England vs Australia 2018: 5 Talking Points from 2nd ODI

Continuing the trend from the series opener at The Oval, England and Australia produced another close contest in the second ODI in Cardiff. Despite a commendable fightback from the Australian batsmen, the hosts clinched the key moments to eke out a 38-run triumph.

Eoin Morgan's back spasm provided an opportunity for Jos Buttler to take up leadership duties. Following opener Jason Roy's resplendent century, the stand-in skipper led from the front by punishing the Australian bowlers in the death overs.

Chasing a mammoth 343, Shaun Marsh's 116-ball 131 took the visitors quite close to the target. When the game was in the balance, Liam Plunkett's astute spell wrested the initiative towards England who consequently procured a 2-0 lead in the series. Here are some key points of discussion from the fascinating encounter at the Sophia Gardens.

---

#5 Patient Roy lays solid platform

Jason Roy paced his innings to perfection

With Billy Stanlake's ferocious pace scything through his defence at The Oval, Jason Roy would have breathed a sigh of relief at the prospect of the tall fast bowler's injury-enforced absence. A short and wide one from Kane Richardson served as an ideal delivery for the opener to get into the groove.

Even as Jonny Bairstow began to impose himself on the Australian bowlers through some belligerent stroke-play, Roy operated sensibly by ensuring that his batting partner hogged most of the strike. When the opening stand was broken in the ninth over, he gradually started to take control of the proceedings.

Roy had his fair share of luck. A more aggressive captain might not have kept the slip cordon vacant when an edge evaded a sprawling Tim Paine. The intermittent rain breaks did not seem to affect the right-hander's momentum. By the time he was dismissed in the 36th over, he had scored a well-compiled century and set the platform for the lower middle-order.

#4 Rampant Buttler reiterates glowing reputation

Jos Buttler showcased his pyrotechnics in the closing stages of the innings

Considering that the experienced MS Dhoni has been a shadow of his former self in recent times, Jos Buttler possesses the indisputable reputation of being the best finisher in the current limited-overs circuit. Buoyed by the additional responsibility of captaincy, the dynamic wicket-keeper batsman consolidated England's surge by leading from the front during the most crucial phase of the innings.

Australia struck wickets in the death overs and appeared to limit the damage caused until then. However, Buttler dented the visitors' hopes of restricting England to a manageable total. He combined innovation with calculated stroke-play. The successive sixes off Jhye Richardson stamped his ability to use the crease to devastating effect. The 27-year old remained unbeaten in the end to lift his team to a formidable total.

#3 Moeen exploits Short's weakness

D'Arcy Short had a forgettable ODI debut

It is not often that a batsman's limitations become quite apparent on debut. Playing his maiden ODI, D'Arcy Short did not look too comfortable against Moeen Ali's stifling off-breaks. The southpaw, who had played just five T20Is prior to entering the ODI scene, tried to negate the semblance of turn by hanging on the back foot.

When he would have been well served by coming forward to the slightly shorter delivery from Moeen, his faulty ploy ended with a straightforward catch to slip. Short is considered to be among Australia's most promising limited-overs batsmen. But his struggles against spin, at both IPL and international level, does not bode well for his immediate future. After all, word does get around quickly in the modern game.

#2 Valiant Marsh makes a mark

Shaun Marsh registered his first ODI century in almost five years

Since making his ODI debut in 2008, Shaun Marsh has managed to feature in only 54 matches in the 50-over format in his career thus far. Every member in the current Australian squad debuted in ODIs after the left-hander's arrival. While his proficiency at the highest level is not under question, he has often left selectors exasperated with his frustrating dismissals.

Marsh's ODI career may just have taken a turn for the better. On a reasonably docile track in Cardiff, he thrived even as the other Australian batsmen fell prey to rash decision-making. The 34-year old was dropped twice before he could reach the half-century mark.

But he rode his luck and converted his start into a purposeful century. Aside from his archetypal authoritative drives, he also rotated the strike with aplomb. Marsh's first ODI ton since 2013 should be a major positive for the team management at a time when the middle-order sports a feeble look to it.

#1 Plunkett produces game-changing spell

Liam Plunkett dismissed Tim Paine and Shaun Marsh in the space of three balls

Although the contemporary white-ball game has further skewed the balance between bat and ball in favour of the former, the importance of possessing a wicket-taking bowler came to the fore yet again. Often in the shadow of their explosive batting counterparts, England's bowlers have recently come under immense scrutiny for their lack of variety. However, it was a seamer who sealed victory this time around.

Operating with bustling pace, Liam Plunkett hit the deck hard to extract maximum leverage from the surface. After outclassing Marcus Stoinis, he returned in the death overs to turn the game in England's favour. With Australia needing 53 runs from their last five overs, the game seemed to be slipping away from the hosts' grasp.

Plunkett could have had Paine's scalp in the first ball of the 46th over. But Moeen Ali failed to cling on to a skier. The robustly-built pacer accounted for the Australian skipper off the very next delivery. He delivered the killer blow in the same over. When his well-disguised slower one castled centurion Marsh, the door was all but closed firmly on the tourists.