Steve Smith was seen uttering words in the middle of his innings that should be a very concerning sight for Australia's opposition this summer.
Australia has secured a comfortable six-wicket victory over England at Adelaide Oval on Thursday evening to get Pat Cummins’ reign as national 50-over skipper off to the perfect start.
A classy century from David Malan helped the understrength visitors register 9/287 in the first innings, but Australia chased the target with 19 balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
The run chase was headlined by an explosive partnership between David Warner and Travis Head, who are quickly shaping up as Australia’s strongest opening duo for next year’s World Cup in India.
Steve Smith was the ice-man in the final overs of the run chase and his performance is a beautiful sight at the start of a long summer of cricket.
The 33-year-old looked pristine at the crease, finding gaps and rotating the strike as he combined with Warner for a 53-run partnership to put the hosts within touching distance of the target.
Smith slowly steered Australia towards the finish line, finishing unbeaten on 80.
The Fox Cricket TV cameras captured the glorious moment Smith made a statement that will scare the tourists this summer.
The former Test captain was seen uttering the words "I'm back baby" as he spoke with Warner early in his innings.
His comment had Aussie cricket great Michael Hussey laughing in the commentary box.
I'm back, baby! #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/7pLXABkUQy
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 17, 2022
Warner and Head currently average 98.60 when opening the batting together in ODIs.
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"We both play quite similar, we take the game on," Warner told reporters after the victory.
"We like to go aerial, that's the way that we play.
"Hopefully we can continue that success. It's great."
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc got Australia’s series off to a flyer, taking three wickets in a damaging new-ball spell during the Powerplay.
The Australian quicks relentlessly peppered a good length, beating both edges of the bat as England, who had rested several of their first-choice players for the series opener, crumbled to 3/31 in the eighth over.
Marcus Stoinis removed the dangerous Sam Billings just before the drinks break with an impeccable off-cutter that flew through the gap and crashed into middle stump.
England captain Jos Buttler and Malan set about reviving the innings, combining for a 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket before leg-spinner Adam Zampa dismissed the rival skipper in the 24th over.
Malan scored 134 from 128 balls to single-handedly rescue England, who at one stage were reeling a 4/66, continuing his remarkable run of form in the 50-over format. The 35-year-old averages 64.71 with the bat after 10 ODIs.
Malan reached his half-century in 64 deliveries, picking up the tempo after passing the minor milestone, but the left-hander couldn’t find anyone to support him at the other end.
Liam Dawson was run out by an Ashton Agar direct hit after horrifically misjudging a quick single before Zampa trapped T20 World Cup champion Chris Jordan on the back pad plumb LBW.
Malan brought up his second ODI century in the 40th over, saluting the modest crowd before continuing the classy onslaught.
He combined with David Willey for a demoralising 60-run partnership for the eighth wicket before Zampa dismissed the centurion in the 46th over, caught by Agar at long-on.
The Australians were guilty of spilling a couple of chances in the final 10 overs, with Starc botching a return catch before local hero Travis Head put down a regulation chance at deep fine leg.
Zampa (3/55 from 10 overs) and Cummins (3/62 from 10 overs) were the pick of the bowlers, while Willey finished unbeaten on 34 (40) in a crucial cameo at the death.
Warner and Head quickly set about demolishing England’s second-choice bowling attack, uniting for a 147-run stand to put Australia in a commanding position.
The dynamic left-handers scored 65 runs during the Powerplay before accelerating once the fielding restrictions were lifted, racing towards their third century partnership in ODI cricket.
Overpitched deliveries were slapped through the covers, while any attempted bouncers were thumped towards the venue’s famously short square boundaries.
In the seventh over, Warner somehow managed to sweep left-arm seamer Willey over fine leg for six.
“That is a ridiculous shot,” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket commentary.
Head departed in the 20th over, caught on the mid-wicket boundary rope for 69 (57), but that only brought Steve Smith to the middle.
But Willey didn’t make it easy for the Australians, sending Warner and Marnus Labuschagne back to the sheds in quick succession.
Warner (86 off 84 balls) fell agonisingly short of breaking his century drought, which extends back 66 knocks to January 2020.
The run rate dipped considerably as Australia approached the target, with Smith struggling to find the boundary rope following Warner’s departure.
But with the help of wicketkeeper Alex Carey and all-rounder Cameron Green, Smith pushed Australia over the line.
The second ODI between Australia and England gets underway at the SCG on Saturday afternoon, with the first delivery scheduled for 2.20pm AEDT.
Don't think that will be the last time Dave Warner and Steve Smith score bulk runs this summer. #AUSvENG
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) November 17, 2022
Nothing like watching Steve Smith do what he does best ðŸ˜#AUSvENG
— Rupin Kale (@Vegansportlover) November 17, 2022
Marnus Labuschagne's stay at the crease was a brief one, with David Willey removing the Australian for 4.
The left-armer's full delivery caught the outside edge, with England skipper Jos Buttler taking a classy catch low to his right.
Alex Carey joins Steve Smith in the middle.
Buttler takes a ripper! #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/qfOjdEEvZa
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 17, 2022
The drought continues.
David Warner has fallen short of a 19th ODI century, removed by David Willey in the 29th over for 86.
The left-hander pulled a short ball towards Sam Billings at deep square leg, who claimed a smart catch low to the turf.
Warner has not scored a century in international cricket since January 2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Marnus Labuschagne joins Steve Smith in the middle.
Good catch by Billings and that's the end of Warner.#AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/yIHAz1v68K
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 17, 2022
David Warner’s century drought continues.
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) November 17, 2022
Getting scores is no problem: Nine of them over 70 since his last international ton in January 2020!
But nothing in three figures. #AUSvENG
All good things must come to an end.
Travis Head's entertaining cameo has drawn to a close, with Chris Jordan removing the Australian opener for 69 in the 20th over.
The left-handee slapped Jordan towards deep mid-wicket, where Phil Salt claimed a regulation catch on the boundary rope.
Steve Smith joins David Warner in the middle.
He was stuck on 49 for a while, but David Warner has brought up his 27th ODI fifty.
The left-hander reached the milestone in just 44 deliveries, slapping seven boundaries and a six.
Soon after, Warner's opening partnership with Travis Head passed 100.
David Warner's renewed partnership with Travis Head is off to a flyer, with the duo combining for a fifty-run opening stand at Adelaide Oval.
The duo reached the minor milestone in the eighth over, getting Australia's run chase off to the perfect start.
In the seventh over, Warner somehow managed to sweep England paceman David Willey over fine leg for six.
“That is a ridiculous shot,” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket commentary.
Outrageous!#AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/6Sk6vKiI9a
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 17, 2022
Ashton Agar, take a bow.
The Australian spinner has saved five runs with an "unbelievable" piece of fielding on the boundary rope.
England centurion Dawid Malan slapped a Pat Cummins short ball towards deep mid-wicket, where Agar was perched on the rope.
The West Australian leapt in the air and caught the ball with an outstretched hand, only to flick the Kookaburra back into play before landing over the boundary.
OMG Ashton Agar 😮 What a save!#AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/fsQEqsrDTo
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 17, 2022
It may not have created a wicket, but Agar's athleticism stunned the Fox Cricket commentary team.
"That’s crazy, that is crazy," Australian legend Adam Gilchrist said.
"That is modern cricket at its finest, what a play from Ashton Agar."
Former Australian batter Mark Waugh continued: "That's an unbelievable bit of fielding."
Agar having an all-time afternoon in the field #AUSvENG
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) November 17, 2022
Magnificent from Ashton Agar #AUSvENG
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) November 17, 2022
Dawid Malan has brought up his second ODI century, reaching the milestone in 107 deliveries.
It's been a classy knock from the left-hander, playing a lone hand to save England after an early collapse at Adelaide Oval.
Adam Zampa has another, removing England's Chris Jordan with a flatter, faster delivery that crashed into the back pad.
A desperate review couldn't save the Englishman.
That'll do for Adam Zampa! #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/RFcbIKcynl
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 17, 2022
Liam Dawson has been run out after horrifically misjudging a quick single, with Ashton Agar nailing the direct hit from point.
No chance of a single there. An absolute brain fade from the Englishman.
"That was magnificent fielding from Ashton Agar," former Australian batter Michael Hussey said on Fox Cricket commentary.
T20 World Cup champion Chris Jordan is the new man in the middle.
Nailed. It.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 17, 2022
Live #AUSvENG: https://t.co/7Fzc5P5yd2 pic.twitter.com/nr6iV8aNHE
Bizarre attempt at a single by Dawson/Malan ends badly, as Agar throws down the stumps at the non-striker's end. Dawson out for 11, and England – 158 for 6 off 30.2 – may struggle to survive 50 overs here.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) November 17, 2022
England No. 3 Dawid Malan has brought up his third ODI half-century, reaching the minor milestone in 64 deliveries.
Some of these Malan shots have been a joy to watch. Serious class. #AUSvENG
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) November 17, 2022
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