On This Day in 2009: England avoid ODI humiliation against Australia
Graeme Swann starred as England avoided a humiliating 7-0 one-day series whitewash against Australia on this day in 2009.
Spinner Swann took five for 28 as the tourists were dismissed for 176 at Chester-le-Street, despite a half-century from captain Ricky Ponting.
England spared a whitewash
England still managed to make a meal of chasing a modest total, slumping from 106 without loss to 141 for five before Paul Collingwood and Tim Bresnan dragged them to an inglorious four-wicket victory.
Swann blamed England’s lacklustre performances in the one-day series on the matches being played in the aftermath of their 2-1 Ashes triumph.
“It has been the classic ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’, it really has felt like that,” Swann said.
“It’s good that we managed to grab a win at the end, 7-0 would have been embarrassing, it’s bad enough at 6-1 but 7-0 would have been a world record and a horrible world record to hold. We’re happy we’ve avoided that.”
Player of the match Swann helped put the hosts in control of the contest by claiming the wickets of Ponting, Cameron White, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee.
Skipper Andrew Strauss (47) and Joe Denly (53) then gave England a solid platform with a 106-run opening partnership, prior to the significant wobble among the middle order.
Although the win ensured England escaped an unprecedented series drubbing, another below-par batting performance – Strauss and Denly aside – gave them little cause for optimism ahead of flying to South Africa for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Strauss said: “We need to be honest and not settle for mediocrity.
“Anyone who has been part of this series does not want to go through this experience again.”
Latest
-
Women's Cricket
It’s a lot of fun – Heather Knight still enjoying captaining England
Knight succeeded Charlotte Edwards, who had a decade-long stint in the position, in June 2016.
-
England
On this day in 2018: Kevin Pietersen retires from professional cricket
The latter years of the Pietermaritzburg-born maverick’s career were spent on the T20 circuit.
-
England
Jofra Archer snaps off stump on impressive return from injury in India
The 28-year-old took two for 22 in seven overs.
-
County Cricket
Darren Gough steps down as managing director of cricket at Yorkshire
Gough said it was the “right time” to move on having been in the post since December 2021.
-
England
On this day in 2004: Steve Harmison takes seven for 12 against West Indies
The pace bowler produced a devastating spell at Sabina Park 20 years ago.
-
England
Jos Buttler feels refreshed and ready to enjoy ‘best years’ of his career
England’s white-ball team endured a poor 2023 which culminated in the disastrous defence of their World Cup crown in India.
-
England
Jos Buttler confident ‘special cricketer’ Jofra Archer will be fit for World Cup
Archer has not represented his country since last March when he featured in a T20 match in Bangladesh.
-
Indian Premier League
England batter Harry Brook withdraws from IPL following death of his grandmother
Brook pulled out of England’s five-Test tour to India before the squad flew out from their training camp in the United Arab Emirates.