Perfect Ponting

Trent Bridge Fifth one-day international

Preview

After the Lord Mayor's Show, there is at least a chance of a whitewash. Australia, who won the first three games entirely on the back of England's inadequate performances, have strengthened the side by the inclusion of Ricky Ponting; England have made no attempt to bolster their wretched batting by, for instance, calling up Jonathon Trott.

An injury to Luke Wright has forced the selectors to add Demitri Mascharanas but their determination to work strictly on the basis of who is next in line - as if they were setting tables for a dinner involving the Royals - means there is no room for Trott

There is no place for lateral thinking in a panel consisting of Geoff Miller, Ashley Giles and James Whittaker.Nice guys all but what would we give for the brain power of one of the Sky commentary team. I hear they are consulted from time to time but their words fall on deaf ears.

England innings

Only a cruel critic could find fault with the England 299, put together in a way which suited those who believe cricket is a team game. Eoin Morgan was the only batsman to pass fifty yet only the two tailenders Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom had enough time to make double figures. For once Andrew Strauss, who won the toss for the fifth match in a row, was not top scorer. Morgan produced a couple of his magic shots and we heard a very strange sound. The England support cheering. It has been a while since that happened.

Australian innings

I can only assume that when Ponting went home for a week he told the team: "Let me go to see the family and I promise you won't have to worry about batting when I return."! Tonight he made 126, hit two of the biggest sixes Trent Bridge has ever seen and ensured Australia won by four wickets with 11 balls left. It was one of his finest innings - among 27 one-day international hundreds - and it must have laid the ghost of that Gary Pratt run-out in the Test defeat in 2005. Four years on England's fielding was wretched and my guess is that when Strauss returned to the dressing room the fury in his face translated to strong language.