ESPNcric info Report
England 251 (Duckett 59, Dawson 44*, Couch 4-47, Morris 3-29) beat Western Australia 159 (Wasley 41, Rashid 4-35, Archer 3-34) by 92 runs
Skipper Harry Brook whacked a mighty blow that landed in the WACA ground’s new outdoor pool in a highlight for an England batting line-up that mostly struggled on a fast and bouncy surface. But England’s attack hit back to knock over Western Australia for 159 and claim a comfortable 92-run victory in the one-day tour match.
After winning the toss in warm conditions, England were bowled out for a seemingly under-par 251 from 48 overs in a sloppy effort to start their white-ball tour. Opener Ben Duckett top-scored with 59 off 66 balls while Liam Dawson made an unbeaten 44 from No. 8 to boost their total after losing 4 for 40.
Duckett was the only batter in the top six to reach 30, as WA’s quicks consistently troubled England with short-pitched bowling. Lance Morris bent his back and hit speeds of 145kph/90mph, finishing with 3 for 29 off 10 overs in his long-awaited return after being sidelined with injuries since early 2025.
But England’s attack relished the conditions, too, with quick Jofra Archer setting the tone in his comeback after being rested from the tri-series in Pakistan. He finished with 3 for 34 off eight overs as WA were bowled out in 32.3 overs.
England’s attack boasted spinners Dawson and Adil Rashid in the 12-a-side contest. After being overlooked for three of the ODIs in Pakistan, Rashid gave the hierarchy something to ponder with 4 for 35 off 7.3 overs. Dawson went wicketless, but bowled tidily in addition to his earlier efforts with the bat.
In conditions that should be similar to next week’s ODI opener at Optus Stadium, England undoubtedly had a more suitable warm-up compared to the Ashes tour 12 months ago when they opted for an intra-squad match on a slow surface at Lilac Hill, a suburban ground on Perth’s fringes.
The game attracted 5055 fans, the biggest crowd at the WACA ground since the 2017-18 summer before men’s Tests and BBL games were moved to the nearby Optus Stadium. There was plenty of nostalgia swirling at the revamped ground, which now boasts an aquatic area marked by water slides in the terraces.
Brook decided to bat when the coin fell in his favour, with England sticking with the successful opening partnership of Duckett and Tom Banton. It meant that Jacob Bethell missed out on selection after returning from a knee injury, perhaps an indication of the hierarchy’s plans ahead of the ODI series. Bethell and Will Jacks are joint vice-captains for this tour.
All eyes were on Mahli Beardman, the exciting young quick poised to make his ODI debut in the series-opener. Beardman, 21, unfurled rapid pace to test England’s openers during a hostile four-over spell with the new ball.
Duckett took a liking to left-arm quick Jordan Quiggin, smashing the game’s first six with a mighty blow over deep midwicket. Morris replaced Quiggin in the eighth over and celebrated his return with gusto by having Banton edging to slip.
Morris had announced himself as a raw tearaway by bowling a very short and wide delivery to Joe Root in a warm-up game at the WACA during the 2017-18 Ashes tour. He produced a better effort here when he beat Root for pace to start an absorbing battle.
Root eased himself in by manipulating the field for singles in trademark style. But taking on a Morris short ball backfired, top-edging to fine-leg where Beardman took a superb catch low to the ground.
A fired-up Morris whacked a short-of-length delivery into the thigh of Duckett, who briefly limped around but continued at the crease. Brook decided to put the foot down and whacked three consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Ashton Agar.
The day before he had mused about being the first player to hit a ball into the massive 50-metre outdoor pool since the aquatic facility opened earlier this year. His wish was fulfilled much to the delight of the fans sitting nearby. It wasn’t quite flush, with the ball bouncing off the concrete and into the pool, fortunately not striking those obliviously going about their laps.
Brook completely mistimed a slog sweep off the next ball, but Brody Couch fumbled at long-on. Agar was left even more frustrated when Brook smacked another six as he raced to 24 off 14 balls.
But Brook nicked off Couch in ungainly fashion after skipping down the wicket before Duckett miscued a sweep to gift offspinner Will Malajczuk a wicket.
Jacks and Dawson produced a much-needed 59-run seventh-wicket partnership with both batters taking the long handle to Agar, who copped a beating to finish with 0 for 64 off 10 overs.
In reply, WA were dealt a blow when Joel Curtis was caught behind after Archer produced a pearler of a delivery that reared off the surface and kissed the bat.
Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman, long-time opening partners in the Shield, blunted the new ball in a steadying partnership.
After being in the spotlight again following Usman Khawaja’s revelations over the sandpaper saga, Bancroft seemed determined to shut out the external noise until on 32 he fell on the pull shot to seamer Jamie Overton, who soon dismissed Whiteman as well.
WA’s hopes sank when Rashid tore through the middle-order, including dismissing Jayden Goodwin and skipper Ashton Turner on consecutive deliveries.
Archer returned to pick up a couple of late wickets as England celebrated a successful start to their tour.
