Dawid Malan scored 134 for England but David Warner’s flying start helped Australia chase down their tally with time to spare
After weeks of Twenty20 cricket, it suddenly felt like everyone had time to breathe. With the luxury of space in the 50-over form, Dawid Malan assembled one of his best innings to carry England to 287 for nine, before David Warner’s typical riposte got Australia off to a running start, allowing them to walk down 291 for four in 47 overs. Starting a three-match one-day international series, the home team left Adelaide Oval leading 1-0.
Discontent from England players about this series arriving so soon after the T20 World Cup has been well documented, and was reflected in the one-day team that took the field. Of those finalists, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid and Chris Woakes were rested. The only ones who played were Malan, who missed the final, captain Jos Buttler, and late-tournament injury replacements Chris Jordan and Phil Salt. The other seven spots in the side were taken up by new arrivals.
James Vince similarly nicked Cummins to the wicketkeeper in the eighth over, after Jason Roy had fallen over his front leg to miss a missile from Starc that swung into the right-hander’s stumps. Sam Billings helped add 33 before losing his own stumps to a jagging Marcus Stoinis off-cutter. Then the biggest wicket fell, Buttler on 29 trying to attack Adam Zampa’s leg-break but finding the hands of long off rather than the open pastures of deep cover.
At 118 for five, Malan had spent his time quietly staying put at the other end. This was not 20-over cricket, where heart rates and blood pressure shoot up for spectators and players alike after two dot balls. Here Malan could block out four or five in a row, could leave a dangerous line outside off stump, could let a few overs go by for a handful of runs, and could know that he still had time to make back ground. He also knew that if he fell, England had few options left.
So the innings built: adding 40 runs with Liam Dawson before a run out, 41 before Zampa trapped Chris Jordan, then 60 with David Willey during which Malan reached his century. His own score went on to 134, his cleanly hit sixes including a drive and a pick-up from Cummins and a sweep from both of Australia’s spinners. He was patient when required, aggressive when able, took England deep into the last 10 overs, and made sure they were able to use every delivery available.
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