Mitchell Starc has overtaken Mitchell Johnson to become Australia’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket history, but Australia lost their first game in 15 matches on Tuesday night. Harry Brook blasted a brilliant century as England won the third ODI by 46 runs (on DLS method) in a rain-affected match at Chester-le-Street’s Riverside ground.
It ended Australia’s 14-match winning streak in ODI cricket and puts England behind 2-1 in the five-match series. Australia batted first and amassed 7-304, headlined by 60 from Steve Smith and another brilliant knock of 77 not out from Alex Carey.
But England still ended up easing towards their target and needed only 51 from 74 balls when rain started falling and stopped play for good. Brook was unbeaten on 110 from 94 balls, and was aided by an excellent 84 off 82 from Will Jacks and a blistering late cameo from Liam Livingstone (33 not out from 20).
Starc took two of the four wickets that Australia managed to grab, getting Phil Salt caught by Matt Short for a duck before sending Ben Duckett packing for just eight. In doing so, he grabbed the 240th wicket of his ODI career, taking him past Johnson’s record of 239. Only Glenn McGrath (380), Brett Lee (38) and Shane Warne (291) have more wickets for Australia than Starc in ODI cricket.
The fact he overtook Johnson will come as a sweet reward for Starc considering Johnson has been highly critical of the current playing group. Johnson blasted the players for their treatment of Justin Langer and the way he was forced out as coach, even though it has proven to be the right decision.
And Johnson was also highly critical of David Warner last summer when he declared he wanted a farewell to Test cricket at the SCG. For Starc to get one over Johnson will no doubt be a little personal win for him, as Starc has shown in the past he’s not afraid to bite back at certain Aussie legends when they criticise the current team.
Alex Carey continues brilliant form in return to England
Despite having their 14-match winning streak ended, Aussie captain. Mitch Marsh shrugged it off and said Brook was simply “too good”. He added: “Honestly, I thought 250 after our start would be awesome. For us to get to 300 was really good. We were well and truly in the game at halfway – but England were too good with the bat.”
Australia badly missed spinner Adam Zampa, who is among a number of players in the Australian squad to be struck down by illness. “He’s so valuable for us,” Marsh said. “We tried everything we had, but he was a big miss. We’ll welcome him back in a few days time at Lord’s (for the fourth ODI).”
Carey continued a rich vein of form, much to the frustration of England fans still salty over his dismissal of Jonny Bairstow in last year’s Ashes series. The wicket-keeper made 74 off 67 balls in the second ODI, and followed it up with 77 not out from 65 on Tuesday night. He’d previously opened up about returning to English soil for the first time since the Ashes controversy, which saw his wife and kids targeted with some vile abuse.
RELATED:
Smith notched his 34th half-century in ODI cricket, but his 60 came slowly off 82 balls. He was part of an entertaining battle with Ashes nemesis Jofra Archer, before the quick finally dismissed him despite Smith hitting a sweet pull shot that was caught in spectacular fashion by Brydon Carse on the boundary.
