Ironing out the cobwebs for Australia

Both Australian teams arrived back in local territory a little worse for wear, as they were both handed defeat at the hands of the arch enemy England overnight.

In the first game of the all-important World Cup season, the National side lacked aggression and firepower when comfortably beaten by 7 wickets on a batsmen's paradise of a pitch.

Winning the toss and choosing bat first, the opening partnership of Nick Danvers and Francis Tait started in sloppy fashion and never seemed to gain any momentum, although the partnership was able to obtain 193 runs before Danvers was drawn into a superb floater by Whitehorne to be dismissed for 110.

Debut paceman Len Mellor and Jamie Tuckett most likely were in complete shock after their first 10-over spell, conceding only 38 runs when the willow is usually in free motion to penetrate the boundary - alas, only three boundaries were scored, all in the final 3 overs of the Tuckett/Mellor period.

With an understanding of the dire straits they were putting the team into, Nick Danvers quickly upped his run count, closing in on a run a ball - although this could not be read much easier from Tait.

With Danvers falling in the 40th over whilst Tait was on 77 (from 121 balls), the Western Crusaders representative bounced back to bring up a workmanlike ton, smashing 24 runs off only 12 balls as the Australian run rate crept ever so slightly to a respectable level.

At the end of the innings, the score of 2-287 was sub-standard, and against a fierce English batting attack, would create headaches as a score of 300+ would have been more realistic.

Maurice Atkinson and Simon Graham made sure to teach Danvers and Tait a lesson, scoring 64 runs off the opening Woodward/Tapp spell and never looking back.

Within the next 5 overs, Liam Heselton and Lloyd Stanton both prevailed with wickets apiece and when Atkinson fell to an overwhelming catch by Mckie in the 27th over, the Required Run-Rate skipped to 6.22.

But the damage had already been done with Jimmy Willetts and Niall Maxfield making sure to hover about 5.5 plus, the runs too easy to come by in the 48th over. Willetts signalled his authority with an unbeaten century, reiterating the importance of risk-taking and hard-hitting when the advantage is on your side.

*****

With a dusty pitch in store for the U19s and English captain - and finger-spinning magician - Gavin Hastings licking his lips at the thought of sole domination alongside his sparring mate Franny Tench, England U19 had no trouble in accounting for Australia by 66 runs at The Oval.

The Reporter's Summary pointing the game in any direction, but with Simon Akwenye and Ray Mckagen sitting out of last night's contest and a double spinner's punch for the inexperienced batsmen, little could be done.

Winning the toss and sending England in, hot batting prospect Asif Tumelo quickly stamped his authority on the game as Glen Schalk found the going difficult. Although sniping Rush for 24 in the last over of his spell, a depressing 1-40 off 5 could not stand to be impressive at all.

Leighton Spector held up his end of the spell with a reasonably consistent bowling display, although he was quickly brushed off by fellow paceman and breakthrough all-rounder Steven Loyal, immediately his presence being felt with Sinclair's dismissal for 4 in only his third ball.

A hapless opening which closely flaunted with run-a-ball aggression, Loyal and Spector deflated the free-hitting as Tumelo and wicketkeeper Malcolm Mirfin settled in for the long haul. When Jason Henno sparked the first Maiden of the game, the battle was on level footing.

The English pair eased into proceedings and it was only when they approached the century partnership that Loyal had Mirfin completely thunderstruck, Henno enjoying his first catch of his ODI career and the Run Rate spearing towards sub-4.00.

Glen Schalk settled in his final half-spell to give away only 19 runs and when Loyal concluded with 2-28 off 10, the final 10 overs needed to be under control as the middle-section proved to be successful.

Hayden Judge did not want to miss out on the fun, bringing Buckle forward to be stumped for 28, and then achieving the first hattrick of his ODI career in the final over - 4 wickets to Judge and no Australian bowler was going home without some positive out of their performance.

A spirited opening attack off hard hitting from Sol Kirby and Jack Whittaker steadied to 0-49 off 10 but Whittaker tried one too many, and was sent packing in the deep for 19.

When the spin bowling hit the deck, the fearless became the fearsome - Franny Tench and Gavin Hastings each collected 7 wickets and when Dave Hamshaw and Paul Warlock's 71-run stand was ceased by a spectacular Mirfin stumping, the wickets tumbled.

7-23 eventuated, the Australian U19 side feeling the pain of a dusty pitch playing into the hands of Tench and Hastings, the game was over but there was many positives to gain from this effort.

Loyal was praised by coach Khilden for his solid bowling attempts, the same response dished off to Leighton Spector for his 0-34 off 10. Warlock's skilled keeping cleaned up Buckle and a pair of catches alongside his match-defining 28 with Hamshaw was indeed one of the stronger points of the game.

Both sides are keen to get their own back at the Adelaide Oval and the MCG - they should deliver some exciting cricket as the new ODI season rolls into full swing.