CHESTER-LE-STREET: Australia captain Michael Clarke urged his side to leave England with at least one international win after they suffered yet another hammering at the hands of their old foes.
England restricted Australia to 200 for nine with Steven Finn taking four for 37. In reply, Ian Bell made a stylish 69 and Jonathan Trott finished on 64 not out as England registered a comfortable eight-wicket victory in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) that gave them the five-match series after Wednesday’s clash at Edgbaston was washed out without a ball bowled.
Now just the final ODI remains for Australia, the world’s number one ranked 50-over side, to restore a measure of pride before they return to England for a full Ashes Test series next year.
To make matters worse, fast-bowler Brett Lee and all-rounder Shane Watson left the field early with suspected calf problems.
“We’ve been outplayed,” said Clarke. “But we’ve got one game to go, and I’d be very disappointed to go home without a win. I do believe England got the better of conditions, but it’s easy to make excuses. I think we had the better of conditions at Lord’s as well, and England still found a way to beat us.”
Captain Alastair Cook is keen to maintain that record in Manchester. “Four-nil looks a lot better than 3-1,” said Cook. “They will be desperate not to let that happen but we have got to be just as hungry as we have been in these games.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2012.
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