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England v Australia, T20: Five Things We Learned

England’s band of fresh-faced tyros beat Australia in the one-off international Twenty20. Here are five things of note on an enjoyable day at Cardiff…

Man of the Day: Eoin Morgan

When you go back to work after the long weekend, take highlights of captain Eoin Morgan’s exploits with the bat and savviness in the field. Then spend your day browsing getaways for your month off. Having played non-stop from November of last year, across three different continents, Morgan looked jaded as he turned out for Middlesex during July. After a duck against Hampshire on August 1, his director of cricket (and England selector) Gus Fraser sent him away to get recharge and rediscover some hunger for the game. After a steady start in Cardiff, he found his touch with some excellent strikes down the ground to go from 16 off 16 balls, to 74 off 38 thanks to seven sixes. In the field, he used his bowlers well and put the right men in the right places – Ben Stokes at deep mid-on for Maxwell’s catch, Jason Roy and his cannon arm down the ground for the last over for the run-out of Patrick Cummins to recall two instances. There’s nothing like a bit of R&R.

Steve Smith and the ton that got away

A century on captaincy debut in Test cricket against India was followed by one in ODI cricket against England in the same Australian summer. Another captain’s knock/skipper’s salvo/leader’s load looked on the cards as he motored to 90 from 52 balls, with 19 needed from 11. Had he remained till the end, Australia would have won and he’d have the full set. Alas, neither was to be but his efforts merely underline what an outrageous and unique talent he is. His knock was near perfect and, had he had a bit more help from his teammates, it would have been a match-winning one.

Billings-gate experiment doesn’t go to plan

The move to send Sam Billings up the order ended up being the wrong call. He faced seven balls, scoring just two runs – undone by a lack of crease time and proper pace from Patrick Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Thrown in for quick runs, he ended up being run out trying to get Moeen Ali on strike. But it was a risk worth taking. In a match with little at stake, it was the perfect opportunity to experiment with sending in a youngster who has earned a reputation of hitting devastating shots in unorthodox areas. He will learn from this valuable experience.

England’s women need to emulate the men’s carefree revolution

A consolation victory prior to the men’s match in Cardiff might have allowed England to win the Twenty20 portion of the Women’s Ashes 2-1, but the 10-6 series defeat was hammered home soon after as Meg Lanning’s Australia celebrated winning the real quiz. England’s lacklustre two months can be attributed to their batting, which aside from two matches – the first ODI and first T20I – has lacked clarity and imagination. There is a tepidness that seems out of keeping with the calibre of players on show. Whether they need to be encouraged to express themselves better or make way for fresh blood, the joy that was so evident with women’s cricket in this country is now noticeably absent.

TFC Award: Cameron Boyce

Travelling from Australia to Cardiff for a solitary game of Twenty20, Boyce bowled one over which went for 19, featuring two sixes and a four from Moeen Ali. Then, despite with Australia losing three wickets in the last over, he didn’t get to the middle with the bat. Cameron Boyce, thanks for coming…