Understated George Bailey innings vital to Australia’s win over England

Osman Samiuddin explains why the measured innings by George Bailey, although not as headline-grabbing as Aaron Finch, was crucial to Australia's Cricket World Cup victory over England.

George Bailey plays a shot on his way to a 69-ball 55 against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Shaun Botterill / Getty Images

Think about what George Bailey’s 55 on Saturday means for every other team through the rest of the tournament.

There is absolutely no reason to remember the innings even now, less than 24 hours old. Aaron Finch’s chillingly controlled 135 will steal most of the headlines of Australia’s thumping opening-day win over England.

Glenn Maxwell’s electric 66 will hoover up some of the remaining space, maybe alongside Mitchell Marsh’s five wickets. Someone will no doubt have a long moan at the little umpiring gaffe that ended the game because what is a game of cricket without a moan at an umpire?

Whatever is left might be devoted – and deservedly – to England’s poor James Taylor and his cute bit of futile resistance, stretched out until the very end.

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Bailey? The Australian captain Bailey, no less? His 55 will likely be lost among the hyperbole of Australia’s performance. It was a thoroughly unfashionable innings for a start, no great thrust, no great power.

He can create both when in form, as James Anderson will remember. During the last Ashes, Bailey took the England bowler for 28 in a single over. But form has been the problem. He looked out of sync even on Saturday, but he pushed himself on to only a second fifty in his last 15 ODI innings.

Of much greater importance was that he held off what could have turned into decisive English momentum. Wickets had fallen quickly, Bailey was out of form, another wicket at that point could have changed the game.

If not Bailey, it is highly probable somebody would have rescued Australia. That, after all, is the whole point of Australia, that even if the Apocalypse was heading their way, they would at least be keeping the run-rate high.

But it was Bailey who steadied the ship. He was in such poor form that on Friday he said he was pretty sure he would be dropped once Michael Clarke returns to the XI.

“It’s a pretty basic equation,” he said. “What will be, will be.” He was asked what he could do to save his place and he said: “I don’t think I probably will [keep my place] but that’s fine.”

Bailey has always been an outlier in the tradition of Australian cricketers. By debuting as captain, he jarred the age-old Australianism of picking the best XI and appointing a captain from within.

Though he has been a regular around the limited overs set up he has never felt an intrinsic part of it, in the absence of whom Australia might flounder. He may not play in the next game.

But think about what it means that Bailey has played this innings, this most Australian innings, that first quelled disaster and then set them up for the launch.

If that is what the weakest link in a red-hot XI is capable of doing – and follow it with being happy to be dropped for a better player – then good luck trying to get past that side.

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