England’s one-day reset began with an anti-climactic defeat catalysed by illness-hit Australia’s part-time bowlers.
Travis Head’s unbeaten 154, the biggest one-day international score by an Australian in this country, plus 77 not out from Marnus Labuschagne opened up a 1-0 series lead with 36 balls unused.
But it was rare contributions with the ball from the fourth-wicket duo that were at the heart of embarrassing England in the first one-day international since Matthew Mott was sacked as coach.
Facing opponents missing their fast bowling giants, England somehow contrived to lose their last eight wickets for 102, with Head’s off-spin wrapping up the innings for 316 via two dismissals in the final over after the Labuschagne took a career-best three for 39 with his occasional leg-spin.
Harry Brook, leading England for the first time in the absence of injured white-ball captain Jos Buttler, was one of Labuschagne’s three victims, but dismissed the notion that recklessness was the root of the problem, saying: ‘We are out there to score runs. If you get caught somewhere on the boundary or in the infield, who cares? On another day that could go for six.’
Travis Head scored an unbeaten 154 for Australia as they beat England in the first ODI
Harry Brook (right) captained England to start their new era with Jos Buttler out injured
Brendon McCullum lead the new era as coach, but does not officially start until the new year
Marcus Trescothick, acting coach until Brendon McCullum takes overall control of England teams in the new year, reckoned the toss was a significant factor, overlooking the fact Brook won it.
With its small dimensions and fast outfield, Trent Bridge is a high-scoring ground. Indeed, England crunched a then world record 481 for six the last time these two cricketing foes met here in a one-day international six years ago.
They appeared on for another sizeable total when they reached 170 for two at the halfway mark of their innings, powered by a stand of 120 at seven an over between Ben Duckett and Will Jacks.
Their separation by Adam Zampa, whose opening three-over spell of a 100th ODI appearance cost 27 runs, came after Australian debutant Ben Dwarshuis was ruled out of a return to the field due to a torn pectoral muscle.
Dwarshuis was only playing due to Pat Cummins sitting out this tour and other senior pacemen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood being amongst those absent due to a sickness bug in the Australian camp.
Australia went into the match seeking a 13th-straight ODI victory, but were under strength
Ben Duckett, opening for England, carried over his form from the Test summer in the match
He was left ruing his dismissal, falling five runs short of a century as England batted first
Momentum was relinquished by England when for a second time this month, Duckett threw away a hundred. A poorly executed scoop marooned him in the 80s in Test defeat to Sri Lanka, and he had got to within five runs on his home ground when a prod at a googly that stuck in the surface was pounced upon in his follow through by Labuschagne.
Brook countered with a flurry of boundaries, but when he and Jamie Smith succumbed within three overs of each other, it left Jacob Bethell to guide the tail with 35 from 34 balls on debut.
‘It was a different way to skin it and we did an exceptional job,’ said Head of Australia’s use of bit-part spin.
And a target of 316 felt significantly under-par, unless England were able to do something their opponents had not – take early wickets.
The likeliest source of that appeared to be Jofra Archer, who is using this series to build up the length of his bowling spells with a view to being match ready for next year’s Ashes down under.
Jofra Archer is using the series to build fitness after previously being restricted to T20s only
Archer could do little to stop Head, who starred as Australia triumphed at Trent Bridge
However, although Archer touched 90 miles per hour in his first ODI appearance for 18 months, he had his pace turned against him expertly by the Australians: Head greeted a switch to the Stuart Broad end by flicking over the square leg boundary and Steve Smith added a second six soon afterwards by helping over fine leg.
The chase would have taken a different route had Brydon Carse clung on to a reverse cup grab sliced to deep point by Head, on six, in the same over Australia captain Mitchell Marsh had picked out deep square leg.
Had he remained in a conventional position 10 yards further back, Carse would arguably have swallowed the catch.
Being slightly off, however, was symbolic of England’s day.
