Australia v England: Batting blitz sets Aussies up for 221-run victory in front of empty MCG stadium

Travis Head and David Warner set the standard but it will be remembered more for the lowest MCG crowd ever to see a record-high ODI score as Australia demolished England.

An imperious 152 from World Cup lock Travis Head in a record-setting partnership with drought-breaker David Warner was a good deflection from the sad sight of empty MCG stands and the record-low crowd which watched Australia take England apart on Tuesday.

The paltry turnout of just 10,406, for the 150th ODI at the MCG no less, was the lowest ever attendance for an ODI at the MCG, less than 12,077 from a match in 1979, also against England.

Scattered indiscriminately around the vast colosseum the hardy fans did produce enthusiastic applause as Head rocked his arms in tribute to his new baby daughter after reaching triple figures as part of a stunning batting effort as he and Warner set all manner of records in their 269 run-stand which came in Australia’s 221-run romp.

Warner ended his own 1043-day drought of international hundreds and with his helmet-off, his traditional leap done and arms raised in triumph looked a man who thought “finally” despite already having 43 international hundreds on his brilliant career CV.

David Warner and teammate Travis Head now have the record of the greatest ever Australian opening partnership against England.

The sound of the ball rocketing off their bats to the boundary 30 times from Head, who didn’t field after becoming ill following his highest ODI score, and Warner who made 106 was as brilliant as the echo around the near-empty MCG which followed every shot was deflating.

The home side finished on a record 5-355, the highest score ever in an ODI at the MCG and England was all out for 142 in a painfully disinterested run-chase, which nearly included a hat-trick from Adam Zampa, as they eyed off their imminent return home.

It was an ugly end to a series which drew just over 46,000 people to three games and one played without context for anyone other than the players and one which, when combined with the mid-week scheduling in November, made the poor turnout expected.

But not to the degree it was, with no more than 1000 in their seats for the 2:20pm start time, no matter what any “official” figures floating around may have suggested.

Those who got in early witnessed a blossoming opening relationship created by the retirement of former captain Aaron Finch which looks to be Australia’s best choice for next year’s World Cup in India.

David Warner ends his 1043-day drought of international hundreds.

Australia's Travis Head on his way to 152 runs. Pictures: AFP

Head and Warner already boast the highest partnership in Australian ODI history – 284 scored against Pakistan in 2017 – made 147 in the opening game of this series and now they have the greatest ever Australian opening partnership against England.

They also combined for the highest ever partnership in an ODI at the MCG, for any team, beating a 20-year-old record when Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting put on 225 runs, in front of 34,887 people in 2002

Crowds of more than 80,000 filled the MCG three times during the recent T20 World Cup, but not when Australia was playing which drew questions about the locals being “on the nose” with fans.

That was denied on the eve of the match by Australian batting dynamo Marnus Labuschagne who pointed to the glut of cricket as a potential cause.

“I certainly don’t feel like there is a lack of interest in the Australian team,” he said.

“With that much cricket around, it’s a big cost for families to keep turning up.

“You’ve got the World Cup, Big Bash coming up, a five-Test series. Come Boxing Day it’s going to be a packed stadium with South Africa rolling in.”

Travis Head waves his bat to the small crowd after being dismissed for 152. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The average attendance for the only three other ODIs ever played at the MCG in November was just over 17,000 but for Cricket Australia the lack of a turnout required every bit of context available.

The series was already won, it was a Tuesday, it’s not school holidays yet and it was a bit cold.

The small turnout, however, meant less to the Australian players who have declared every match an important one 12 months out for a one-day World Cup.

For Head particularly every minute in the middle is of significance and the only spectators that mattered were the national selectors.

A small MCG crowd watches England take on Australia.

There is literally no one at the MCG. Shield games are better attended. The ODI game has died completely in this country if not a World Cup. Until they get back to tri-series and at a later date it will never recover.

— Wayne Bristow (@Wayne1609) November 22, 2022

THE DROUGHT IS OVER

Warner has not been short of runs in the nearly three years since his last international hundred but there was little doubt reaching triple figures was a monkey off his back.

It was his first hundred for Australia since January 2020, a month in which he scored both Test and ODI centuries.

Since then he’s been in the 90s twice in ODIs, even making 99 in Sri Lanka this year, and twice in Tests.

It was warner’s 19th ODI ton, putting him in outright second on the all-time list for Australia, behind only Ricky Ponting’s 29.

Cricket fans had no problems finding a seat at the MCG.

If an ODI is played at the MCG and nobody knows about, did it really happen?

— SERGIO 🇭🇲 (@SERG1O_D) November 22, 2022

England held up a T20 World Cup trophy in front of 80,462 fans at the MCG 9 days ago, they're back here today with not even a 1000 in the ground yet #AUSvENGpic.twitter.com/xvd1l5k1x0

— Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) November 22, 2022

BACK IN CHARGE

Australia resisted the urge to unleash wild thing Riley Meredith for the third and final clash, instead including Sean Abbott for spinner Ashton Agar, with captain Pat Cummins back in charge, taking the reins from Josh Hazlewood.

Eyebrows were raised when both Cummins opted to miss what would have bene just his second game in charge in Sydney last Saturday, but also with Hazlewood big preferred to Steve Smith as stand-in skipper.

EXHAUSTING DEMANDS FOR AUSSIES

Next year’s World Cup in India shapes as the potential end of an era for this Australian team, given the exhausting demands of the schedule makes it unrealistic for many senior players to continue in 50-over cricket.

There is still plenty of water to go under the bridge until any firm decisions are made, but it’s possible Tuesday’s dead rubber against England could be the last ever ODI outing in Australia for David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Marcus Stoinis.

For Warner, Starc, Smith, Cummins and Hazlewood it would be a fitting venue should it indeed be their last ODI on home soil, given it’s where they lifted the World Cup trophy in 2015.

Perhaps selectors will hope that a couple of those stars will forge on a little longer than the World Cup in 12 months’ time to help with a smoother transition, but unless a player is planning on battling through to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, then it seems an opportune time to usher in a new era.

Australia won’t play another ODI on home soil until January 2024 against the West Indies, and a handful of Australian stars have already begun to forecast the scaling back of playing all three formats.

“I don’t think playing three formats is something I can do for a long period of time moving forward now,” Starc said over the weekend.

“Not the way it’s scheduled these days. It’s certainly impossible at the moment to play every game as a three-format player.

“Tests always first (priority). Tests are far above white ball. I’ll decide on the rest as I go and where my body’s at and how I feel about it. I’d love to, selection and form pending, very much like to continue playing Test cricket as long as we can.”

Warner said last week that while he is shooting for the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup, this could be his final 12 months in Test cricket.

“Test cricket will probably be the first one to fall off,” Warner said on Triple M’s Deadset Legends.

“Because that’s how it will pan out. The T20 World Cup is in 2024, (one-day) World Cup next year.

“Potentially it could be my last 12 months in Test cricket.

“But I love the white-ball game. It’s amazing.”

Smith was half joking when he suggested back in September he might not play one-day cricket that much longer – but he would be 38 by the time a 2027 World Cup comes around.

“I’m getting old myself, so I’m probably the next one to retire,” he said earlier this year. “So we’ll see.”

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Originally published as Australia v England: Batting blitz sets Aussies up for 221-run victory in front of empty MCG stadium