England “weren’t quick enough to adapt to the conditions” as they slumped to a seven-wicket loss to Australia in the first ODI of their three-match series in Perth, according to head coach Brendon McCullum.
Unlike their inadequate preparations for the Ashes Test tour last winter – which also started with a heavy defeat at the Optus Stadium – the tourists this time played a proper warm-up game at the comparably bouncey WACA in Perth, but despite the time spent acclimatising, they were bundled out for a mere 131 in 33.4 overs in the series opener.
“It all happened pretty quick!” McCullum told TNT Sports after his side’s heavy defeat, Australia knocking off the runs in 23.3 overs. “We weren’t quick enough to adapt to the conditions.
“We’d talked extensively leading into the game about the surface here – it’s a bit like batting on a trampoline, so there’s certain shots which are very difficult to execute. We talked a lot bout trying to put those away.
“We also looked at the history of some of the games here. I think the last four have all been over within about 30-odd overs; we knew we’d be in for a low-scoring contest but we expected to get a few more runs that 131.
“Overall, we’re obviously disappointed. But there’s some good lessons for us as well – looking towards the World Cup in Africa, there are going to be some pitches there that will also test us with the bounce, and we’re going to have to find ways to counter that.”
Prior: England’s batting has only one gear
As McCullum suggested, the average first-innings total in the four prior ODIs played at the Optus Stadium is 172, albeit one of those was a weather-affected 26-overs-a-side clash.
A score closer to 200 might well have been competitive on the bouncey, pacey Perth pitch. Instead they collapsed to 65-8 – 21-year-old fast bowler Mahli Beardman starring with 6-24 on debut – before Will Jacks (25) and Gus Atkinson (29no) lifted the tourists’ total somewhat.
Australia fast bowler Mahli Beardman (second right) celebrates one of his wickets during his six-for on ODI debut against England
“Going to Perth as an Englishman is always a bit of a nightmare, the pace and the bounce is very different,” former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior said on TNT Sports.
“You’ve got to have the ability to adapt, which the England batsmen didn’t do.
“And you add that to Mahli Beardman having the most incredible day on debut. When you come up against someone you haven’t seen a lot of, it can add another challenge.
“Also, one of the big criticisms this ODI batting lineup have had is they only have one gear, which is all-out attack.
“Today was an opportunity to assess the conditions and maybe come down a few gears, bat the full 50 overs and put a score on the board to keep us in the game – the wicket wasn’t easy to bat on.”
England beat Western Australia by 92 runs in a warm-up match at the WACA last Saturday
Prior added: “Another thing I picked up on, which is slightly concerning, is England have spoken about their preparation and have made a real point about how well they’ve prepared this time and the intensity they’ve trained with.
“They’ve had 10 days over in Australia, on a surface [at the WACA] that was very similar to the one they played on today, and they’ve spoken at length about adapting to conditions, and yet that still hasn’t materialised in the middle.
“You can have all the team meetings you want, but if you can’t take it from the dressing room out into the middle, that is a problem.
“There’s quite a bit of work to be done with that batting group around decision making under pressure.”
‘England must shift losing habit’
With the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia just under a year away, England have a finite amount of time to correct their issues in the 50-over format.
Currently positioned eighth in the world rankings, Harry Brook’s side at least appeared to be trending in the right direction with consecutive series wins in Sri Lanka and at home to India and Sri Lanka in 2026, until losing four of their last five to span a disappointing tri-series in Pakistan and this latest defeat in Australia.
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Highlights from Sri Lanka’s extraordinary ODI tri-series victory over England in Rawalpindi as they succesfully chased down 430 to win.
In the 50-over format, and with the 2027 Cricket World Cup in Africa less than a year away, England’s ODI cricket has largely been trending in the right direction this year until their tri-series troubles in Pakistan in October.
“Like we say winning is a habit, so too is losing. They are going to have to shift it around,” Prior said, looking ahead to the second ODI in Adelaide on Sunday and third in Hobart on Wednesday.
“Going to Australia is a tough ask for any any England cricket team, in any format. Coming back from behind is even tougher. It’s going to be a massive challenge.
“You’re trying to develop the team and learn what your best 11 is, at the same time, so there’s a huge amount to contend with. But, this is a performance industry and nothing bloods a team better than actually winning. England need to start that habit.”
Schedule for England’s tour of Australia
ODIs 3.30am UK time, with T20s 8.15am UK time
- First ODI: Australia beat England by seven wickets in Perth
- Second ODI: Sunday November 15 (Adelaide)
- Third ODI: Wednesday November 18 (Hobart)
- First T20I: Saturday November 21 (Melbourne)
- Second T20I: Tuesday November 24 (Carrara)
- Third T20I: Friday November 27 (Brisbane)
- Fourth T20I: Sunday November 29 (Sydney)
- Fifth T20I: Wednesday December 2 (Canberra)
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
