Opening defeat 'woke Aussies up'

McGrath dropped a catch and went wicketless in Melbourne

Glenn McGrath believes Australia's loss to England in Friday's first one-day final could be just the wake-up call they needed before the World Cup.

McGrath was bowled for a duck, dropped a catch and went wicketless in one of the hosts' poorest shows of the year.

However, he says they will learn from their mistakes in his final appearance at his home ground, Sydney, on Sunday.

"It was probably one of the worst performances I've been involved in for a long, long time," he commented.

"Sometimes you need that, especially leading into a big series like the World Cup. We let ourselves down but hopefully we can learn from it."

"To have something like that makes us all refocus again and realise what's important and get out there and do the job properly."

I thought there was a chance my time would never come again for England and I'm here on one of the greatest tours you could ever have Paul Nixon

McGrath, 37, has already announced he would retire after the World Cup in April and hopes his last appearance at the SCG will help Australia force a third, deciding match.

"I want to finish on a very special note," he said.

"I only have to think back to the [fifth Ashes] Test match, that was the perfect way to finish my Test career. So hopefully the one-dayers can be very similar."

England wicket-keeper Paul Nixon says a 2-0 victory in the finals series would be a late reward on a difficult Ashes tour.

"That would be absolutely magnificent - I don't think there would be any guys sleeping for a couple of days after that," he said.

"We've had a hard time, a hard tour and this would be some just reward for a lot of hard work."

Nixon's 11 runs from 10 balls in the final overs at Melbourne went some way to justifying his surprise call-up at the age of 36.

"I thought there was a chance my time would never come again for England and I'm here on one of the greatest tours you could ever have," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"All of a sudden you're in the mixer, playing at the MCG and Sydney - places I've always dreamed of."

Enlang Look to Continue revival

Commonwealth Bank Series, Melbourne:
Australia v England
Match starts at 0315 GMT on Friday.

It is to inform you that the Live Scores of the match will be available here.

England will try to win three straight one-dayers for the first time since 2005 when they face Australia at the MCG in Friday's first CB Series final.

The tourists beat the Aussies and New Zealand to clinch their finals place.

But Michael Vaughan will play no part because of a hamstring problem, so Andrew Flintoff will captain the team.

"Michael is going to be a big miss but hopefully we can put in the performance we have in the last two games," all-rounder Paul Collingwood said.

"Everybody is confident and now we have got an opportunity to finish a tour that hasn't gone as well as we would have liked on a real high."

Mal Loye is likely to be recalled, having been replaced by Vaughan against the Kiwis on Tuesday.

Ravi Bopara is also an option but the rest of the side is expected to be the same.

It's been great getting the runs but more important to get back to winning ways Paul Collingwood

The last time England won three ODIs in a row was when they beat Bangladesh (twice) and Australia in June 2005.

Collingwood made 106 in Brisbane after a poor run of form since making a double century in the second Ashes Test in December.

"It has been a long time coming since Adelaide, it has been a tough trot," he added.

"It's been great getting the runs but more important to get back to winning ways and you have to give the boys a lot of credit for beating Australia last week."

Australia are set to make changes too, with captain Ricky Ponting hinting at recalls for spinner Brad Hogg and injury-hit all-rounder Shane Watson.

They have to do it against a team that have dominated them all summer Ricky Ponting on England

Ponting has taken note of England's improvements towards the end of their tour but remains unconvinced by talk from the tourists of a revival.

"There's no doubt they've played some good cricket in the last two games and they will no doubt take some confidence from that.

"I have noticed they've been talking themselves up a fair bit after winning two one-day games in a couple of days.

"Now they have to come out and do it against us, a team that have dominated them all summer."

---

Australia (from): Ponting (capt), Gilchrist, Hayden, Hodge, Clarke, Hussey, Watson, White, Bracken, Johnson, McGrath, Lee, Hogg.

England (from): Flintoff (capt), Joyce, Loye, Bell, Strauss, Collingwood, Bopara, Dalrymple, Nixon, Plunkett, Mahmood, Panesar, Broad.

CWB Series-Fleming relishes England showdown

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming looked forward to a showdown with England after his team were beaten by five wickets against Australia.

Victory for the Kiwis would have left England needing to beat them with a bonus point on Tuesday, to see who meets Australia in the final.

"I hope the conditions in Brisbane are as good as they were here and we can have a good old heave-ho," he said.

"It's a semi-final scenario so good preparation for the World Cup."

Fleming was pleased with his side's performance against the mighty Australians, with Lou Vincent firing 90 to inspire a total of 290-7 that the home side passed in the penultimate over.

Someone's bad fortune is someone else's good fortune

Brad Hodge

"We are happy with the way things are coming together and it's a shame we couldn't put this one away. We are asking Australia to play good cricket and they are doing that.

"They had a slip against England and we wish it was against us but it was not to be."

Australia batsman Brad Hodge was relieved to end a run of one run from his last two matches with an unbeaten 99 at the MCG.

"It hasn't been much fun over the past week or so but this is what cricket is all about, you believe in what you can do and I have been given an opportunity by Roy's (Symonds') injury," he said.

"The past four times I have played for Australia I have been filling in for one game and it's hard to get any momentum.

"And someone's bad fortune is someone else's good fortune. This is the way it has turned out for me, it's an opportunity and I have enjoyed it."

Skipper Ricky Ponting was delighted that his team returned to winning ways after the surprise defeat by England on Friday in his absence.

"Any time when you are under pressure, chasing a big total, to come through like this is always satisfying," said the 32-year-old, who celebrated his return from injury with a century.

"Unfortunately I couldn't see the innings through but Hodgie played a knock he will never forget. He struggled early on but his last 70-80 runs must have come off 50-60 balls.

"Most of our guys looked good with the bat but there is still a bit of work to do with the fielding and with the ball but overall we are in pretty good shape."

The Australia captain did not disclose who he thought would win the right to play his team in the best-of-three final.

"I think they are both very capable sides," he said diplomatically.

"England showed that the other night in Sydney, on their day they can be very good.

"New Zealand are probably a consistently better one-day side so I think it will be a good, tough game."

Australia win lifts England hopes

One-day series, Melbourne: Australia 291-5 bt New Zealand 290-7 by 5 wkts
Here are the Live Scores.

Australia kept England's hopes of reaching the Commonwealth Bank Series final alive with a five-wicket victory against New Zealand in Melbourne.

Lou Vincent hit 90 in a 151-run stand with Peter Fulton to set up an imposing total of 290-7 for the Kiwis.

But Ricky Ponting returned in style for Australia with his 22nd ODI hundred and Brad Hodge saw them home with 10 balls to spare, finishing on 99.

England now play New Zealand on Tuesday to decide who qualifies for the final.

New Zealand decided to bat first after winning the toss and although they lost skipper Stephen Fleming for nine, Fulton and Vincent scored freely.

Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and part-time spinner Michael Clarke took two wickets each, with Glenn McGrath rested.

Vincent and Fulton set the foundations for a big total and steadily scored five runs an over until Fulton was unlucky to be given leg before to Clarke's left-arm spin.

Vincent continued his good form since being drafted in as a replacement on the Australian tour, but fell short of what would have been his first century against Australia since his Test debut in the summer of 2001-02, when he was bowled by Shaun Tait.

Clarke, who also picked up the wicket of Ross Taylor (21) trying a cross-bat swipe, picked up 2-45 from nine overs.

Australia worked themselves back into the match when Vincent fell in the 37th over, but cameos by Scott Styris (34), Brendon McCullum (19), Jacob Oram (15) and James Franklin (13 not out) helped the Kiwis add 86 runs in the final 10 overs.

The required rate for the home side was 5.81 but when Adam Gilchrist's ungainly swipe at Franklin cannoned into the stumps off the inside edge with the final ball of the 11th over, it had risen over six.

Franklin added the wicket of Matthew Hayden in his next over, the burly opener heaving one straight to deep mid-wicket and Michael Clarke fell cheaply, toe-ending a cut at one from Daniel Vettori that would have been called wide.

But Ponting and Hodge shared 154 in 24 overs to put their side back into the ascendancy.

Hodge, who made nought and one in his two previous innings in the competition against England, made a watchful start, hitting his first boundary off his 46th delivery.

Ponting, by contrast, was immediately into his stride, getting off the mark with a lofted straight drive to the boundary and soon launching Vettori back over his head into the stands.

Having completed his second ODI fifty, Hodge drove Franklin through the covers for four and two balls later lofted him comfortably over mid-on for six.

When Ponting was superbly caught in the 47th over by Vincent diving forward at deep mid-off, 25 were still needed for victory.

The tension increased in the next over when MIke Hussey was sent back by Hodge and run out at the bowler's end.

When Cameron White arrived at the crease, the requirement was 12 from 14 balls but any anxiety was immediately lifted when Jacob Oram sent down a no-ball that Hodge sliced through the covers.

Hodge needed to hit a boundary to record a maiden ODI century but had to contend with a pivotal role in the highest successful chase at his home ground.

Vaughan eyes comeback against NZ

England are keeping fingers crossed that captain Michael Vaughan will be fit to return to action against New Zealand in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Vaughan has been out of action since suffering a torn hamstring against the Kiwis three weeks ago.

But a team spokesman said: "He has had three days of intensive training.

"Should he be able to get through Monday's practice session then fitness-wise he will have done enough work to make himself available."

Having the 32-year-old available would be a major boost to England's chances of beating New Zealand and qualifying for the best of three tri-series final against Australia.

It would, however, present the tour selectors with a dilemma as Vaughan opened the batting in the two matches he played prior to suffering the injury.

To allow him to do so again would mean dropping Ed Joyce or Mal Loye down the order, or in the case of Loye, who is a specialist one-day opener, leaving him out of the team altogether.

606 DEBATE: How will England fare in Brisbane?

It is unlikely England would want to disturb Joyce as he has made scores of 66 and 109 at the top of the order in the last two games.

If Vaughan returns, he will do in a side buoyed by Friday's 92-run win over Australia - their first win of the tour against the hosts.

Assistant coach Matthew Maynard led a team sing-song in the dressing room after the match.

"Everyone was a lot more relaxed and obviously that first beer is a lot sweeter than when you've been beaten," said fast bowler Liam Plunkett.

"It was really enjoyable to be in there. Everyone just came together, it was a really good feeling."

Flintoff hails England young guns

Andrew Flintoff has praised his younger players after celebrating his first win against Australia as England captain.

Ed Joyce hit a maiden century, Ian Bell a fifty and Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood starred with the ball to help England to a 92-run in Sydney.

Flintoff said: "One of the real pleasing things about it is that it was the young lads who won the game for us.

"They carried us through - that gives you a lot of heart and shows these lads can play."
It was the first time in three months - 10 matches, 9,119 minutes of play and 12,588 balls - England had beaten Australia.

Flintoff won the toss and England posted 292-7 in their 50 overs - a record one-day score for them against Australia.
They then skittled Australia out for 200 to keep their hopes of making the finals of the Commonwealth Bank Series alive.

Plunkett produced figures of 3-24 and his rhythm was so good that was able to produce deliveries around the 90mph mark.

"Obviously you want to be as quick as you can but also in control. Game by game I feel like I'm getting better and more consistent. Hopefully the pace will stay along with consistency," he said.

"I am never going to be the quickest in the team but I feel I can hit the pitch hard and that is what I do best.

"I've had two months getting back into cricket, been in the gym quite a lot and got lot stronger."

Plunkett is refusing to look beyond Tuesday's game with New Zealand, even though the World Cup in the West Indies is on the horizon.

"You always think 'am I going to be there?' but at the minute I am really glad to be playing cricket against Australia.

"They're the best team in the world and it is just nice to be proving yourself against them," he added. England play New Zealand on Tuesday in a winner-takes-all match to see who will meet Australia in the best-of-three finals.

Flintoff joy at ending Aussie run

England skipper Andrew Flintoff spoke of his relief after his team defeated Australia in the CB Series to register their first win over them in 18 months.
Here are the Live Scores.

"It's taken a while in coming and this could have been our last chance to play against them here," Flintoff said.

"We attacked it fantastically from the start and the partnership between Ed Joyce and Ian Bell laid the platform.

"In Australia's innings we got off to a dream start with Liam Plunkett, we got on a roll and kept the pressure on."

Joyce hit 107 off 142 balls - England's first one-day international century in seven months - to set up England's 292-7.

Plunkett (3-24) then bowled Adam Gilchrist with the first ball of an impressive spell, while Sajid Mahmood (2-38) also struck early on.

"I'm feeling a bit better about myself and the same goes for everyone in the dressing room"

Andrew Flintoff

The Aussies, who had beaten the tourists in all nine previous meetings between the teams during the tour, finished on 200-9 to suffer their first defeat by England since the fourth Ashes Test in 2005.

"One of the things we've been concentrating on is going back to basics - posting a good total in a conventional way - and it worked," Flintoff continued.

"When you have 290 on the board there's energy in the field - bowlers have something to bowl at and the fielders field like they're defending something.

"I'm feeling a bit better about myself and the same goes for everyone in the dressing room.

"The lads are all willing to fight and have carried on working hard, striving to improve, and it's nice when it comes together."

England now need to beat New Zealand in their final group match on Tuesday to have a chance of making the finals and Flintoff added: "We'll enjoy this victory but we have to carry it forward - we can't let up."

"I was struggling with the heat but I got some magnesium and drink down me and felt much better"

Ed Joyce

Irish-born Joyce's innings could have ended on six, when Shaun Tait dropped a straightforward opportunity at third man.

He recovered from that scare to patiently compile his maiden ODI century and the first by an England player since Marcus Trescothick's ton against Sri Lanka in July.

"Everyone drops catches and I feel sorry for him but I'm glad I made them pay," the Middlesex star said. "I thought I was out, he looked comfortable under it, and I was about to walk off.

"I went through a difficult patch where I was struggling with the heat but I got some magnesium and drink down me and felt much better.

"I got a second wind and it got me through the fielding too but I haven't scored a hundred in this heat before and it was a new feeling."

Gilchrist positive despite defeat!

Australia's stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist remained upbeat about his side's form despite the 92-run defeat to England in Sydney on Friday.
Here are the Live Scores.
Gilchrist was dismissed for a golden duck as Australia were bowled out for 200, chasing England's 292-7.

He said: "We were pretty average, but I don't think there's reason for concern.

"But we set pretty high standards, and when we don't meet those standards, people will always be a bit critical, and we'll be critical on ourselves."

Australia sit atop the triangular one-day series table, with three times as many points as England and New Zealand.

"We've been challenged by England a bit more

Adam Gilchrist"

They are already guaranteed a place in the finals, which start on 9 February.

Gilchrist said: "We won't get too down and out about this, but certainly we want to work on the areas we think we can improve on from this game.

"Batting-wise I got us off to a bad start and that set the tone for the innings - so it was a bad day for us.

"We didn't bowl particularly well either - we didn't hold it together in the middle and late stages.

"We've been challenged by them (England) a bit more. It's hard to know whether we're allowing them in or if they're pushing us a bit harder."

Gilchrist said there was no further news on Andrew Symonds, who retired hurt on 39 after hurting his bicep.

"It's a simple case that we'll know more on Saturday when he has a scan. I'm sure over the next few days there'll be more light shed on this."

Anderson heads home to rest back

England fast bowler James Anderson is to return home early from the tour to Australia because of a back injury.

Team management have ordered him to rest but remain confident he will be fit for the World Cup, which starts in the Caribbean in mid-March.

Anderson was out of action for several months last year after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back.

But a scan has revealed no such problem this time and a team spokesman said his return home was "precautionary".

Anderson heads the England bowling averages for the current triangular one-day series in Australia with eight wickets at a cost of only 20.62 runs each.

But he missed the last two games because of soreness in his back and news of the decision to send him home is a major blow to the team's chances of pipping New Zealand for a place in the best of three final against Australia.

England have to win both their remaining round robin matches to have a chance of reaching the final.

England look to end Aussie misery

CB Series, Sydney: Australia v England
Match starts on Friday at 0315 GMT

England go into Friday's CB Series game against Australia hoping to end a run of nine defeats by the hosts on tour.

If they lose in Sydney, England would go into the New Zealand game on Tuesday with slim hopes of making the finals.

Michael Vaughan (hamstring) will sit out the Aussie match while Shaun Tait will make his ODI debut for the hosts.

"These next two are massive games. We haven't beaten Australia on this tour so we have very good reasons to beat them," batsman Ed Joyce explained.

"We're fed up with losing to them so that's more motivation. We have to keep plugging away and hope a win comes."

Joyce registered his first ODI half century in the defeat by New Zealand on Tuesday.

"Opening suits the way I play - I feel a lot happier"

Ed Joyce

After an uncertain start to his international career, the Irish-born left-hander appeared to relax having been promoted to opener.

"We're coming up to a World Cup so guys are trying to get into that squad," the Middlesex star, 28, said.

"This series has been about proving myself and if I can get a score in the last two games I will have done all I can.
"Opening suits the way I play a little bit better, I feel a lot happier. The other day I felt very comfortable."

Vaughan hopes to face the Kiwis but seamer Jon Lewis is back in contention for the Australia game after recovering from an ankle injury.

Tait, 23, replaces Brett Lee, while fellow seamer Stuart Clark comes in for Mitchell Johnson.

Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting is doubtful with a sore hip so batsman Brad Hodge has been drafted into the squad.

Ponting's men have already booked their place in the best-of-three finals but he says the battle for World Cup places means they will not become complacent.

"I couldn't be happier with where we are at the moment"

Ricky Ponting

"I don't think there are too many places in our squad at all that are guaranteed," he insisted.

"We've still got possibly eight games to play and lots of things can happen in that period of time.

"I think the competition that we've got around the team at the moment is fantastic. I couldn't be any happier with where we are at the moment."

---

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt) or Brad Hodge, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Cameron White, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath.

England (from): Andrew Flintoff (capt), Ed Joyce, Mal Loye, Ian Bell, Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood, Paul Nixon, Jamie Dalrymple, Liam Plunkett, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar, Jon Lewis, Ravi Bopara, Sajid Mahmood.

Kiwis pubished English bowlers

New Zealand punished some poor bowling and fielding from England to make 318-7 in the one-day international in Perth.
Here are the Live Scores.

Liam Plunkett (3-54) removed Stephen Fleming and Peter Fulton early on but Lou Vincent (76) and Ross Taylor (71) played aggressively to put on 137.

Spinner Monty Panesar (2-35) slowed the scoring but Jacob Oram smashed 54 off only 33 balls, including four sixes and 22 runs off one Chris Tremlett over.

A staggering 22 wides were delivered, and three catching chances missed.

It all added up to another miserable day in Australia for a team that has become used to losing - heavily - and was again without captain Michael Vaughan (hamstring).

Plunkett and Tremlett (1-72) took a while to realise that fuller lengths would reap rewards on a pitch which saw more than 650 runs scored by Australia and New Zealand on Sunday.

Plunkett found some swing to trap Fleming plumb lbw and Fulton should have been caught mis-timing a drive to mid-off by Andrew Flintoff before edging another full delivery behind.

Even Flintoff failed to learn the lessons of those early successes, too often straying in length or line.

Vincent was fortunate when a firm drive was nearly grasped by the big all-rounder and Ian Bell spilled a sitter at short extra-cover when the opener was on 33.

Taylor also had a reprieve when umpire Steve Davis refused to refer a stumping appeal from Paul Nixon off Panesar which would have sent the youngster packing for 33.

But apart from those scares the batsmen tore into some dreadful bowling, particularly from Jamie Dalrymple (0-43 off five overs), as the 100 partnership came up off 116 balls.

Among the highlights were when Taylor carved Tremlett over cover point and battered him through mid-wicket, while Paul Collingwood was thrashed through the same region for a maximum.

Panesar was the lone bright spot - with his fielding as well as his left-arm spin - and he extracted sharp turn off a surface more worn than on Sunday.

He was rewarded when Craig McMillan was stumped charging down the track and Brendon McCullum was snaffled trying to repeat his slog-sweep for six earlier in the order.

There were plenty of embarrassing moments in the field, with feeble efforts conceding several boundaries, and the hapless Dalrymple was too slow to reach the ball when Oram spooned an easy opportunity off Plunkett on the off-side.

Oram cracked him down the ground for a big six to add to his misery and, just when England thought the score could be kept down under 300, launched a savage late assault.

Tremlett went for 20 runs in four balls, including massive sixes over mid-wicket and long-off, before Flintoff was straight driven for the fourth maximum as he leaked 16 in his final over.

Prospects of a win and potential finals place against the Aussies looked a long way off when the Lancastrian led his demoralised team off.

Injuries stifle England ambitions

CB Series, Perth: England v New Zealand
Play starts Tuesday 0430 GMT
The Live Scores of the match will be available here.

England will leave a final decision on the fitness of skipper Michael Vaughan until just before the start of their game with New Zealand on Tuesday.

But it is highly unlikely he will play in the vital CB series fixture in Perth after aggravating his hamstring injury.

Seam bowlers James Anderson and Jon Lewis will not play as neither has recovered from niggles which forced them out of last Friday's match.

Vaughan was restricted to some light running during practice on Monday.
"Vaughanie is doubtful," acting captain Andrew Flintoff admitted.

"The final decision will be made tomorrow when we see how he rocks up."

Vaughan has missed the last three matches after suffering the injury during the win over the Kiwis in Hobart two weeks ago, England's sole success in the competition so far.

And he was in pain again after attempting to avoid a short delivery from pace bowler Sajid Mahmood at England's practice base at Fletcher Oval, home of Perth Cricket Club, on Sunday.
"I just felt a little bit of a twinge when I ducked a ball," he said.

"Every day we have tried to push it - there are always little obstacles you have to try to get over. I guess the odd twinges might be something I have to live with."

Whether he plays on Tuesday or not, Vaughan says a victory and morale-boosting finish to the series is essential.

England were hammered by Australia in Adelaide last Friday after being bowled out for only 110 - that came after New Zealand skittled them for 120 in their previous game.

"In eight years in the England team, that was as low as I have ever seen players feel," he said of the nine-wicket thrashing by the Aussies.

Defeat on Tuesday will almost certainly end England's hopes of reaching the tri-series finals to cap a disastrous tour.

A New Zealand win leave England needing to win their last two games - one of those being against unbeaten Australia - to make the finals.

"He's found his pace again and been swinging it at pace. He's bowled well with the new ball, especially in these one-day games"

Andrew Flintoff on the injured James Anderson

Interim captain Andrew Flintoff said it was not the time to be risking key players such as Anderson (back) and Lewis (ankle).

"They won't be available," he said.

"With the World Cup coming up it is a case of managing them well because we are going to need them further down the line."

Anderson has a history of back problems and is suffering from back soreness now, but Flintoff said he just needed a rest.

"He's been fantastic, I think he has got better and better on this trip," the skipper said.

"He's found his pace again and been swinging it at pace. He's bowled well with the new ball, especially in these one-day games."

Flintoff said England were considering shuffling their batting order on Tuesday, while wicket-keeper Paul Nixon is under pressure to retain his place ahead of Chris Read.

Paceman Sajid Mahmood has been lively in the nets and could also win a recall to spice up the England attack.
New Zealand are set to recall fast bowlers Shane Bond and James Franklin.

The pair missed Sunday's high-scoring clash with Australia to conserve their energy for Tuesday.

New Zealand's brave run-chase on Sunday has them brimming with confidence ahead of the match with England.

Jacob Oram played the starring role, scoring 101 not out off 72 balls, the fastest hundred ever made by a New Zealander in a one-day international.

The big all-rounder also bowled five overs in the searing heat but has recovered well and is hoping to continue his form against the English at the same ground on Tuesday.

"I haven't hit it that well for that duration," he said.

"There's been little cameos of 30-40 when I've hit it pretty well but five or six sixes, I was pretty happy with that."

The Kiwis expect another all-rounder, Scott Styris, to join them next week after recovering from a calf injury.

---

England (from): MP Vaughan (captain), A Flintoff, MB Loye, AJ Strauss, IR Bell, PD Collingwood, RS Bopara, JWM Dalrymple, PA Nixon (wicket-keeper), MS Panesar, CT Tremlett, EC Joyce, SI Mahmood, LE Plunkett, CMW Read.

New Zealand (from): SP Fleming (captain), SE Bond, JEC Franklin, PG Fulton, MR Gillespie, BB McCullum (wicket-keeper), CD McMillan, HJH Marshall, MJ Mason, JS Patel, RL Taylor, DL Vettori, L Vincent, KD Mills, JDP Oram.

Umpires: SJA Taufel & Asad Rauf (Pakistan), Match referee: RS Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

Aussies top NZ in batting battle

One-day series, Perth: Australia 343-5 (50 overs) beat New Zealand 335-5 (50 overs) by eight runs.
Here is the Scorecard.
Australia just managed an eight-run win over New Zealand despite recording the highest one-day total ever in Perth.

Matthew Hayden (117) and Ricky Ponting (111) put on 200 in 34 overs.

Andrew Symonds (24), Michael Hussey (29no) and Cameron White (20no) helped add 101 runs in the last 10 overs to take the hosts to 343-5.

But Jacob Oram hit an unbeaten 101 from 72 balls, with six sixes, and Brendon McCullum smashed 46 from 39 to keep the Kiwis in it until the final over.

Only South Africa - against Australia in Johannesburg last January - have successfully chased a higher target.

The result keeps alive England's mathematical chances of reaching the best-of-three one-day series finals.

But England will struggle to match New Zealand's batting pyrotechnics when they meet the Black Caps at the same venue on Tuesday.
New Zealand began their chase aggressively, with Lou Vincent hitting an assured 67 after being recalled following Nathan Astle's sudden retirement.

His team-mates struggled to settle, though, with three batsmen passing 20 but failing to capitalise.

Vincent was trapped lbw trying to sweep spinner Michael Clarke and Craig McMillan was out 10 balls later - in the 28th over - leaving New Zealand 142-3.

When rain hit, the Kiwis needed, with Jacob Oram blazing on 60 not out, but they were 23 runs down on the Duckworth/Lewis score.

Oram, in just his second match back from injury, found the going easier, though, sharing a stand of 48 with Ross Taylor before finding an ally in McCullum.

He reached 50 from 39 balls, after clubbing sixes off successive balls from Clarke then lofting Glenn McGrath over the boundary rope.

Rain hit with the tourists needing 88 to win from 48 balls and while Oram was not distracted, Australia's bowlers regrouped just enough, Nathan Bracken bowling two vital overs at the death.

On a baking hot day at the Waca, with temperatures touching 40C, Australia had a lucky start when Hayden was dropped at cover by Daniel Vettori on nought.

Hayden survived two more chances, put down by Ross Taylor at mid-on on four and on 79, by substitute fielder Hamish Marshall, also at mid-on.

But, with his World Cup place at the upcoming in the balance, he made the most of his good fortune, reaching his century from 104 balls, with 11 fours.

Ponting did not give a chance in notching his 21st one-day international century in 113 balls, with seven fours and one six.

In his 266th match moved him to fourth in the all-time list of ODI centurions, behind Sachin Tendulkar (40), Sanath Jayasuriya (23) and Sourav Ganguly (22).

Together, Hayden and Ponting reached their century partnership from 113 balls and their stand passed 200 from 203, setting a new second-wicket record at the Waca ground.

New Zealand were punished for resting opening duo Shane Bond and James Franklin with an eye to Tuesday's must-win match against England.

Vettori was the only effective bowler, his 10 overs costing 34 for the wicket of Hayden, who was bowled giving the spinner the charge.

Ponting was caught at deep midwicket after a wild pull at McMillan but the stage was set nicely for Australia's big-hitters

Symonds hit two sixes, White one and Hussey showing his adaptability on his home ground with three shots over the boundary rope.

The previous best score at this ground was the West Indies' 309-6 against Sri Lanka in 1985.

Australia made two changes to the side that beat England on Friday, recalling Bracken and McGrath at the expense of Brad Hogg and Stuart Clark.

Live Scores-Pitiful England crushed again-CWB series

One-day series, Adelaide: Australia 111-1 beat England 110 by nine wickets
England's calamitous tour of Australia plunged to a fresh low, as they were beaten by nine wickets in Adelaide having been skittled for a feeble 110.

Australia rested regular new-ball bowlers Glenn McGrath and Nathan Bracken but were still far too good.

Left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Johnson took 4-45 - England equalling their ninth lowest score in one-dayers.

And the Aussies got home with more than 25 overs to spare in another hopeless mismatch between the two sides.

England, needing to conjure a victory to reignite hopes of making the finals of the CB Series, won the toss and elected to bat first.

Mal Loye hit a trademark sweep for six off Johnson - in fact he hit it so far the ball had to be replaced - but soon nicked a wide ball from Brett Lee.

Andrew Strauss' lamentable winter continued when, on 17, he tried to dink a ball that was not short enough - and far too close to his body - down to third man.

Instead he got an edge to Adam Gilchrist and England were 47-2.
When Ian Bell and Ed Joyce then advanced the score to 72-2, things looked up for England, knowing that any score above 220 would give them a chance on such a slow wicket.

But Bell, whose array of promising shots had included an effortless six with an off-drive off Andrew Symonds, cut Stuart Clark straight to point.

His 35 was easily the best effort by an England batsman.

Next, Joyce tried to smash Lee out of the ground, only reaching mid-on, and the hopelessly out-of-form Paul Collingwood played a bizarre shot off Symonds straight to mid-off.

That made it 81-5 and there was no let-up from Australia.
Johnson's left-arm angle of attack was too much for the late middle order, even though he was neither seaming nor swinging the ball.

He removed Andrew Flintoff, Jamie Dalrymple and Liam Plunkett as England barely squeezed past 100.

Brad Hogg supplied the last two wickets and England were batting again before the scheduled dinner break.

ENGLAND'S LOWEST ODI SCORES v AUSTRALIA
86 Old Trafford 2001
93 Headingley 1975
94 Melbourne 1979
110 Melbourne 1999
110 Adelaide 2007

Brad Hogg supplied the last two wickets and England were batting again before the scheduled dinner break.
Plunkett and Chris Tremlett shared the new ball with James Anderson and Jon Lewis both resting niggles.

Tremlett bowled accurately and found some seam movement.

Plunkett had arrived for the start of the Ashes tour but been confined to the nets since November - apart from a one-day tour match.

Unsurprisingly, he struggled to impress. Gilchrist (23) crashed four off-side boundaries in one over from him before being run out, and after the interval Ponting added three more through the leg-side.

The Australian captain might have been caught before he got going - Collingwood spilling a touch chance at slip off the bowling of Monty Panesar.

But that was as close as either he or Matthew Hayden got to being dismissed. For the record, Ponting finished on 51, Hayden ending a poor run of form, made 30.

On Australia Day, the game had not even lasted long enough for the floodlights to be switched on.

CWB series-Ponting backs bowlers over coach

Captain Ricky Ponting says Australia's successes in the triangular one-day series are as much to do with their ability as struggling opponents.

The world champions have seen off England and New Zealand twice each.

Coach John Buchanan said on Wednesday his bowlers had not been properly tested because of poor batting.

But Ponting argued his players deserve more credit, saying: "It might just mean our bowlers are going well and we haven't got too much to worry about."

The highest score made against the Aussies in their four games was the 242-8 England managed in the opener.

"The batting efforts of our opposition are not assisting our bowlers' development"

John Buchanan

Writing on the Cricket Australia website, Buchanan claimed the one-sided matches were not helping his team prepare for their defence of the World Cup in March.

"I do not believe there has been too much quality batting displayed," he said.

"Our ability to deliver yorkers, length balls, bouncers, variety balls has not been placed under constant scrutiny by an opposition batting line-up.

"In essence, the batting efforts of our opposition are not assisting the development of our bowlers' one-day skills and the decision-making that accompanies being placed under the microscope of competition."

"They are good players who they are knocking over"

Ponting on his bowlers

But Ponting said those claims could be more about piling pressure on England - who have won only one match in Australia - and made his disagreement with his coach plain.

"I know if I was in the England dressing-room it would make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, that's for sure," the skipper said.

"I am not sure if John is trying to use that as a motivational thing for us to make sure we keep our foot on the accelerator or not. But they are his opinions and he is entitled to have them.

"If you look at the way Brett Lee bowled the other night, I don't think I have ever seen anyone bowl as well as that with the new ball - it was unbelievable.

"Nathan Bracken has been terrific for us for two years and they are good players who they are knocking over."

"Hopefully we can turn that around and stretch them ... if that's what he wants"

Paul Collingwood

Australia's next match in the Commonwealth Bank Series comes against England in Adelaide on Friday.

England batsman Paul Collingwood said it was hard to disagree with Buchanan's assessment.

"We're probably not [strong enough] at the moment, but hopefully we can turn that around and stretch them ... if that's what he wants," Collingwood said.

New Zealand dismissed Buchanan's comments, with chief executive Martin Snedden saying there was no need to respond.

"I'd imagine the players read it with a bit of interest, and it may even provide a little bit of motivation for them," he said.

"But I don't think you're going to see any sort of major reaction from our camp."

CWB series-England worry over bowling pair

One-day series, Adelaide: Australia v England
Match starts 0315 GMT Friday
The Live Scores of the match will be available here.
Opening bowlers Jon Lewis and James Anderson are both injury doubts for England going into Friday's one-day match against Australia in Adelaide.

Anderson (back) and Lewis (ankle) both missed net practice on Thursday morning, meaning Chris Tremlett, Sajid Mahmood or Liam Plunkett could play.

"The players who have come in are capable of stepping up to the plate," said veteran Paul Collingwood.

"Tremlett had a bit of an outing in Brisbane and looked pretty impressive."
Collingwood hopes a re-match with Australia at the ground where he hit a historic Ashes double hundred in December will help him overcome his own poor form.

Since then he has made 104 in six Test innings and only 63 more in four one-day matches.

"The form has tailed off but I am working as hard as I always do." he said.

"Every player goes through dips in form but you are only one score away from getting that back and that is what you have to keep believing."
Going into the Australia Day match, Collingwood's form has come in for scrutiny because of injuries around him in the batting order.

Captain Michael Vaughan (hamstring) is expected back for Tuesday's match against New Zealand in Perth but Kevin Pietersen (rib) is out for the rest of the tournament.

"I have obviously been thinking about it, trying to improve, trying to get some runs on the board and do my job for the team," said Collingwood.

"It is a good ground for me personally getting a big score like that."

Opener Andrew Strauss is also struggling, with an average of under 20 so far in the one-day Commonwealth Bank Series.

England's batting reached a low point at the ground on Tuesday as the tourists were bowled out for 120 in defeat to New Zealand.

They now probably need at least two wins from their four remaining matches to reach the best-of-three series finals.

"Embarrassed is the wrong word to use, we were pretty disappointed," said Collingwood of the 90-run defeat.

"We are bowling pretty well at the minute and as soon as we get both forms of the game in place at the same time hopefully we will win games.

"We need to stand up and be counted, simple as that - we are big enough and have played enough games to say we have to go out there and perform."

"You need someone in your top three or four to make big scores - we did in the first game, but haven't since then"

Ricky Ponting

The second Ashes Test, when Collingwood hit 206 in the first innings but was part of a batting collapse in the second, is arguably the closest England have come to beating Australia all tour.

Thursday's game will be their ninth international meeting in the last two months - after a 5-0 Test series whitewash, defeats in the Twenty20 international and the first two one-day meetings.

Australia's pace bowlers have been the stars of the one-day series so far, with Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson rotating in the attack.

But captain Ricky Ponting wants his batsmen to overcome two poor outings and get back to their best.

In their past two matches, they were in early trouble at 48-4 and 77-4, with Mike Hussey coming in at number six to steer them to victory both times.

"We haven't been chasing big totals and we've managed just to scrape across the line," Ponting complained.

"We did in the first game, but haven't since then. You need someone in your top three or four to make big scores."

CWB series-Batting flop frustrates Flintoff

Skipper Andrew Flintoff was mystified by England's poor batting form as they collapsed to a 90-run defeat against New Zealand in the CB Series.

"We started the game well but in the second half we didn't perform as well as we can do," he said.

"The pitch was a little bit tricky but you can't put it down to that.

"It wasn't a 120 all out pitch and Ed Joyce showed us what could be done. He played really nicely. The rest of us were below-par."
England face Australia in their next match and the only encouragement they could take was the performance of their bowlers, who bowled out New Zealand for 210.

Flintoff picked up four wickets and there was a tidy spell of 1-31 from Jon Lewis, who bowled his 10 overs in a single spell because of a slight strain.

But an innings of 86 off 89 balls by all-rounder Jacob Oram enabled the Kiwis to post a total which ultimately proved well beyond England's capabilities.

England never recovered from the early loss of Mal Loye, one of three wickets to fall in the first 11 overs of their reply, and the tail was unable to offer any prolonged resistance as they were dismissed for 120.

"In the first 20 overs when you're trying to make use of the power plays, if you lose three or four wickets, it's hard to keep it going," said Flintoff.

"We know we have got to score more runs. It's frustrating for all of us - the lads are trying their damnedest to win games."

The result left England on the bottom of the triangular series table, and Flintoff acknowledged they needed to put in a better performance against the hosts.

"Every game we play is big now - we desperately want to be in the finals," he said.

"We have to keep backing our ability and have no fear of expressing ourselves in the middle.

"It has been a tough trip for some, there is no getting away from it, but we have to remain confident, believe we are good players and score runs."

Live Scores-Aussies beat Kiwis in tight match

CB Series, match five (Sydney): Australia 224-8 beat New Zealand 218 by two wickets
Here are the Live Scores
Two major fielding errors cost New Zealand as Australia edged to victory in the fifth match of the CB Series.

Michael Clarke was dropped on 16 before top-scoring with 75, while Michael Hussey should have been run out on 18 and finished unbeaten on 65.

Australia were 17-3 chasing 218 to win before Clarke, Hussey and Andrew Symonds steered Australia to their eighth consecutive win in one-dayers.

Craig McMillan hit 89 for the Kiwis, but his team-mates batted poorly.

The Australian seamers enjoyed profitable returns - Stuart Clark took 4-54, Glenn McGrath 3-24 and Brett Lee, expensive late on, 2-45.

New Zealand were in dire straits at 136-7 in the 37th over before rallying through McMillan and James Franklin.

Though Franklin made just 18, he contributed to a partnership of 57 from 39 balls.

McGrath accounted for both men - Franklin swatting a short ball to deep square leg and McMillan hitting a full toss back to the bowler.

McMillan's wicket was a controversial one. The delivery looked above waist height when it reached the batsman and should have been called a no-ball.
It was nonetheless sweet revenge for McGrath, who had attracted an edge off McMillan's bat with the right-hander on one - only for umpire Asad Rauf to rule not out.

Nathan Bracken wrapped up the innings in the 48th over, bowling last man Michael Mason with a full-pitched delivery.

As they had done against England last Friday, Australia struggled with a run-chase that should have proved much easier on a good wicket for batting.

Mason (2-46) was impressive early on and New Zealand were right back in it when the top three were sent back to the pavilion early.

But the Aussies were let off the hook when James Franklin spilt an easy skier at fine leg.

After Daniel Vettori ended a stand of 60 between Clarke and Symonds, Australia had their next slice of luck when Clarke and Hussey ran to the same end after a mix-up over a run.

But Vettori and Hamish Marshall contrived to make a dog's dinner of what should have been an easy run-out and the Aussies prospered through the delayed final power-play.

At 167-4, Australia were cruising home. But back came the Kiwis - three quick wickets making it 197-7.

Hussey and Bracken put on 19 vital runs before the eighth wicket fell with two more runs needed.

Then Hussey showed why he is rated the world's best batsman in one-day cricket by staying to the end, making the winning hit with a six off Nathan Astle with eight balls remaining.

CWB Series-Live Scores-Australia Vs Newzealand.

Stuart Clark claimed his best figures in a one-day international as Australia bowled out New Zealand for 218 on a good batting wicket in Sydney.
Here are the Live Scores.

In match five of the CB Series also featuring England, Craig McMillan's muscular innings of 89 was the best score by a Kiwi batsman by a distance.

Clark took 4-54, Glenn McGrath 3-24 and Brett Lee, expensive late on, 2-45.

New Zealand were in dire straits at 136-7 in the 37th over before rallying through McMillan and James Franklin.

Though Franklin made just 18, he contributed to a partnership of 57 from 39 balls.

McGrath accounted for both men - Franklin swatting a short ball to deep square leg and McMillan hitting a full toss back to the bowler.

McMillan's wicket was a controversial one. The delivery looked above waist height when it reached the batsman and should have been called a no-ball.

It was nonetheless sweet revenge for McGrath, who had attracted an edge off McMillan's bat with the right-hander on one - only for umpire Asad Rauf to rule not out.

Nathan Bracken wrapped up the innings in the 48th over, bowling last man Michael Mason with a full-pitched delivery.

Vaughan out for two more matches

Michael Vaughan has been ruled out of England's next two one-day internationals with a torn hamstring.

The captain suffered the injury in the win over New Zealand and he missed Friday's defeat to Australia.

The 32-year-old will now sit out the games in Adelaide, against New Zealand on Tuesday and Australia on Friday.

Star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will continue as captain until Vaughan's expected return against the Black Caps in Perth on 30 January.

If England then failed to make the final, Vaughan would make just three more one-day international appearances ahead of the World Cup.

He did not appear for England at all in 2006 because of prolonged injury problems. He has had four knee operations in his career.

Flintoff captained England well on Friday, when they made Australia sweat all the way before overhauling a dismal score of 155 in Brisbane.

But he has now led England to just one victory in eight one-day internationals as captain.