CRICKET:It was not the Ashes, but neither was it a kick in the teeth. England's overwhelming victory against Australia on a dank Sydney night brought them the Commonwealth Bank Trophy and, remarkably, their first win in a one-day series against major opposition since they overcame New Zealand 15 years ago. If Sydneyites could gaze at the rain-strewn skies and wonder if their drought was about to end, then so in cricketing terms could England.
What a turnaround. From the horrors of Adelaide less than three weeks ago, when they made 120 against New Zealand and 110 against Australia, an England team with little one-day pedigree have cobbled together purpose and spirit. They will go into the World Cup believing themselves dark horses, and deserve their optimism.
Unexpectedly it was Australia, hot favourites to win their third successive World Cup, whose bewilderment grew as the Commonwealth Bank series progressed. The injury to Andrew Symonds, which the all-rounder blames on the additional workload demanded by their coach, John Buchanan, has undermined them at the most inconvenient time.
England, who took the best-of-three final 2-0, can return to Heathrow today with reputations repaired. They have won four ODIs in a row for the first time in Duncan Fletcher's seven years as coach. They have beaten Australia in Australia in three successive ODIs for the first time since 1979-'80. This was Australia's first failure in the one-day triangular series since they failed to qualify for the final five years ago. No one is quite sure what it amounts to but it amounts to something.
England's bowling hero yesterday was Liam Plunkett, who has not always controlled the white ball but has always swung it markedly and has enhanced his reputation. He took three new-ball wickets as Australia initially pursued 247 for victory: Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke unpicked by outswingers and the left-handed Adam Gilchrist bowled by a booming inswinger.
Only Brad Hodge and Shane Watson countered for Australia. But Jamie Dalrymple made prodigious ground to catch Watson off Paul Collingwood at backward point and Hodge drove to cover. The fifth rain interruption proved terminal, sparking celebrations in an England team who had defied Australia's status as 1 to 6 favourites, odds that reflected the general belief the hosts would be stirred into action by their four-wicket defeat in Friday's first final in Melbourne.
England's 246 for eight was unexciting but immensely worthy, an innings dragged forward by Collingwood, the man of the finals, who followed back-to-back hundreds in Brisbane and Melbourne with 70 from 90 balls. He looked whacked, running between the wickets like a man on a half-marathon, and because he had only the strength to hit two boundaries there was a lot of running to do. He finally fell to Nathan Bracken with a strange reverse paddle suggesting that exhaustion had finally robbed him of most of his faculties.
Mal Loye struck eight boundaries in a disjointed 45 but the innings looked better as the rest of England's batsmen managed only nine boundaries between them. Loye will probably sneak into a World Cup place. Yesterday the slog sweep functioned only intermittently, although Glenn McGrath did disappear over square leg for six before Mike Hussey ran out Loye from gully.
Hussey's run-out of Ian Bell from the same position was even more spectacular. Collingwood's push in front of point had looked safe enough, but at 112 for four England were reliant upon a pragmatic fifth-wicket stand of 97 in 17 overs between Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff. Just as Flintoff began to eye up the leg-side open spaces, Brett Lee removed him with a scintillating return catch, ensuring that England's innings retained a serious intent until the close.
The final over of the innings belonged to McGrath. It was his final over on his home ground - it was soon revealed to be his final over in Australia - and as he walked back to his mark to begin it the crowd rose in a heartfelt ovation to mark 13 years of excellence since he made his domestic debut for New South Wales.
For all the urging forward, his Australia farewell threatened to become as humdrum an over as he had ever bowled. Gradually the runs filled the electronic scoreboard: 1, 2, 2, 1, 2. Then he ran in for the last time to bawls of encouragement, Paul Nixon swung at a full toss, a foot outside off stump, and the ball sailed fittingly into the hands of Hodge at deep midwicket. Everybody laughed.
McGrath had also finished his Test career with a wicket with his final ball at the SCG. It was one of life's nice twists of fate, Australia's only happy moment all night, and one that he thoroughly deserved.
Guardian Service
England
E C Joyce c Hodge b McGrath 15
M B Loye run out 45
I R Bell run out 26
A J Strauss c Gilchrist b Bracken 6
P D Collingwood c Gilchrist b Bracken 70
A Flintoff c & b Lee 42
J W M Dalrymple run out 5
P A Nixon c Hodge b McGrath 6
L E Plunkett not out 8
Extras b5 lb4 w9 nb5 pens 0 23
Total 8 wkts Innings Complete (50 overs) 246
Fall: 1-34, 2-79, 3-86, 4-112, 5-209, 6-231, 7-233, 8-246.
Did Not Bat: S I Mahmood, M S Panesar.
Bowling: Lee 10-0-53-1; Bracken 10-1-38-2; McGrath 10-0-41-2; Watson 8-0-46-0; Hussey 2-0-12-0; Hogg 10-0-47-0.
England beat Australia by 34 runs (D/L Method)
Australia
A C Gilchrist b Plunkett 20
M L Hayden c Collingwood b Mahmood 5
R T Ponting c Strauss b Plunkett 7
M J Clarke c Nixon b Plunkett 0
B J Hodge c Bell b Dalrymple 49
M E K Hussey c Strauss b Flintoff 0
S R Watson c Dalrymple b Collingwood 37
G B Hogg c Flintoff b Collingwood 10
B Lee not out 10
N W Bracken not out 3
Extras lb2 w6 nb3 pens 0 11
Total 8 wkts match abandoned (27 overs) 152
Fall: 1-25, 2-33, 3-39, 4-40, 5-63, 6-109, 7-132, 8-139.
Did Not Bat: G D McGrath.
Bowling: Plunkett 6-0-43-3; Mahmood 6-0-31-1; Flintoff 5-1-10-1; Panesar 2-0-15-0; Dalrymple 4-0-25-1; Collingwood 4-0-26-2.
