Aaron Finch said there was no danger that Australia would take England’s challenge lightly despite cruising to a comfortable six-wicket victory in the opening one-day international on Sunday in Melbourne.
Australia whitewashed England 5-0 in the Ashes Test series and continued their dominance in the shorter form with Finch smashing 121 as England’s 269 for seven was overhauled with just four wickets down and with 26 balls to spare.
But Finch was keen to point out it had not been an easy encounter.
“They are a quality one-day side and we saw even if they lost a couple of wickets up front they were still able to get 270 and attack quite hard at the back end,” he said.
“They are third in the rankings – you don’t get to that level by not being good. They are an outstanding side.
“To start the series so well, with the bat especially, was nice to continue the momentum that the Test side have created.”
Finch rode his luck early in his innings but quickly seized control, racing to 50 from 47 balls and outpacing opening partner David Warner.
Finch and Warner put on 163 for the opening wicket but not without some controversy.
Warner was given a reprieve by the television umpire when he was on 22 despite the Australian opener accepting that a low catch claimed by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler had carried.
Warner, who had walked to the boundary, was recalled to the middle and went on to make 65.
Alastair Cook, the England captain, said: “It might be my English eyes on it but I thought it was a pretty clean catch.
“It hit his fingers and bounced up. I only saw it a couple of times on the big screen and I thought it was the wrong decision.
As to England’s latest setback, Cook said: “It’s tough when you keep losing games of cricket to keep confidence up.
“We just need to somehow stop the rot. It’s amazing then how quickly it can turn around.”
The second ODI in the five-match series is in Brisbane on Friday.
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