Australia vs England, tri-series Final at Perth: Glenn Maxwell’s all-round show, James Faulkner’s blitz, and other highlights

Australia decimated England to win the final of the tri-series at Perth thanks to a terrific batting performance backed up by a clinical display with the ball. Glenn Maxwell put in a super all-round show, while James Faulkner played a gem of an innings down the order. Shiamak Unwalla looks at some of the highlights from the match.

Glenn Maxwell’s big show: There is a reason Glenn Maxwell is called ‘The Big Show.’ He has the ability to turn the match on its head in any capacity: as batsman, bowler, or fielder. On the day of the big final, he changed the complexion of the game in all conceivable ways. Coming in at 46 for three — which was soon 60 for four — Maxwell played an innings of remarkable restraint. He chose to forgo his usual belligerent sixes, and played instead with a straight bat. Only once he went past his fifty, he started to open up and unleashed a barrage of the usual reverse sweeps and ramp shots, but it was an innings that showed he could be patient and play a long innings. His 98-ball 95 will perhaps go down as his best ODI innings yet.

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One would think that playing such a reserved innings would be enough, but Maxwell wasn’t done for the night. Jos Buttler — batting positively on 17 — reverse-swept him into the hands of the fielder, while Chris Woakes was out next ball. Stuart Broad and Ravi Bopara soon followed as well. Maxwell finished with four wickets, and took a couple of catches to boot. All-in-all, it was a neat performance.

Mitchell Marsh packs a punch: Mitchell Marsh has shown his batting prowess repeatedly in the shorter formats of the game. He came in to bat with Australia in dire straits at 60 for four, and showed maturity beyond his years. He was content working the ball around for ones and twos, but capitalised the moment a loose ball came his way. Had he not been run out late in the innings, Australia could well have crossed 300. As it happened, he lit up his home ground with seven fours and a six en route to a neat 60 off 68 balls.

James Faulkner, finisher extraordinaire: Why James Faulkner bats at No. 8 for Australia in ODIs remains a mystery. The man averages over 48 at a strike rate of over 111. The batsman with the next highest average in the side is George Bailey, who averages 41 with a strike rate of 86.66. The difference is staggering! Granted that Faulkner comes in at the end of the innings and tends to enjoy a lot of not-outs, but a case can doubtless be made for him to bat ahead of Brad Haddin at the least.

Faulkner once again proved that he has all the makings of taking over from Shane Watson as Australia’s No. 1 all-rounder with another explosive finishing touch. Coming in at 217 for six in the 44th over, Faulkner smashed four fours and four sixes to end unbeaten on a 24-ball 50, taking Australia past 275 when at one point they were struggling to get to 250.

Mitchell Johnson breathes fire: Josh Hazlewood dismissed Ian Bell early, but at 35 for one England were still very much in the game. Then came Mitchell Johnson spewing fire and brimstone. First it was James Taylor, playing a loose drive straight to Maxwell; then it was Moeen Ali, keeping the ball from hitting his throat and edging behind to Aaron Finch in the process; and one ball later it was Eoin Morgan, leaving a ball that crashed into off-stump.  In less than two overs from Johnson, England were reduced to 46 for four. And unlike against India, England could not forge a recovery, as Australia romped home without a sweat.

 (Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and cricket fanatic. You can follow him on Twitter @ShiamakUnwalla)