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Cook's crew sail on: Finn leads England on another demolition job against Australians

By Peter Hayter

Published: 13:12 EDT, 7 July 2012 | Updated: 16:41 EDT, 7 July 2012



Ruthless, relentless and resolute in their mission to dominate world cricket, England once again made Australia look like also-rans as they wrapped up the NatWest Series, rolling them at the Riverside to take an unassailable 3-0 lead with one to play.

Because the Edgbaston rain robbed them of the chance of a 5-0 whitewash, England will have to wait a while longer to overtake their opponents as the top-ranked side in international 50-over cricket, even if they do complete the job under the Old Trafford lights on Tuesday.

But their third clinically professional victory in a row, by eight wickets with 13 balls to spare, suggests elevation to the status of the world’s best ODI side, to set alongside their No1 Test ranking and their World Twenty20 crown, is now merely a matter of time. Finn form: Steven Finn celebrates dismissing Matthew Wade

England v Australia

Click here for a full scorecard

No one is allowed to mention the 2013 Ashes at this stage, of course, but if they were, one or two might already be saying ‘They’re in the bag’. For England’s batsmen have appeared utterly untroubled by an Aussie attack that has spectacularly failed to live up to advance billing, while their irresistible bowlers have been all over a batting line-up that simply seems ill-equipped to survive for long in English conditions.

As for the matter at hand, the thought of reaching the top of one-day cricket may have been utterly ludicrous when they limped home from last year’s ICC World Cup quarter-final defeat by Sri Lanka in Colombo, their mediocre performances persuading captain Andrew Strauss to step aside gracefully.

Then, many agreed with former captain Michael Atherton’s assessment that the appointment of Alastair Cook, ‘a plodder with the bat and a donkey in the field’, may not be entirely the thing.

Today, however, Cook is captain of a side who have won six out of seven series, against Australia, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Ireland and Sri Lanka — and lost just one, in India. This was the latest in a run of wins to set a new record of nine consecutive victories in completed ODIs. The Bell toils: Ian Bell scored a classy 50

It stretched England’s winning run in home ODI series to seven going back to 2009, when Ashes victory was followed by a 6-1 hammering.

Their fifth ODI win out of five completed matches this summer was achieved once again without Kevin Pietersen, considered by many to be the best white-ball batsman in the world, who made the decision never again to play for England in this form of the game.

Ian Bell, pushed up to the top of the order to fill the hole, underlined how little they have missed KP with another classy innings of 69, featuring nine fours from 94 balls, to add to innings of 126 and 53 against West Indies and 41 and 75 against Australia. It took his total to 364 at an average of 72.80.

By the time Bell departed, for chopping on a short ball from Clint McKay at 136 for two in pursuit of 201 to win, most of the hard work was done. Jonathan Trott (64) and Ravi Bopara (33) ensured it was  finished with the minimum of fuss. Rock solid: Jonathan Trott saw England through to the end

Cook’s most vital contribution was to win the toss and stick Australia in on a pitch that was never as tricky as Michael Clarke’s batsmen made it look, but which England’s pace attack exploited to the full.

Steven Finn was the pick of them, earning the man-of-the-match award for his impressive mix of pace, aggression and control.

The 6ft 7in paceman took four for 37, was twice on a hat-trick and presented a case for inclusion in the Test series against South Africa, starting in 11 days, that the England management will do well to resist.

First, he had David Warner and Peter Forrest lbw in successive balls to leave Australia six for two in the sixth over. Then he returned to beat captain Clarke for pace and have Matthew Wade brilliantly caught behind by Craig Kieswetter as they slumped to 96 for six. In the wickets: Ravi Bopara bowled George Bailey

Had England caught all their catches, Australia might have struggled to make three figures, such was their cluelessness against the moving ball. James Anderson’s two wickets meant he became the second Englishman after Ian Botham to go past 500 in all forms of international cricket. On another day he might have had 500 more!

That Finn is fifth in the Test pecking order is a measure of England’s extraordinary strength in depth, added to here by Bopara, who produced the ball of the day to bowl George Bailey, pitching on leg and middle before clipping the off-bail.

With another useful innings, Bopara has put his name ahead of Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow for the No 6 Test spot.

And England are on the verge of being the best at every format of international cricket, with match-winning bowlers to spare.

Where will it all end? Look out behind you: Aussie opener David Warner leaves the field after being bowled by Tim Bresnan






Steven Finn helps England beat Australia in fourth ODI





