Friday 4 September 2015 07:32, UK
England will rue a number of missed opportunities after losing the first one-day international to Australia by 59 runs at the Ageas Bowl, says Michael Holding.
Eoin Morgan's side looked well-set at 112-1 after being set 306 to win by the world champions, but lost their last eight wickets for 94 runs to finish 246 all out off 45.3 overs.
Jason Roy's wicket proved key - the Surrey opener caught at point off Glenn Maxwell's fifth ball after hitting 67 off 64 balls; thereafter England fell away despite James Taylor's 49.
"At 150-2, England were looking quite good because the top order was going well," reflected Holding.
"I think Jason Roy will be a little bit disappointed with the way he got out because although you can say others perhaps got out when they perhaps they should have carried on, England had just lost a wicket.
"He could have been thinking 'OK, it's my time - let me bat on for as long as I possibly can'.
"Even so there were still opportunities for England but then there was that flurry of wickets and when you lose three wickets on the same score, it's pretty difficult."
Wade batted well
Australia suffered a middle-order collapse of their own - slumping from 164-2 to 193-6 as leg-spinner Adil Rashid returned 4-59.
However, the innings was revived by an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 112 between Matthew Wade (71no) and Mitchell Marsh (40no).
The partnership dragged Australia past the 300 mark and Holding told Sky Sports that Wade should be praised for his innings, rather than Morgan blamed for his inability to break the stand.
"It's pretty difficult to put your finger on anything specifically that England could have done differently, to be honest.
"I can't really say that Eoin Morgan or the England team really did anything badly - I think Matthew Wade batted well.
"I still don't think Mitchell Marsh batted as well as he can bat because I saw him put a lot of energy and effort into those shots which didn't go anywhere - he wasn't timing the ball very well."
New format
The contest was the first ODI in England to be played under the new fielding restrictions which allow five players to stay outside the 30-yard circle between overs 41-50.
Holding's fellow Sky Sports pundit Sir Ian Botham said he felt the new playing conditions should have the net effect of encouraging bowlers to attempt more yorkers.
"I think the yorker is the way to go because it's so hard to hit sixes off them, no matter who you are," he reflected.
"The odd one might end up being a length ball and go, but the majority of the time, it's tough to get away.
"England are lucky in the 'death bowling' department because they have Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes who have done it well in the past. With this new format you want guys who can hit the base of middle stump or crush a few feet."
Watch England take on Australia in the second ODI at Lord's from 10am this Saturday on Sky Sports 2.
