No side has ever lost a one-day international series 7-0 so England captain Andrew Strauss has plenty to think about as he tosses up ahead of the final match against Australia at the Riverside
Early conditions are good for seam bowling and after Jimmy Anderson removes Shane Watson for a duck, local boy Graham Onions marks his England one-day debut by having Tim Paine caught behind
Anderson can hardly believe it as a perfect leg-cutter just misses the outside edge of Michael Clarke's bat at the start of the Australian vice-captain's innings
Australia skipper Ricky Ponting is given not out when Paul Collingwood's throw hits the stumps - but TV replays suggest his bat was off the ground and the on-field umpire should have referred the decision to the third official
Ponting goes on to reach his 68th one-day half century but is deceived in the flight by spinner Graeme Swann (second from left) soon after and is caught at mid-on
Clarke follows Ponting back to the dressing room when he is run out attempting a risky single to Eoin Morgan at short fine leg, leaving Australia in trouble on 110-4
After Cameron White becomes Swann's second victim, bowled off the inside edge for a single, the onus is on Mike Hussey to try and see Australia to a defendable total
But there is no stopping Swann and he sends back James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee to become the first England off-spinner to take five wickets in a one-day innings since Graeme Hick against Zimbabwe in 2000
Chasing a modest target of 177, Strauss gives England a positive start - helped by a generous supply of no-balls from Brett Lee and Ben Hilfenhaus
England opener Joe Denly gazes up at Hilfenhaus after taking hurried evasive action when the Australian fast bowler accidentally sends down a head-high beamer
The Kent batsman responds with a series of powerful strokes as he and Strauss post England's highest first-wicket stand of the series - beating the 74 by Strauss and Ravi Bopara at Lord's
Strauss shares a joke with opposite number Ponting, typifying the good relationship between the two sides during the Ashes summer
With his side seemingly on course for a morale-boosting win, Strauss attempts a switch-hit and falls to the off-spin of Nathan Hauritz for the fifth time in the seven-match series
Denly reaches his second half century for England but is needlessly run out for 53 after a mix-up with Ravi Bopara, sparking a mini-collapse which sees four wickets go down for 12 runs in the space of five overs
Keeper Tim Paine further enhances his reputation with a good catch standing up to the stumps to dismiss Owais Shah as Australia sense the possibility of England throwing the game away
After the flurry of wickets, England pull themselves together and Tim Bresnan pulls a short ball from Brett Lee for an emphatic boundary before a Hilfenhaus no-ball ends the contest
The win is very much a consolation for England and it is Australia who collect the series trophy for a 6-1 success - and they look like being tough to beat at the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy
What are these?
E-mail this to a friend
Bookmark with:
What are these?