England cruise to victory against Australia in T20 blast.

England cruise to victory against Australia in T20 blast.

England cruised to victory against their oldest foes Australia in the T20 blast with the most comprehensive victory you're ever likely to see. They won by six wickets and, quite frankly, England had hardly broke into a sweat from the beginning of this match to the end. In modern-day parlance this was both a breeze and a blast, a walk in the park and the game had been won well before the last Australian batsman had departed from the crease after another astonishing display of pace bowling from Jofra Archer and Mark Wood had left the Aussies reeling.

And yet for those who can still look back down the years at Sunday cricket as it used to be, then this might have come as a cultural shock. Way back then the John Player League on BBC Two had the privileged cameras for a Sunday afternoon of thrills and spills, pulsating run chases, meaty batting and menacing bowling. Sadly, those days have now been consigned to history, an age of gentleness and chivalry, politeness and generosity where the two captains and players never really took the game that seriously and everybody slapped each on the back in congratulation and kindly shook hands. But we would always embrace such qualities.

Besides the John Player League was all about winding down at Sunday lunchtime, waiting for Sunday lunch to digest before trotting out for a pavilion and taking it very easy. The John Player League seemed like a good excuse to just enjoy themselves. But of course there were teams who thrived on the competitiveness of the Sunday biff bash and slogfest because there may have been local pride at stake.

Today though marked a radical departure from the norm in as much that this was an international contest between the Ashes protagonists. Of course there was needle and rivalry in the air but you'd hardly expect anything less from England and Australia. There was an edge to this game, the fires of antagonism were burning and a firm resolution to get one over each other. At the end of the game there were the now regulation fist bumps and a whole load of mutual respect for each other.

Neither England nor Australia like losing and although the game itself had an end of season friendly feel Australia will privately feel that any defeat against England is somehow morally unacceptable and that explanations have to be given. Realistically though this was not the end of the world and cricket will always have its days of contrasting fortunes where one team will simply crack under the pressure while the other will lay out its picnic and just feast on a hearty appetite of runs.

When Australia were put into bat, you had a premonition that this was not the right day to open up the batting. The Ageas Bowl in Southampton would rarely have known days like this since it would have never witnessed the full splendour of the John Player League. Wherever you looked around the ground there were vast banks of unoccupied seats, a match completely devoid of any atmosphere and once again we had to experience the global pandemic that has stolen so much from today's sport.

From the moment David Warner carelessly sacrificed his wicket for no runs Australia were struggling and treading water frantically, flapping wildly and fearing the worst. After scratching out a meagre three runs Alex Carey was the next Australian batsman to fall on his sword, flailing outside off stump and nicking the ball for an easy England catch. Australia were three for two and grasping out for any kind of inspiration. None though was forthcoming and after painstakingly accumulating 30 runs the normally reliable and steady Aaron Finch was next to receive his marching orders.

By the time the Aussies had reached 79 it looked as if they'd stabilised the sinking ship. Steve Smith was recklessly run out following a rash call for a second run that had not been heeded. Then in a quick succession Glen Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis threw their wicket naively when caution should have been the watchword, Maxwell slashing at the ball and Stoinis caught at slip around the corner in quite the most humiliating fashion. Suddenly the Aussies were 132 for six in a whirlwind display of brutal English bowling that quite literally knocked the stuffing out of Australia.

When Australia lost their final wicket before completing their allotted 20 over ration, England were licking their lips with enormous relish at what they must have regarded as gross incompetence on the Aussies part. With only 157 to get for victory England went about their business with a very measured but ruthless batting attack from which there was no way back for Australia.

There were though one or two hiccups from the otherwise impregnable English batting. Jonny Bairstow, in presumably a rush of blood to the head, swung around fatally in an attempted hook and then discovered that he'd accidentally knocked off the bails. England were 19-1 but still full steam ahead. At the other end the majestic Joss Butler was comfortably taking up residence at the crease, rolling his wrists and powerfully pulling, cutting, reverse sweeping from time to time and looking very impressive.

Tom Banton, a young and spritely Somerset player had appeared to dig himself for a pleasing innings when even he must have sensed that there was something very lucrative in the pitch. Regrettably this was not to be the afternoon Banton might have been hoping it would be. He slogged the ball high into the air with an almost derring do, cavalier style that his county predecessor Sir Ian Botham may well have identified with. But the ball fell without quite the requisite power he must have been trying to apply. Banton was caught out quite simply and by the time Dawad Malan lofted the ball into the air for another comfortable catch from the Australian fieldsmen, England were almost home and hosed.

England were now 122 for three and they'd have been quite content to close their eyes so logical had their task had now become. 135- 4 would now become the most easily attainable winning total. Buttler was still reverse sweeping, swiping, driving handsomely and then spraying his shots around Southampton with gleeful abandon. Buttler reminded you of a ferocious bull determined to crash through a gate.

With well over two overs left for England to just tie up the loose ends, Buttler adjusted himself and then smashed the ball high and beautifully into the Solent for the winning six. Although there was nobody present to see this apparent no contest Australia had been beaten and you began to think that, effectively, this was the end game for the summer cricket revelries. September is here and football is waiting patiently for its long-overdue cue. Oh to be England in the autumn.