Second best: England unable to Wade through Marsh

Australian keeper, all-rounder put on record match-winning 112-run stand in 1st ODI.

SOUTHAMPTON: England ODI captain Eoin Morgan accepted his side still had a lot to learn after a 59-run defeat by world champions Australia at the Ageas Bowl meant they go into Saturday’s match at Lord’s trailing the five-match series 1-0.

The frustration for England, following their 10th defeat in their last 11 ODIs against Australia, was that they were in the contest for much of Thursday’s match in Southampton.

They reduced Australia to 193-6, with leg-spinner Adil Rashid taking 4-59, only for an unbroken century stand between Matthew Wade (71 not out) and Mitchell Marsh (40 not out) to see Australia to 305-6.

England then made an enterprising start as they went to 70-0 after just 11 overs, with opener Jason Roy scoring a maiden international fifty, only to lose three wickets in four balls on 194. They were eventually bowled out for 246, with nearly five overs of their innings left as the runs dried up later on.

“We can certainly improve. We are a long way off the world’s best at the moment,” said Morgan. “We can learn a hell of a lot, and ultimately it comes down to individual skill.”

Meanwhile man of the match Wade was hoping to kick on from here after being unable to cement his place behind the stumps despite being in line to play his 50th ODI at Lord’s. “I can look back over the last three or four years and try and tinker with things if I wanted to but it’s more important for me to really establish myself as a player in the one-day team again,” said Wade. “It’s always tough when you’re not in the team but luckily enough I got those opportunities.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2015.

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