Australia’s victory over England ‘meant a lot’ to them, according to captain Michael Clarke, as they clinched the ODI series 2-1. PHOTO: AFP
Shane Watson’s 143 and the all-rounder’s fourth-wicket partnership of 163 with Clarke (75) took Australia to 298 on Monday, a total that might have been even greater but for 22-year-old England all-rounder Ben Stokes’s ODI best five for 61 and debutant seamer Chris Jordan’s three for 51.
However, Australia had more than enough runs to play with as England managed just 249 in reply before being bowled out under the Ageas Bowl floodlights.
“For a lot of people, this series did not mean a lot,” said man-of-the-series Clarke. “But to us it meant a great deal.
“Everyone in our dressing-room is excited, and so they should be — because we deserved this win.
“I don’t know whether it will have much impact on the Ashes back home but we get the flight back home tomorrow [yesterday] a lot happier as a one-day side certainly.
“The Ashes is still a way away but everyone is excited about that and the players are thinking about it already, but our focus has to be on the seven ODIs in India first.”
Meanwhile, Watson, named man-of-the-match after a dominant 107-ball innings including 12 fours and six sixes, said there had been a significant change in the side’s mood since Lehmann replaced Arthur.
“Things have changed quite a bit and I think the most important thing is everyone’s really enjoying themselves,” said Watson, one of four players controversially dropped by South African disciplinarian Arthur for failing to complete ‘homework’ during Australia’s 4-0 Test series loss in India earlier this year.
“We’re playing the brand of cricket we know is going to give us success — we just need to be more consistent with it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2013.
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