Weary England

The Rose Bowl. Third one-day international

Preview

Paul Collingwood says he is tired, James Anderson looks worn out and there is a batsman - no names but he gets run out a lot - who is clearly too exhausted to think straight. Freddie has gone to Dubai to recuperate (nice work if you can afford it), KP doesn't know when he will be fit and the selectors are so worried about Adil Rashid's stamina they daren't play him two games in a row. Australia are fit and desperate to avenge the Ashes defeat and full of bull as usual. What's to preview? The Aussies again, of course. 3-0.

England innings

Not just tired but lacking initiative, dynamism and drive, England staggered to 228-9 which might have been 200 but for a display of hard-nosed Yorkshire commonsense by Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom in the last six overs. Hampshire's money man Ron Brandsgrove said before the match he hoped the pitch had improved. I hear uplifting stories about the man's willingness to part with his cash but he will have to spend more to get batsmen to enjoy this sluggish strip. Andrew Strauss again batted superbly but who was calling the shots, urging more strokes, ordering the power plays? No-one, it seemed.

Australian innings

At about the same time England's footballers were beating Croatia to ensure they went to South Africa for the finals of the World Cup, Strauss's Ashes heroes - yes it is just 16 days ago - were dragging themselves off the field, beaten by six wickets with nine balls remaining. Their star batsmen had performed badly, now their best bowlers were nudged around by an out-of-form Michael Clarke, who still managed 52 and smashed around by an out-of-position Cameron White who hit 105. It gives Australia the chance to complete a whitewash. To see the downbeat expressions on the faces of the England players you would certainly not bet against 7-0.