ZCZC
BSP-11
CRICKET-ENG-AUS-TOSS
England bowl in 1st ODI as Australia’s Smith misses out with head knock
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Sept 11, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – England captain
Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to field against Australia in the first
one-day international at Old Trafford on Friday as star batsman Steve Smith
was absent for the tourists.
Australia captain Aaron Finch said Smith had suffered a head knock batting
in the nets, with a team spokesman saying the injury had been cause by a
throw-down from a member of the coaching staff.
This was the first time the teams had met in the 50-over format since
eventual champions England beat Australia by eight wickets in a World Cup
semi-final at Edgbaston last year.
England’s team featured nine survivors from that victory.
Only all-rounder Ben Stokes, absent on compassionate leave while he spends
time with his ill father in New Zealand, and fast bowler Liam Plunkett, who
hasn’t played international cricket since the World Cup final, are missing.
Their places were taken by batsman Sam Billings and off-spinning all-
rounder Moeen Ali.
World Cup-winning captain Morgan was passed fit after a dislocated finger
meant he missed Australia’s five-wicket win in the third Twenty20
international at Southampton on Tuesday — although England still won a
three-match series 2-1. Jos Buttler also returned after missing the last
match to spend time with his family.
Test skipper Joe Root returned for his first white-ball international of
the season
It was also a first ODI appearance for fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark
Wood, as well as wicketkeeper-batsman Buttler, since England’s Super Over win
against New Zealand in the World Cup final at Lord’s.
For Australia, seven of the side that lost the World Cup semi-final were
in their side, with Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood and
Adam Zampa in for Smith, Peter Handscomb, Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Lyon.
This is the first of a three-match ODI series that marks the end of
England’s home international season, with all 18 scheduled fixtures set to be
played, albeit behind closed doors, despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Teams
England: Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Jos
Buttler (wkt), Sam Billings, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Jofra
Archer, Mark Wood
Australia: Aaron Finch (capt), David Warner, Marcus Stoinis, Marnus
Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wkt), Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins,
Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG), David Millns (ENG)
TV umpire: Michael Gough (ENG)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
BSS/AFP/BZC/1930HRS