Australia eye 13-0 sweep of England. Why not? says Glenn Maxwell
After routing England 5-0 in the Test series, Australia are targeting a sweep of the five-match ODI series and the three T20s that follow.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: January 13, 2014 02:07 PM IST
Australia's soaring confidence in the ongoing series against England is raising visions of an incredible 13-nil sweep. After Australia defeated England by six wickets in the first ODI in Melbourne on Sunday, Glenn Maxwell feels "drained" England is just ripe enough to be crushed. England lost the Ashes Test series 5-0. The five-match ODI series will be followed by three T20 internationals.
"Hopefully, we can keep our foot on the throat and keep them to 10-0 and hopefully take them in the T20s as well," said Maxwell, who feels a sweep is not improbable. "The way the side is at the moment and the confidence around the group and the way the England team looked a little bit yesterday...They looked a little bit drained, looked a bit tired. I think they're still carrying a little bit of the effects from the Ashes."
A superb century from opener Aaron Finch helped Australia to a comprehensive six-wicket win over England in the first one-day international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. After being dropped by Gary Ballance when he was on eight, Finch continued to blast 121 runs from 128 balls as Australia won with 4.2 overs to spare.
Finch rode his luck early in his innings but quickly seized control, racing to 50 from just 47 balls and outpacing opening partner David Warner. Finch and Warner put on a record 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.
The Aussies are definitely on Cloud Nine. "Yeah definitely. It's nice to come in when everyone's on the back of a 5-0 Ashes win," Maxwell said. "The feeling around the dressing room, it's a great feeling. It's a bit like the Melbourne Stars' dressing room after we've just won six in-a-row. Hopefully we can keep winning because last year there wasn't a lot to cheer about."
Game two is in Brisbane on Friday.