THE WHITEWASH

 Image Credit – ESPN CricInfo.

Venue – Old Trafford, Manchester [June 24, 2018].

In the summer of 2018, the Australian cricket team toured England to play 5 ODIs and one T20 International. At the end of 4 ODIs the English were leading the series 4-0, and the clouds of a whitewash were looming before the visitors – something which had never happened before. The final ODI thus became a matter of prestige for the Aussies now.

Interestingly, on a bright sunny day in Manchester, it was Australian captain Tim Paine who won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a batting paradise. The decision turned out to be a good one as the visitors got off to a flyer with Travis Head and Aaron Finch striking aggressively. Head scored a quickfire 56 off 42 deliveries as the Aussies got past the 50-run mark in no time. However, the hosts made a strong comeback in the later overs as they pushed the Aussies to a backfoot by picking up wickets at regular intervals. Moreover, apart from Head, no other Australian batsman could cross the 50-run mark as the visitors were bowled out for just 205 runs in 34.4 overs. The good start provided by the opens had been wasted again. Furthermore, it appeared that the English would chase down the target in no time, and the whitewash would be complete.

But mind you, this is cricket. A game of surprises and uncertainty. The English got off to the worst possible start as the Aussies demolished the top order in no time. The hosts were reeling at 114/8 when Adil Rashid joined Buttler in the middle. The game was on a knife-edge. A couple more wickets and the match would have been over. But this is when Jos Buttler rose to the occasion and scored a majestic 110* off 122 deliveries and took his side home. It is pertinent to note that Buttler had a dual task to perform. Firstly, he was the main batsman who was required to score the majority of runs. Secondly, he needed to make sure that Rashid and Jake Ball faced a minimal number of deliveries. It was truly a batting masterclass by one of the finest English batsmen. However, one also needs to praise Rashid for his well-composed 20 of 47 deliveries in the partnership of 81 runs with Buttler.

It was that important ninth-wicket partnership of Rashid and Buttler which brought the hosts back into the game. However, at one stage it appeared that the Aussies would chip in again when Rashid got dismissed. Fortunate enough, Jake Ball survived 10 deliveries as Buttler hit the winning runs. The crowd in Manchester erupted in joy as the impossible had happened – the Aussies had been whitewashed.

Jos Buttler was awarded the player of the match award for his exceptional hundred at Old Trafford. Moreover, after eight years the knock has attained the status of a classic. One of the best ODI innings played on English soil. 

To watch the Highlights of the match, Click Here.