Ashes battle starts in earnest

Australia and England compete in the 3000th one-day international as the first Australian Muslim player is selected for the Test squad.

Much has changed in the near 40-year history of one-day international (ODI) cricket. England and Australia, the two countries who initially concocted the format as an attempt to appease the cricket-loving public of a rain-sodden Melbourne in 1971, played out the 3,000th official ODI yesterday. How different the canvas is now. Back then, Geoff Boycott, the famously watchful opening batsman, led the England effort with a stodgy eight runs from 37 balls. By contrast, Craig Kieswetter, the new England opener, would have considered his own effort of 38 from 44 deliveries last night as somewhat tardy. The first match was played in the white flannels which are now solely confined to Test cricket. Meanwhile, the one-day game today is a riot of colour, with a white cricket ball used for matches played under floodlights. It is not just the game of cricket which is now played in glorious technicolour. The world is also a different place, as evidenced by the fact Australia also chose yesterday to announce the selection of their first Muslim player. Usman Khawaja was born in Islamabad yet grew up in Sydney. He has been handed a place in the Australia Test squad to play against the country of his birth in the forthcoming series on neutral territory in England. What is more, Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, also resides in Australia. He believes Khawaja's selection is a positive sign for cricket. "I am sure if he performs well it will encourage other Pakistanis living and playing in Australia, because the system there is good for players," Waqar told AFP. "He plays like the Australians do and it is great to see someone from Pakistan breaking into the world's best team." Khawaja's elevation is indicative of the mood of transition pervading Australian cricket. They gave a debut to their youngest player in limited-overs cricket yesterday in the form of Josh Hazlewood, a 19-year-old fast-bowler. However, it was a member of the older guard who led the way with the bat against England. Even though he was still some way short of his fluent best, Michael Clarke, Australia's vice-captain, showed signs of a return to form as he top-scored for the tourists. Coming in to the game, Clarke had visited more countries - two, England and Ireland - on tour so far than he had scored runs, having bagged two ducks in the warm-up matches. Yet he proved the adage that class is permanent by anchoring the Australia innings, and he made his highest score in a one-day international in England in the process. His unbeaten 87, made from 97 balls, was the bedrock of an otherwise staccato effort from the touring side, which eventually tallied 267 for seven. Shane Watson, Australia's player of the year for 2009, was the next best with a quick-fire 32, but he was lucky to get that far. England managed to restrict the Australians to a below-average total, despite being below their best in the field. They dropped Watson once, and he also escaped two close lbw shouts during his 26-ball stay. Tim Paine, the wicketkeeper, also had a life when Jimmy Anderson, who ranks as arguably the most adroit fielder of all the world's fast-bowlers, surprisingly shelled him. However, there was no damage done, as Luke Wright bowled the young wicketkeeper off the next ball he faced. It was the first ball of Wright's spell, and the start of a good day for him. The Sussex all-rounder, whose importance to the England cause is growing by the game, was the pick of the home side's bowlers as he ended with two wickets for 34. [e-mail]