The day began cold and dark and slightly damp, a mild drizzle accompanying the players to the WACA. By mid-afternoon, the clouds had been swept away by a billowing wind and a harsh sun, the ground bathed in glorious scorching light.
The changing weather pattern on Sunday (February 1) was perfectly reflective of Australia’s fortunes in the final of the triangular series against England, who began competitively but then buckled under the might of the opposition onslaught. Visions of England's win over Australia began to take shape when, put in by Eoin Morgan, the home side subsided to 60 for 4, midway through the 18th over.
On a pitch that wasn't all that conducive to strokeplay to start with – as the day progressed, it began to play increasingly truer – Australia needed to show character of its own to clamber out of a deep hole, especially given that Steve Smith, the hero all summer, had perished too after a wonderful 40. Fear not, said Glenn Maxwell, choosing the most opportune moment to return to run-scoring ways.
Fear not, too, said Mitchell Marsh, in his first hit since the Brisbane Test against India ended on December 20. The pair put on a WACA record 141 in 140 balls to emphatically wrest the initiative, and James Faulkner then sauntered in to club a plethora of fours and sixes that netted him an unbeaten, 24-ball 50.
The sum result of all this was that Australia piled up 132 in the final 15 overs, and ended its innings on a huge 278 for 8. Imposing in itself, massive in a cup final, match-winning given the bowling resources at the disposal of George Bailey.
One of those resources Bailey could summon for the first time in the competition answered to the name of Mitchell Johnson. Refreshed after a month away tending to a hamstring injury, Johnson cranked up the pace and provided the X-factor that even Australia, mighty Australia, formidable Australia, are thankful for. Johnson came on first change in the seventh over; by the time he was taken off, he had figures of 4-1-14-3. James Taylor, caught expertly at backward point by Maxwell. Moeen Ali, held at slip off a snorter. Morgan, clean bowled first ball. All in the space of 10 deliveries.
There were brief flickers, all too brief, from Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad, but England was never in with a shout, not with Maxwell (4 for 46) ending up with career-best ODI bowling figures too. In the end, all it managed was 166, Australia crowning its unbeaten run in the competition with victory by 112 runs.
For all that, Ian Bell started as fluently as ever, with two fours in Mitchell Starc’s first over, and Moeen joined in the fun in his most assured innings of the tournament. England had moved untroubled to 18 when Josh Hazlewood produced a beauty that shaped in and straightened to catch Bell’s edge. Brad Haddin went flying to his right to pouch a sensational catch, setting the stage for an exceptional performance in the field.
England was never in the hunt as wickets fell in clutches. Taylor’s ambitious drive skewed off the outside edge while Johnson got Mooen with the short ball, then used the full ball to winkle out Morgan as England lost 3 for 11 in 22 deliveries and found itself at 46 for 4. Maxwell then joined in the wicket-taking too, accounting for Buttler to a very good catch by Pat Cummins, the substitute, at short third-man off a reverse sweep and got Chris Woakes caught and bowled first ball.
The only blip for Australia was Faulkner leaving the field halfway through his third over with what appeared to be a side strain. Otherwise, it was a thoroughly professional, occasionally scary performance that other ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 contenders would do well to take note of.
Australia didn’t
Even by then, Smith had stamped his class; walking around his crease, he took balls from outside off and picked them off through mid-wicket and behind square, seemingly having a relaxed net while all hell was breaking loose at the other end. Bailey, who was seeking runs after a lean trot, was given a torrid time by Anderson and Broad, who was close to bowling at somewhere near his best. Bailey’s only scoring shot came off the 16th delivery faced; the 17th, from Broad, took him completely by surprise, his face turned away from the ball and eyes looking in the direction of point, the bat held up in protection, and an easy catch to short-leg.
Smith’s dismissal came as a huge surprise as he walked down the track to Moeen – once again outstanding as he went for less than four an over – and past the ball. Buttler fumbled but by the time Smith realised he was in with a chance, had recovered enough to whip the bails off.
England must have believed it was in with a great chance. Maxwell and Marsh believed otherwise. Maxwell came into this innings on the back of seven single-digit scores and three ducks in his last 15 innings. He responded in inimitable fashion, teeing off with twin boundaries off consecutive Steven Finn overs even as he batted with commendable restraint. There were no reverses, no ramps, no cheekiness or unorthodoxy. He scored briskly playing normal cricket while Marsh was content to bide his time as he bedded in on his home ground.
In the course of 15 untroubled overs, Maxwell and Marsh restored the balance. They then cut loose during the Batting Power Play, Marsh coming into his own even as Maxwell decided enough was enough, it was time to put the correctness away and bring on the brutal. Almost every bowler travelled, including Anderson, but no one more so than Woakes. Marsh began the carnage with a pull that screamed over long-leg, and Maxwell then took over with four fours in the final over of the Power Play, including one outrageous reverse pull that nearly cleared the third-man fence.
Maxwell charged against Broad and put up a skier to be dismissed in the 90s for the third time in ODIs. Marsh fell not long thereafter, called through for an impossible second run by Haddin who then himself holed out to mid-wicket. Australia seemed to be squandering the advantage earned when Faulkner decided to step in.
Faulkner has earned the reputation of a finisher in a chase. He showed he can finish an innings batting first too in some style. Woakes was hammered over mid-wicket twice, and flat-batted over long-on in a final over that went for 24. In all, Woakes conceded 89 in 10. It was all but over, and then, Johnson made sure there were no comebacks for England.