Plays of the day from the fifth ODI where Australia secured a comfortable eight-wicket win over England
Andrew McGlashan at Old Trafford 13-Sep-2015Decisions of the dayIt was an interesting first over for Joel Wilson. He had been the third umpire to rule on Ben Stokes’ obstructed the field at Lord’s, and now he was in the hot seat in the middle. The first ball of the match from Mitchell Starc swung down the leg side but was called four runs. Then Jason Roy was given lbw – a tight call – which was overturned due to an inside edge. Two balls later Roy was given out again, this time a low full toss spearing into the pads. On this occasion Roy did not review – perhaps talked out of it by Alex Hales – and the evidence showed it was comfortably missing leg.Concern of the dayThe Australians were immediate with their reaction when Eoin Morgan was struck flush on the helmet by Mitchell Starc. The reasons are obvious. Once the England medical staff had taken charge of looking after Morgan, the focus turned to their own. Starc was the one player in this game who featured at the SCG on the day Phillip Hughes was struck. Darren Lehmann made the journey around the boundary to check on his fast bowler.Waft of the dayThere remains the feeling that Moeen Ali’s role in this one-day side has yet to be defined. From opener in the World Cup to No. 7 now having missed the series against New Zealand. However, having often been left with limited chances to build an innings against Australia, in this match there were 36 overs remaining when he entered. But his opportunity went begging as he drove flat-footedly at Mitchell Marsh. It was not the first time and will not be the last for that form of dismissal in his career.Tally boost of the dayReece Topley was not picked for his batting. Before this innings, which came far earlier than he would have wished, he had made 34 runs in his List A career and faced 58 balls. Even his father, Don, was apprehensive: “This ain’t in the script! Keep that bat low and get front dog forward!” he tweeted. Yet things turned out okay. He pushed his 14th delivery into the off side and set off for a single. He would have been out with a hit, but instead the throw was wide and he was off the mark with a five: 14% of his career runs in one shot. His dad was delighted: “Pure class, suckered the Aussies into those overthrows! That’s my boy!”Rarity of the dayTopley and David Willey played together in the T20 at the end of the last month but did not share the new ball, so when they both opened the attack on this occasion it was the first time two left-armers had shared the new-ball(s) for England since 1909. One hundred and six years ago it was George Hirst and John King against Australia at Lord’s. They could not prevent an Australian victory, the same was the case for Topley and Willey.
