meaty sixes, England needed just 51 from 74 balls when the promised rain finally came.
After losing an important toss on a pitch offering moisture, 304-7 was above Australia’s early ambitions. As the sedate Steve Smith and the more gallivanting Alex Carey led a recovery, from 47-2 in the 11th over and then 174 for five in the 35th over, England were reminded of the difficulties balancing their side.
Rain has stopped play in Durham with England 254-4 and in a strong position to win the third ODI 🏴🌧️
Harry Brook remains unbeaten on 110 👏 pic.twitter.com/BMKa3XbfQg
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 24, 2024
In defiance of the chilly conditions, and the simple fact of the country’s northernmost venue staging a game in the last throes of the season, England opted to pick only three seamers. Instead, they delivered 21 overs of spin – a full allocation from Adil Rashid, and offerings from each of their spin-bowling all-rounders, Jacob Bethell, Livingstone and Jacks – which returned figures of three for 133.
Brook admitted that, when in the field, a part of him craved being able to call upon more seam. “Yeah slightly,” he admitted. “But if we brought the extra seamer in we wouldn’t have had as much batting.”
It illustrated the value of Ben Stokes, as a seam bowling all-rounder to bat in the top six. Without Stokes, and with Sam Curran not trusted as a replacement, England are forced to compromise in their team selection: either weakening their batting, or being light on seam bowling.
Happily, England might be freed from this unpalatable choice come the Champions Trophy in February. When interviewed before play, Stokes confirmed that he would return to the white-ball side if asked.
England v Australia: As it happened . . .
08:38 PM BST
Goodnight
That’s the lot from us, Tim Wigmore’s match report will be posted above soon. Join us for coverage of the next ODI between England and Australia at Lord’s on Friday.
08:25 PM BST
The captains speak
Australia’s Mitch Marsh: “We did extremely well to get to 300 in the conditions but England were too good with the bat. Adam Zampa was a big miss for us but we’ll welcome him back soon.”
England’s Harry Brook: “We started really well with the ball but they built good partnerships, but then me and Jacksy did the same and built a good one.
“It was just the simple message of ‘play your own game’ and thankfully it came off today.
“It was nice to get the first one [ODI century] on the board and hopefully there are more to come.
“We have to keep on doing what we said we’ll do and keep the pressure on them”
08:21 PM BST
‘England need to repeat this performance’
Injured England bowler Mark Wood, speaking on BBC Test Match Special, says: “It’s been a very positive performance from England today. But we need to look at this and see if we can repeat it at Lord’s. Yes, it’s a great win, but there’s plenty more work to be done.”
08:16 PM BST
Match abandoned – England win!
England win by 46 runs on DLS.
The rain started to come down hard and the officials decided that was enough.
England keep the series alive – they are 2-1 down with matches to come at Lord’s and Bristol.
The hosts reached 254-4 in 37.4 overs before rain stopped play, with Harry Brook unbeaten on 110 and Liam Livingstone keeping him company on 33.
Australia had earlier posted an impressive total of 304-7 with Alex Carey top-scoring on 77.
But England’s response, largely through the 156-run partnership of Brook and Will Jacks had them on course for victory when the rain finally came.
08:13 PM BST
Labuschagne vs 12th man
There was an unusual, and perhaps crucial, moment earlier as Australia’s 12th man, taking a nice little stroll around the boundary, seemed to put off Marnus Labuschagne as he goes to catch Liam Livingstone on the ropes.
That would have split the partnership that has put England on the cusp of victory, but instead it was a six for the hosts.
Labuschagne was not impressed, and as you can see in the clip below, gives his unwitting team-mate quite the stare.
08:08 PM BST
Captain fantastic
It’s been a real captain’s performance from Harry Brook, who needed a big showing with the bat and is currently unbeaten on 110. Here is the moment he secured his first ODI century…
07:59 PM BST
‘Crunch time’
Sky are reporting that in order for this match to be finished, play would need to begin at about 8.40pm. However, with ground staff needing about 30 minutes to clear up after the deluge, “we are getting close to crunch time”.
A DLS win for England still looks the most likely outcome. They are 46 runs ahead by that formula.
07:55 PM BST
Stokes return?
Meanwhile, Ben Stokes has declared he will return to play white-ball cricket for England if incoming head coach Brendon McCullum asks him to do so.
Read the full story here.
07:52 PM BST
England will win by DLS
The good news is that England will be awarded the win via the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method if they cannot get back on.
That will keep the series alive at 2-1 to Australia with two matches to come, at Lord’s and Bristol.
But everyone would prefer to see victory earned on the field, especially as England looked very much capable of delivering that.
07:46 PM BST
Forecast
It’s raining harder now and the experts say more is on the way… not looking good for anyone who wants to see more cricket tonight.
The Met Office says there is 80 per cent chance of rain in Durham between now and 9pm, then 60 per cent till 10pm.
Rain has stopped play in Durham with England 254-4 and in a strong position to win the third ODI 🏴🌧️
Harry Brook remains unbeaten on 110 👏 pic.twitter.com/BMKa3XbfQg
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 24, 2024
07:36 PM BST
Rain stops play! ENG 254/4 (Livingstone 33 Brook 110)
A sightly pained-looking Abbott is back on for the 38th over and Livingstone opens up to bash his third ball for six through deep point.
Abbott bowls two wides and – dare we say it? – it is looking pretty good for the hosts.
England are 47 runs ahead on DLS with the spectre of rain still lurking…. and then it begins to fall – the covers are out and the players are off!
The hosts are 254-4, chasing 305. They need 51 runs off 74 balls.
Forecast has been worse than the reality today – but the rain has finally arrived.
07:31 PM BST
OVER 37: ENG 246/4 (Livingstone 27 Brook 110)
Livingstone’s over this one, he pulls then lofts Starc for consecutive four then bags another two to keep England on track.
07:29 PM BST
Majestic Brook
Could there have been a better maiden century in this format for England than Harry Brook’s? Btw what was the strategic thinking behind Brook not playing any 50-over cricket before the last World Cup in India?
07:26 PM BST
OVER 36: ENG 235/4 (Livingstone 16 Brook 110)
Abbott takes over bouncer duties to give Green a rest but, after three cautious balls, Brook moves his feet wonderfully to open up the off side and smash his 13th four.
This is becoming a superb performance by the captain, who needed one with the bat.
It’s now 70 runs needed from 84 balls.
07:22 PM BST
OVER 35: ENG 229/4 (Livingstone 15 Brook 105)
Brook drives Starc back over his head for four to reach 99.
Next ball his clips one around the wicket-keeper to make 100 – his first in ODIs.
That was superbly done by the stand-in captain.
07:17 PM BST
OVER 34: ENG 216/4 (Livingstone 14 Brook 93)
Green is back with his bouncers, and he’s blowing a bit, but maintains his discipline. He has taken the last wickets with the delivery so why not?
Livingstone hooks one for six and Labuschagne looks like he will catch it on the ropes but seems distracted by Australia’s strolling 12th man and spills it. Labuschagne does not look impressed.
07:12 PM BST
OVER 33: ENG 204/4 (Livingstone 6 Brook 90)
Hardie takes the ball and the Aussies have a spring in their step.
After a cautious start, Livingstone absolutely thwacks his fourth ball through long on for six.
Rain clouds are lurking…
07:08 PM BST
OVER 32: ENG 197/4 (Livingstone 0 Brook 89)
Green with the ball and Brook opens up and hoicks him for six off his first ball.
The bowler serves up a wide before Smith self-explodes.
Livingstone comes in and survives. That was Australia’s over.
07:06 PM BST
Wicket!
Smith c Maxwell b Green 7 The England all-rounder goes for a big bouncer and skies it towards deep square leg, where Maxwell gobbles it up. FOW 197/4
06:58 PM BST
OVER 31: ENG 189/3 (Smith 7 Brook 82)
Hazlewood takes the ball and England’s batsmen try to open up but can’t get past the Australian fielders with their first two attempts.
The paceman then over-steps – quite badly – and Smith laps up the free hit, slapping it for four through cover.
Another solid over for the hosts and this one is beautifully poised as the players head for drinks.
06:53 PM BST
OVER 30: ENG 182/3 (Smith 6 Brook 77)
Green with the ball now, he coughs up a couple of wides. It’s a another sensible showing from Brook and Smith which sees them add six – they have taken the sting out of it for now.
There are a few nasty-looking clouds above and DLS has England 15 ahead at the moment… there would be 30 minutes of extra time if the heavens do open.
06:48 PM BST
OVER 29: ENG 176/3 (Smith 4 Brook 75)
Hazlewood comes on for the tourists now as they sniff blood. England need to stay calm and focused.
They manage to do so, adding a steady five runs and offering the bowlers no chances. That will do.
06:43 PM BST
OVER 28: ENG 171/3 (Smith 3 Brook 71)
Australia have set the field for bouncers as Green charges in.
Green makes half an appeal but decides not to go for it when there is the suspicion that Jacks gloves a bouncer.
But next time it works and Jacks is done for.
Jamie Smith comes in and survives a bouncer.
06:40 PM BST
Wicket!
Jacks c Abbott b Green 84 The partnership is broken as Jacks takes the bait with the bouncer and skies it to third man. FOW 167/3
06:37 PM BST
OVER 27: ENG 165/2 (Jacks 84 Brook 69)
Jacks smacks Abbott through mid wicket for six off his first ball and the England pair knock off a couple more singles.
The hosts are on top but there’s still a long way to go.
06:32 PM BST
OVER 26: ENG 157/2 (Jacks 77 Brook 68)
Marsh keeps ringing the changes. Now it’s Hardie after Green;s second one-over spell. Brook plays tip and run on the drive for a single to cover and they sprint through for two when Jacks tucks the short one off his hip.
Two more easy singles to cover off off-cutters complete the over.
That’s me done for today. Sam Green, no relation to Cameron, will be your guide for the denouement.
06:29 PM BST
OVER 25: ENG 151/2 (Jacks 73 Brook 66)
Abbott returns and Brook, who has never looked out of nick all summer despite diminishing returns after that century against West Indies, deftly scoops the right-arm quick for four then thrashes another high over midwicket.
Two extraordinary innings in the making to keep England in this series, but at least one of them has to be converted into a hundred. So far, so excellent by both Will Jacks and Harry Brook.
06:26 PM BST
OVER 24: ENG 141/2 (Jacks 72 Brook 57)
Another apology from Stuart Broad when Jacks calls himself something rhyming with ‘cob-bread’ for driving a Green wideish half-volley straight to point. Two balls later Green drifts on to his pads and Jacks lifts it over square leg for four with a slick flick.
Steve Smith’s flypaper hands stop a couple of well-hit strokes at point.
06:21 PM BST
OVER 23: ENG 136/2 (Jacks 67 Brook 57)
Jacks has recovered and chassés down to Starc to drill a drive through mid-off for four that almost blazed a trail to the rope. Back down he comes next ball and chisels a drive over cover off the toe for three. Brook dabs a single down to third man and Jacks, picking that Starc would go short, collars a pull through midwicket for four more.
With two balls left Jacks slices a drive over point for three, as if moving into fifth gear, and Brook follows that with a slog over cover for four more. Nineteen off the over.
Seemed like a calculated assault.
06:16 PM BST
OVER 22: ENG 117/2 (Jacks 53 Brook 52)
Short is hooked after one over and Hardie clangs Jacks flush in the goolies with one that skidded on. Stuart Broad, of all people, apologises should we have heard any bad language on the stump mic. This always seems to me to be disingenuous. They could turn the stump mics down if it’s important that we don’t hear a grown man curse when winded.
Good over from Hardie, jagging one back on to Brook’s hip and hurting him on the point of the joint. He limps a leg-bye as does his hobbled partner.
06:12 PM BST
OVER 21: ENG 114/2 (Jacks 51 Brook 52)
Australia bring their wicket-taker, Starc, back and he almost winkles out Jacks first ball with his slower ball that the right-hander spoons just short of mid-on. Starc varies his pace and grip to rack up four dot balls until he strays on Jacks pads and he lifts it over midwicket off one leg for two to bring up his fourth ODI fifty and bags a single into the onside along the ground to take the strike.
The hundred partnership took 103 balls.
06:09 PM BST
OVER 20: ENG 111/2 (Jacks 48 Brook 52)
Marsh brings Short on for Maxwell and the off-spinning all-rounder starts with a pie, a greasy, floaty half volley that Brook devours, larruping it over wide mid-off for six! When Short drifts two wide, Brook opens the face to drive with half a bat, deliberately for two behind point and pats another deuce off his pads to bring up his 50 before Jacks. two more singles to conclude a productive over take the partnership to 100.
England are now ahead on DLS but it’s from these positions that they have crumbled at Trent Bridge and Headingley. Still a long way to go to 305 if the weather allows a full match.
06:03 PM BST
OVER 19: ENG 99/2 (Jacks 47 Brook 41)
Some late afternoon sun illuminates the pitch and casts long shadows as Cam Green replaces Aaron Hardie. Jacks clears mid-off from Green’s first ball, controlling a lofted drive that does eventually roll down for four. Jacks flicks a single off his toes and Brook opens the face to clip two behind point and then drives for a single.
05:59 PM BST
OVER 18: ENG 91/2 (Jacks 42 Brook 38)
Australia set a field for bad balls and leave too many gaps. England milk singles off the first four balls until Maxwell brings cover into the ring and he saves what would have been a four had he not been moved.
05:56 PM BST
OVER 17: ENG 87/2 (Jacks 40 Brook 36)
Australia had a long chat at the drinks break. Hardie continues and resumes with a tight line, erring thrice too straight for the cost of only three singles into the legside.
05:52 PM BST
OVER 16: ENG 84/2 (Jacks 39 Brook 34)
Brook plays another extraordinary shot from deep in his crease, waiting for the off-break to turn into him and levering it over mid-off for four with his back foot on middle and his front way outside leg. Maxwell darts one in and Brook drills a single to cover, Jacks flicks another flat one through midwicket and runs one and Brook pinches the post-drinks strike by doing the same.
05:47 PM BST
OVER 15: ENG 77/2 (Jacks 38 Brook 28)
A glorious shot from Brook to cream Hardie through extra cover for four, timed so sweetly he holds the pose. Hardie brings his line in and Brook uses the angle to whip a single off middle and Jacks ends the over with a back-foot punch for two through cover.
Time for spin and without the ill Zampa to use, it will be Maxwell.
05:44 PM BST
OVER 14: ENG 69/2 (Jacks 35 Brook 23)
Jacks uses his feet on the x axis as well as the y, walking across to Abbott and leg-glancing him off middle for four. That makes him such a dangerous player. He nurdles a single to midwicket, Brook plays the Root deflection down to third man, diverting the ball rather than smacking it, for a single.
Using the DLS calculator 100 for two off 20 would give England victory should they only manage to get 20 in. Should they lose one wicket they would need 117, two would raise it to 140.
Not raining yet, though.
05:39 PM BST
OVER 13: ENG 62/2 (Jacks 29 Brook 22)
Fifty partnership off 61 balls when Brook pulls Hazlewood with brutal power for four. Short chased round and dived to stop it but the force and some carrom spin took it away from his parry and into the sponge Toblerones. After a respectable four balls in the corridor that Brook treats cautiously, Hazlewood drops fractionally short again and Brook leans back to flay it through midwicket for four more.
05:36 PM BST
OVER 12: ENG 54/2 (Jacks 29 Brook 14)
Full-throated appeal from Abbott but not one backed up by a review when he nips one back into Jacks. Too high and also veering down leg. Jacks finds the gap at extra-cover for a single, Brook pulls for another and Jacks ends the over throwing his hands at a drive and edging it to gully’s left for four. Green and his capacious wingspan could not save it.
05:33 PM BST
OVER 11: ENG 46/2 (Jacks 23 Brook 12)
Another excellent over from Hazlewood, probing the channel. Jacks opens the face to steer a single down through third man and Brook, off the one ball that was straight, flicks another through midwicket.
Bad news: looks like it’s about to rain here in Durham. Twenty overs of the chase are needed to constitute a chase. But the forecast is that the rain should have stopped by 7pm.
England would need to be 100 for two off 20 to be ahead on DLS if the match is truncated.
05:25 PM BST
OVER 10: ENG 44/2 (Jacks 22 Brook 11)
Jacks advances to Abbott and spears a drive through cover for four with buttery wrists. But it’s the only damage off the first five balls as Abbott adjusts his length before overstepping with his sixth. He darts the free hit, a leg-stump yorker, on to Jacks’ toes and he can only jam it out of the blockhole for a single.
05:20 PM BST
OVER 9: ENG 39/2 (Jacks 18 Brook 11)
Hazlewood switches ends, goes full and Jacks takes a single via the inside edge down to long leg. Brook uses his feet to come down and belt a drive through cover for four. He’s trying to knock Hazlewood off his length but Hazlewood is too wily an old fox not to know that and he carries on probing the top of off.
Brook takes a single off the inside edge and Jacks burgles one to mid-off but sprints so hard that he overruns the crease which means he cannot come back for the overthrow after Carey dropped the wild shy.
It’s getting quite dark now and there’s some rain adjacent to Chester-le-Street, according to Sky.
05:16 PM BST
OVER 8: ENG 32/2 (Jacks 15 Brook 6)
First change: Abbott replaces Hazlewood, Marsh sticks with a slip and the pterodactyl Cam Green at gully. Jacks whisks a single off his pads and Brook is subjected to a taxing interrogation outside off, defending one, middling another but without piercing the infield but plays and misses at the other two, one of which he wanted to cut but could not catch up and the other, which angled in and straightened away.
05:12 PM BST
OVER 7: ENG 31/2 (Jacks 15 Brook 6)
Starc treats Brook to a fuller one, too full and the captain eases a drive between bowler and mid-off for four. The next ball swings away and Brook, conscious that Starc worked him over at Headingley, waits for the late movement and pats it behind point for a single. Jacks flips the shorter one off his hip down to midwicket for a single which should have been two but they didn’t run the first one hard enough.
05:08 PM BST
OVER 6: ENG 25/2 (Jacks 14 Brook 1)
‘Hazlewood has the ball on a string and he’s sitting on a rainbow. He’s got the string around his finger. What a world, what a life. He’s in love.’ Sorry, Frank Sinatra on co-comms there.
Jacks hustles a single with a drill to cover and Brook gets off the mark with a steer behind point but Jacks has to let three go, shaping away outside off, given how precarious the position England are in.
05:03 PM BST
OVER 5: ENG 23/2 (Jacks 13 Brook 0)
Jacks predicts Starc’s fullish length and chips a drive over mid-on for two and, after three dot balls, Jacks flips a four off his pads when the left-arm quick shapes one too far back into him from over the wicket.
Phil Salt is already under pressure for his place. He just doesn’t look like an opener in ODi cricket when facing the moving ball and bowlers of high calibre. Zak Crawley to open when McCullum takes over in the new year? Feels like a very strong possibility.
04:59 PM BST
OVER 4: ENG 16/2 (Jacks 6 Brook 0)
Good stroke from Jacks when Hazlewood errs too full and he creams an off-drive for four. Rotating the strike as part of the orthodox rebuilding operation, Jacks plays tip and run to cover and Brook plays out the rest of the over.
One thing that Stokes said right at the end of his interview was that he was available for selection for white-ball cricket in the future. With Buttler, Root and Stokes likely to play, therefore, in the Champions Trophy in India next spring, one of these two needs to press his claims.
04:56 PM BST
OVER 3: ENG 11/2 (Jacks 1 Brook 0)
England are, like Joe Orton’s screenplay for the Fabs, up against it here. Two wickets down to two masterly new-ball bowlers and their best batsman of the series so far, Duckett, suckered by late movement.
04:52 PM BST
Wicket!
Duckett c Maxwell b Starc 8 Starc pushes one full but gets it to nip away and Duckett slices his drive straight to point off a thickish edge. FOW 11/2
Please tell me that the Ben Duckett dismissal – edging a drive off Mitchell Starc – is not an omen for the next Ashes series….
04:49 PM BST
Wicket!
Salt c Short b Starc 0 Exhilarating in the T20s, Salt has struggled in the longer format against the moving ball and Australia’s great new-ball bowlers and plops a flick off his hip to midwicket. FOW 7/1
04:47 PM BST
OVER 2: ENG 7/0 (Salt 0 Duckett 6)
I don’t think any captain would pick a different pair of opening bowlers in England in this format. Hazlewood cramps Duckett for room and it’s only when he oversteps and has to give Duckett a free hit that England get the scoreboard going. Duckett cloths a slow, off-cutter bouncer over midwicket for two. Hazlewood draws the flash outside off with one that climbed and kept moving across the lefthander in the channel then goes full and Duckett scoops it for four. six inches short of a six.
There have been only two highers successful chases at Chester-le-Street, West Indies’ 315 against Sri Lanka at the 2019 World Cup and England’s 314 to beat Australia in 2018 when Jason Roy made 101.
04:41 PM BST
OVER 1: ENG 0/0 (Salt 0 Duckett 0)
Good afternoon. Bagchi back for a spell. Mitchell Starc opens the bowling for Australia and he starts by swinging the white ball to the right-handed Salt, the first and third into him, the second tailing away as the opener wafts at it. Excellent length and line from Starc, showing his skill and experience, giving Salt nothing at all to hit and he ends with the attempted yorker that Salt jabs out to point. Starts with a maiden.
04:27 PM BST
Stokes speaks
Sky show an interview with the England Test captain during the interval and he says his recovery from a hamstring injury is going well but he pours cold water on the suggestion he might be fit to bowl the first over in Pakistan in October.
“There are a lot of things apart from my hamstring to get up to speed and I have to make sure I don’t do any damage to any other parts of my body,” Stokes says.
Stokes also took time to hail the impact of Jamie Smith on the team, saying: “One of the most impressive things is his ability to read the situation for such a young and inexperienced cricketer at international level.”
The captain said Smith’s ability to accelerate his scoring quickly and find boundaries with ease was indicative of the new breed of Twenty20 players.
“Grounds are not big enough for him, we’ve seen him hit it out of Lord’s and Edgbaston already,” he said.
Stokes also praised Ollie Pope, who has stood in for him as Test captain.
“I think Ollie did it incredibly well, sometimes there is more pressure being a part-time captain but the way he handled that pressure was really good. He took forward what we’re trying to do but also added his own touch to it.
“He took all that [scrutiny and criticism over his performances with the bat) on the chin and what he did at the Oval shows what he is made of.”
04:16 PM BST
‘Soft’ England need something extraordinary
It will take an extraordinary innings by an England player to stop Australia going 3-0 up. Their total of 304-7 is 20? 30? 40? above par. Australia are playing hard ODI cricket, England have been playing soft ODI cricket.
04:14 PM BST
A series-winning score from Australia?
That feels like a match – and series – winning score from Australia. An expertly built innings, assessing the conditions and then accelerating, with England leaking 104 from the last 10 overs and 55 from the last four. Even Jofra Archer’s final two overs went for 31 runs. England’s reliance on part-time spin, despite two early wickets proved costly: Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone and Will Jacks took a combined 3-77 from 11 overs. Alex Carey could be player of the match for the second ODI in a row.
04:07 PM BST
OVER 50: AUS 304/7 (Carey 77 Abbott 2)
Potts starts the final over with the run-out of Hardie but the tourists go past 300 off the third ball, with Sean Abbott having joined Carey in the middle.
It’s an excellent innings by the tourists and England have their work cut out.
04:03 PM BST
Wicket!
Hardie run out (Rashid) 44 Good work by Adil Rashid off the bowling off Potts. Carey sweeps to Rashid, Hardie charges off but his partner does not move. It’s an easy throw to the bowler to take the bails off. FOW 294/7
04:01 PM BST
OVER 49: AUS 294/6 (Carey 70 Hardie 44)
Archer back on and starts better, limiting the free-flowing Australians to one from his first two deliveries but then Hardie goes deep in his crease slaps one for four to backward point.
Archer is using his yorker and looks like he might avoid any more boundaries before his last delivery is whacked for six on the full toss. Painful again for Archer.
03:58 PM BST
Australia can win from any position
This is such a good Australian ODI team. When England won the World Cup in 2019 that side was powerful on flat pitches. As soon as they played in swing or seam conditions or on slower surfaces, they struggled. Just look at the 2017 Champions Trophy when they lost on a slow pitch in Cardiff. Or the 2019 tournament – they lost when they played on slow pitches and scraped into the last four. This Australian team can win from any position, they have excellent, intelligent game management.
03:57 PM BST
OVER 48: AUS 280/6 (Carey 68 Hardie 32)
Potts is next up with the ball and a missfield from his first ball sees Hardie find another boundary. He follows that up with another four, hooked behind as Australia build a formidable total.
Potts is feeling the pressure and bowls a wide as the Carey-Hardie partnership passes 50.
03:52 PM BST
OVER 47: AUS 266/6 (Carey 64 Hardie 23)
Jofra Archer is back on but Hardie swots his first delivery away for two runs.
Archers tries another slower ball and it’s whacked back over his head, Brook sliding at the boundary to stop the four, but three runs are conceded.
Carey slaps Archer’s next ball through mid wicket for four then adds a single.
Next Hardie scoops Archer for six and this is getting nasty for Jofra. Finishes by conceding a single. He went for 17.
03:46 PM BST
OVER 46: AUS 249/6 (Carey 59 Hardie 11)
Livingstone testing Hardie but he manages a single to get Carey back on strike and the tourists put another six runs on with four overs left.
03:45 PM BST
OVER 45: AUS 243/6 (Carey 57 Hardie 7)
Carey marches on, pulling Rashid hard through mid wicket for a four.
That’s Rashid done for the day – 10 overs for 56 runs and no wickets.
03:42 PM BST
OVER 44: AUS 236/6 (Carey 51 Hardie 6)
Livingstone is back on but Alex Carey pushes on to the leg side to get to back-to-back fifties.
It is his 10th half century in 75 ODI matches.
03:39 PM BST
OVER 43: AUS 230/6 (Carey 48 Hardie 3)
Adil Rashid starts off against Aaron Hardie, who tries to work Alex Carey onto strike, with success at the end.
Rashid finishes with a dot ball after a nice, tight over.
03:35 PM BST
OVER 42: AUS 226/6 (Carey 47 Hardie 0)
A late spell for Livingstone and it could be a kamikaze mission against Maxwell at the death.
He starts with two pies, Maxwell lamping the first for four through midwicket and hitting the next one harder still for another. Duckett did claw it back but he immediately told the umpire that he had touched the rope.
Maxwell reverse sweeps for four more but then holes out to cover!
Sam Green will take you through to the close of the Australia innings.
03:34 PM BST
Wicket!
Maxwell c Carse b Livingstone 30 Going for his fourth boundary of the over he flat-bats it low to cover and drops to his haunches in self-reproach. FOW 226/6
03:30 PM BST
OVER 41: AUS 212/5 (Carey 46 Maxwell 17)
Carse will bowl out and Carey backs away to flat-bat a short ball on leg stump through cover for two then stays put for the next one and collars it on the pull for four as the ball failed to get up above the waistband. After they exchange singles Carey moves to within four of successive fifties by nudging a four off his hip just beyond Smith’s grasp.
Carse ends with 10-0-55-1.
03:26 PM BST
OVER 40: AUS 200/5 (Carey 35 Maxwell 16)
Rashid completes the 40th over and Carey works two singles down the ground and Maxwell also takes one straight followed by a reverse sweep for t’other.
03:23 PM BST
OVER 39: AUS 196/5 (Carey 33 Maxwell 14)
Carse beats Carey with a bouncer that he can’t catch up to as he tried to pull it but then pushes his slower ball down the legside and Smith tips it round the post to turn one wide into two. The Durham quick forgets his lines and pitches the ball up to Maxwell who clears that front leg again to open a lane for his bat to come through the line and thump it through mid-on for four. After that aberration, Carse and Brook have a chat and he reverts then sticks to the plan which earns him three dot balls and just a single taken off the final four balls.
03:18 PM BST
OVER 38: AUS 189/5 (Carey 33 Maxwell 9)
Maxwell can’s beat the infield with mistimed heaves off Rashid but then pokes a drive through extra-cover for two and pans a shorter one to long-on for a single. He’s getting his eye in.
03:16 PM BST
OVER 37: AUS 185/5 (Carey 32 Maxwell 6)
Carse replaces Archer, who will have two overs left. Carse ties him in knots with a couple of short balls then overpitches and Maxwell clears the front leg and pings a drive with murderous power through mid-off for four. Carse reverts to the short stuff and Maxwell top edges a pull well short of fine leg for a single.
03:11 PM BST
OVER 36: AUS 178/5 (Carey 31 Maxwell 0)
Carey survives by the barest of margins and then shows his class with a skip down and chip over extra-cover for two followed by a legside whisk off Rashid that flicks four through midwicket, but uppishly and close enough to a diving fielder to make the crowd sigh dramatically.
Alex Carey has scored only one Test hundred. Can’t help feeling – given the ease with which he is making runs in this ODI series against England bowling – that he will be scoring another in the next Ashes series with the added confidence.
03:07 PM BST
NOT OUT
Umpire’s call. Clipping middle and leg bail.
03:06 PM BST
ENG review
Carey lbw b Rashid Pinned when playing a forward defensive. Did he nick it? No.
03:05 PM BST
OVER 35: AUS 172/5 (Carey 25 Maxwell 0)
Terrific from Archer to rattle Maxwell with the bouncer after dismissing Smith. He follows the bumper with one that whistles past Maxwell’s edge as the short one kept him camped on the back foot.
03:00 PM BST
Wicket!
Smith c Carse b Archer 60 An absolute blinder at deep backward square, running to his left and diving to grab it at ankle height, keeping his arms at 90 degrees to the ground to ensure he didn’t jar his elbows and dislodge the ball. FOW 172/5
03:00 PM BST
OVER 34: AUS 171/4 (Smith 60 Carey 24)
Good over from Rashid to tie Australia down to three singles. Flight, drift and dip earn him three dot balls but when he overpitches they work him away.
02:56 PM BST
OVER 33: AUS 168/4 (Smith 59 Carey 22)
The short ball is not going to trouble Carey on this pitch and he climbs into a pull to cart Archer through midwicket. Brook chases it down but they hare back for four in any case.
Drinks.
02:54 PM BST
OVER 32: AUS 162/4 (Smith 58 Carey 17)
Rashid returns after going for seven an over from his first three. The sun is out in the Far Corner. Smith drives a single down to long on and plays an old school wedge over the bowler for two before whisking a single off his pads. Brook goes for the double bowling change and calls back Archer. Jofra hit him in the face during the 2019 World Cup and this might be the first time he’s bowled at him since that tournament.
02:47 PM BST
OVER 31: AUS 157/4 (Smith 54 Carey 16)
Carey looks comfortable against left-arm spin and spears a lofted cover drive off Bethell for four and follows it with the cleanest of swings from the popping crease to send the ball sailing over long-off for six.
02:44 PM BST
OVER 30: AUS 145/4 (Smith 53 Carey 5)
Jacks keeps it tight until the off-spinner drags one down and Smith pulls it hard to bring up his half-century. That 84-run partnership with Green seemed to be taking the game away but if he continues in this vein he can do that on his own.
02:42 PM BST
OVER 29: AUS 139/4 (Smith 48 Carey 4)
Carey sweeps dicily and the ball grazes the bottom edge and scuttles past the stumps, careering away from the keeper for two. The lefthander drives Bethell for a single into the offside and Smith hops back to flick another through midwicket.
02:39 PM BST
OVER 28: AUS 134/4 (Smith 46 Carey 1)
Another fine comeback from Jacks though Labuschagne had a hand in his own dismissal. It was there for a sweep or even a drive but not the far more difficult paddle-ramp. And he almost gets another when Smith walks down and chips a flick inches wide of Salt’s dive at mid-on.
02:34 PM BST
Wicket!
Labuschagne c Smith b Jacks 0 Went for the scoop, flipped it on to his hemet and straight up the chimney to the keeper Smith running backwards. Perhaps Tim wasn’t right after all! FOW 132/4
02:32 PM BST
OVER 27: AUS 131/3 (Smith 44 Labuschagne 0)
Green’s misjudgment reunites the Aussie old firm of Smith and Labuschagne, leader and disciple. Wicket maiden fro Bethell and a great comeback after a ropey couple of overs.
02:29 PM BST
Wicket!
Green c Jacks b Bethell 42 Three dot balls build some pressure and Green tries to charge the left-arm spinner and hit him over the top but he dragged it to short mid-on, oddly stationed tight and 4ft back from the stumps. Funky fielding position and Brook is delirious that his plan came off. FOW 131/3
02:28 PM BST
OVER 26: AUS 131/2 (Smith 44 Green 42)
England turn to Jacks as third spinner, not Livingstone. Green takes a big stride to the off-spinner’s first and launches it over his head for a one bounce four. Smith sweeps for two and then walks over to the legside to free his arms and harpoon four more through cover. Costly over.
02:26 PM BST
OVER 25: AUS 120/2 (Smith 38 Green 37)
I wonder if the ball is wet or at least the seam is as Bethell is finding it hard to maintain any consistency in line and length. After pushing and nurdling five singles, Smith plays a back-foot drive over the top for two. Extraordinary looking stroke. Like a sand wedge.
02:24 PM BST
OVER 24: AUS 113/2 (Smith 34 Green 34)
Carse has managed to out the brakes on but has stopped looking dangerous. Drying up the boundaries is a start though with 20 overs of spin to be bowled in total by England. Five singles come off back of a length stock middle-over deliveries.
02:17 PM BST
OVER 23: AUS 108/2 (Smith 32 Green 31)
Industrial milking of Bethell’s first over which starts badly, with two legside wides, and gets worse with a long hop that Green swivels and carts through midwicket for four.
02:10 PM BST
OVER 22: AUS 99/2 (Smith 30 Green 26)
Carse returns in the Plunkett lotus land of the middle overs and restricts them to four singles.
02:09 PM BST
OVER 21: AUS 95/2 (Smith 28 Green 24)
A pair of fours off Rashid to bookend the over, Smith’s a premeditated lap sweep and Green’s hammered through the covers after reading the googly. Tim’s view at the start of the match, that England were a seamer light on this pitch, looks a sound one.
02:06 PM BST
OVER 20: AUS 84/2 (Smith 22 Green 19)
A pair of twos off pulls, neither of them middled and Smith adds a tight single off Potts to mid-on.
This passage of play – at least until Steve Smith tried an exotic sweep in the 16th over – is a good example of why 50-over cricket is a training ground for all formats. Against the seaming ball Australia have had to try and bat in Test mode. This very young England team – young in the ways of 50 over cricket – would not have been content with four runs an over… and might now be 80 for four or five.
02:04 PM BST
OVER 19: AUS 78/2 (Smith 19 Green 16)
Four singles off Rashid who has found his range on a ground that doesn’t suit him.
Very impressive spell from Brydon Carse: generating the pace and bounce that excite England, but also pitching the ball up too. England will be entitled to wonder whether these qualities would translate well to the 2025/26 Ashes series.
01:58 PM BST
OVER 18: AUS 73/2 (Smith 17 Green 14)
Smith. lost in his old world, calls Green through for a two and his partner sets off but panics when Bethell closes in and is sent back. Bethell throws to Potts’ end rather than at the stumps. Green would probably have made his ground anyway. Good start to Potts’ third spell. Just that single. September weather turns the clock back on ODIs 20 years. If it goes the distance this could be a proper nipper with par around 250 unless, as Ian Ward says, Maxwell goes crazy (in a good way).
01:53 PM BST
OVER 17: AUS 73/2 (Smith 16 Green 14)
Adil Rashid begins with a drag down and Green lamps it on the pull for four. A leg-break turns extravagantly but slowly on this pitch and Green leans across to punch it through mid-off for a single.
Smith nicks the slider into his pads and chips the next one back up the pitch, a couple of feet wide of Rashid’s dive from five yards down. They jog a single. Rashid nails the next two leg-breaks and has Green defending but seemingly hurried.
01:46 PM BST
OVER 16: AUS 67/2 (Smith 15 Green 9)
Smith ends up in a heap when he walks across to try to scoop Archer over his shoulder from outside off. He smiles benevolently at Archer. Smith continues to be half Don Bradman, half Norman Pitkin. Mr Grimsdale! A legside flick flies wide of leg-slip for four but close enough to excite England and Archer follows that with a nip-backer from that gorgeous, high action, between Smith’s bat and body, almost cutting him in two.
The last ball is shorter and hits Smith in the midriff as he swivelled to pull but bailed out at the last.
Drinks.
01:41 PM BST
OVER 15: AUS 62/2 (Smith 11 Green 9)
After Smith is hurried by Carse into a dragged hoick through mid-on for a single, Carse nips a lifter back into Green and hits the big yin on his right biceps. Green rises on to his toes to slap a single down to third man and Smith chisels out the yorker for one.
England are penalised for having three men behind square on the legside for Carse’s last delivery so Australia have a free hit and Green promptly drags the wide yorker on to his stumps. Big cheer until they remember it won’t count. Well executed by Carse nonetheless.
01:36 PM BST
OVER 14: AUS 58/2 (Smith 9 Green 8)
Ricky Ponting, the best batting analyst currently broadcasting, confirms the oddity of Green’s off-stump guard, which suggests he wants to score square of the wicket and not down the ground. But after Archer ties him up with four dot balls, Green leans into an off-drive and eases it down the ground for two. Brook shows the way by sprinting back from mid-off to claw it back from the rope.
01:32 PM BST
OVER 13: AUS 56/2 (Smith 9 Green 6)
Green opens the face to poke two down to third man then thick-edges a drive to point who swoops and catches it on the bounce. The fuller he bowls the better he looks yet after a good start to the over he goes short and wide outside off and Green flat-bats it down to the point sweeper, running to his left, for three.
Smith bows his head to acknowledge another Carse jaffa that was on similar lines to the one that did for Marsh, angling in and nibbling away as he played and missed.
01:28 PM BST
OVER 12: AUS 51/2 (Smith 9 Green 1)
Misfield from Bethell at backward square when Smith pulls turns a single into two. Potts looks dangerous on a god length, 7m from the bat, while Australia, and Smith especially, will feast on anything short. Green gets off the mark with a steer through point. He looks so vulnerable to lbw as he takes guard on off stump, his long legs slap in front of middle and leg.
01:24 PM BST
OVER 11: AUS 47/1 (Smith 6 Green 0)
Marsh chops a fairly obvious bump-ball to second slip which the umpires send upstairs anyway to check. Joel Wilson almost bursts out laughing when he watches the replay to confirm it. The next ball from Carse is short and Marsh pulls it off his sternum for six over deep backward square. Carse responds with a jaffa and bags the captain on a helpful pitch.
01:20 PM BST
Wicket!
Marsh c Smith b Carse 24 A peach that angled into off-stump on a good length and straightened, kissing the edge and Smith took a smart, tumbling catch. FOW 47/2
01:16 PM BST
OVER 10: AUS 41/1 (Marsh 18 Smith 6)
Steve Smith creams a cover drive but Potts almost had the perfect riposte with one that hits him in front of middle and leg. Smith’s big stride convinced him to review it instantly and his judgment was spot on.
01:14 PM BST
NOT OUT
The ball would have climbed over leg stump.
01:13 PM BST
AUS review
Smith lbw Potts Pinned by the nip-backer. Height? No bat.
01:13 PM BST
OVER 9: AUS 37/1 (Marsh 18 Smith 2)
Marsh tries to heave Carse off a good length through midwicket, misses and is hit on the right thigh as he completed his swing. The England fielders go up for caught behind as there was a sound but it was ball on bone not bat and Brook decides not send it upstairs. Carse twice beats him outside off as he plays down a fourth-stump line but Marsh then plays a wonderfully timed check drive, no more than a forward defensive punch, for four, a fortunate bounce making the ball kick up and over Brook’s hands as he dived at mid-off.
01:08 PM BST
OVER 8: AUS 33/1 (Marsh 14 Smith 2)
Ricky Ponting and Eoin Morgan encourage Archer to pitch it up and, as if they had a direct line, he does but errs too full and Marsh drives it with a strong bottom hand through midwicket for four. A Harrow drive earns him a single off a thick inside edge to deep backward square and Smith uncharacteristically has an ugly charge at Archer and drags it to mid-on.
01:04 PM BST
OVER 7: AUS 26/1 (Marsh 8 Smith 1)
Timber! Marsh is pole-axed when he tries to pull Carse’s first ball and he has a swing at it but misreads the trajectory and is hit at the top of the solar plexus. He hits the deck and, as a big unit, sends tremors through Langley Park. Marsh then plays more cautiously and gleans only a single off a leading edge from an attempted legside tuck that pops through point.
12:59 PM BST
OVER 6: AUS 25/1 (Marsh 7 Smith 1)
Archer is scaling 90mph now and Smith plays him watchfully down the corridor. He inside edges a nip-backer into his pad and then fences one off his ribs for a single round the corner. Marsh is hit on the hand and handle as he fends a heavy ball into the legside for a single and Archer ends the over squaring Smith up, both big toes pointing at him, as he steers it down through point.
12:54 PM BST
OVER 5: AUS 22/1 (Marsh 5 Smith 0)
More movement from Potts’ wobble-seam earns him three dot balls to start the over to Marsh who finally gets away with a very tight single to Archer whose shy at the non-striker’s stumps from backward square misses but no’ but much.
12:51 PM BST
OVER 4: AUS 21/1 (Marsh 4 Smith 0)
Archer, with a leg slip in, sprays a wide down legside and Marsh tucks the next one that also angles across off his hip for a single. Archer tries a bouncer and Short collars it, hooking it for a big six over long leg and a poor chap in the crowd, who tries to catch it but isn’t up to it. The ball bursts through his hands and hits him flush in the chest. I think he’s OK.
Archer holds his nerve, though, and lures Short on to the rocks.
12:48 PM BST
Wicket!
Short c Rashid b Archer 14 Two balls after hooking Archer for a long, long six, he splices his next attempt to clear the boundary and Rashid pouches it 5ft in from the rope at fine leg. FOW 21/1
12:45 PM BST
OVER 3: AUS 12/0 (Short 7 Marsh 3)
Potts, a tough Wearsider, is the only England player rocking short sleeves. Another good start to the over with plenty of movement from his wobble seam strategy. Two slips are there for any nibble or swing away – there is only seam movement so far. After taking a single apiece, Marsh leaves one on a fourth-stump line that nips back in and whistles past off stump.
12:40 PM BST
OVER 2: AUS 10/0 (Short 6 Marsh 2)
Plenty of zip in this pitch and Jofra Archer manages to get one to spit from back of a length and go over Marsh’s head as he tried to uppercut at chest height. The umpire calls wide. Archer nips one back into Marsh’s belly and he grimaces then grins broadly when the camera closes in.
Marsh works a single off his hip and Short also flicks one into the onside. Marsh has another bruise to rub when he wears one on the hip and he finishes the over, cramped for room, gloving a single off his ribs wide of Smith.
12:35 PM BST
OVER 1: AUS 6/0 (Short 5 Marsh 1)
Matty Potts starts on the money, touch of nip-back from just back of a length and Short’s defensive with an angled bat diverts the ball between his legs whence it bounces over the stumps as he turns round quickly to make sure his wickets weren’t in danger.
He cuts two more into Short who wears both on his front leg then moves one away and a thick, controlled edge gets Short off the mark through third man. Potts stays wide on the crease and Marsh fences a single down through point before Shorty ends the over by gorging on some width and spanking a square drive for four.
12:29 PM BST
The players are out
Matthew Potts has the first new ball on his home ground and Matt Short is on strike.
12:14 PM BST
Selection issues
Have England picked the wrong team? They will need to bowl 20 overs of spin, which is a lot. This shows how much they miss Ben Stokes, as a seamer who can bat in the top seven; Sam Curran, who was not picked for this series, is perhaps the nearest to a replacement. Without either of them, England could have brought in an extra seamer – Olly Stone, Saqib Mahmood or John Turner – in for an all-rounder like Liam Livingstone.
Reece Topley is still unwell and will not rejoin squad this series.
12:09 PM BST
Your teams
England Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Harry Brook (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Matthew Potts.
Australia Matt Short, Mitchell Marsh (capt), Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cam Green, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood.
Umpires Alex Wharf and Kumar Dharmasena. TV Joel Wilson.
12:03 PM BST
It’s dry at the Riverside and England have won the toss
Harry Brook puts Australia in to bat. One change for England, Jofra Archer returns for Olly Stone.
Australia bring in Sean Abbott and Cam Green for Travis Head, who is rested, and Adam Zampa who is ill.
11:51 AM BST
Preview: False re-start
Good morning (just) and welcome to live coverage of the third ODI between England and Australia which Mitch Marsh’s men are leading 2-0. England have endured a rocky start to their reset, markedly different to the white-ball series against New Zealand in 2015 after their nadir at the spring World Cup Down Under. But we have to take a couple of things into account: England started that era with the mission to win the 2019 World Cup on home soil and hence resources were focused on that goal with consequences for the red-ball side that caused uproar that has largely been forgotten; in 2015 England were starting from a much lower base in terms of expectation than they are this autumn.
In common with 2015 when James Anderson and Stuart Broad were pensioned off from white-ball cricket, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and, possibly temporarily, Joe Root and Ben Stokes have made way for new blood. And there have been a couple of promising signs from the all-round contributions of Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith and Liam Livingstone, the batting of Ben Duckett and the bowling of Matthew Potts and the evergreen Adil Rashid. Moreover, they had Australia under the pump on two occasions, when England were 213 for two in Nottingham with plenty of overs to spare but were bowled out by Marnus Labsuchagne of all people and in Leeds when they had Australia at 221 for nine and allowed them to put on 49 for the last wicket.
It is encouraging that they are getting themselves into advantageous positions – something that they were unable to do against the Test-playing countries at the 2023 World Cup – the next step is seizing the initiative at those moments. Harry Brook needs to show that he can play a substantial match-winning, middle-order innings from the No4 spot that was so pivotal when Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes or Jos Buttler batted there. If Buttler is to give up the gloves on his return he has to bat in the top four and now is the time for Brook to nail down his place.
And, let’s not forget, Australia are world champions with only the retired David Warner and the absent Pat Cummins missing from that squad, and have played like world champions at those crucial moments.
The weather forecast is grisly – the prospect of showers never lower than 40 per cent from 1pm until 8pm and a Baltic top temperature of 14C. We will be lucky to get any kind of game at all but if we do it will be on-off and scrappy with the ball like a bar of soap after a few overs.
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