Hero Rashid

The Oval. First one-day international

Preview

Nasser Hussain wrote this week that Australia's team may be their worst one-day side of all time. Interesting comment, Nass.

Australian innings

It was, in my memory, one of England's finest performances. Their fielding was slick, starting with Paul Collingwood's snappy throw to get rid of the wicket-keeper-opener Tim Paine, by way of Graeme Swann's quick throw to run out the all-rounder Cameron White and their brisk fielding generally. They kept Australia to 260 on a typical Oval batting pitch, bowled to a plan and backed up their best bowler Adil Rashid who must have won a place on the South African tour with an unbroken, testing spell. You might be right, Nass.

England innings

Rashid also played the hero at the end of the innings but England still lost by four runs. The chase was too difficult when Rashid, Luke Wright and Graeme Swann got to the wicket after indecisive batting from the middle order. Even though it was Mission Impossible by the time the lower middle order got in Michael Clarke, captain for the day, was still behaving like a demented soul as he tried to block off the runs. You may be right, Nass.