Dismal:

Australia took a commanding 3-0 lead in the best of seven One-Day-International series at the Rosebowl today after yet another below par batting display by England. The top order failed again as England made 228 for 9 from their fifty overs, which was never going to be enough to put the Australian batsmen under enough pressure to make things happen for them in the field.

“We're not good enough in one-day cricket to go easy and I don't believe we have,” said England's dejected captain Andrew Strauss. “We've had three poor batting performances. It's something we've got to be honest with ourselves about how we can improve, because on-day cricket's not a game where you can go into your shell and grind it out – you've got to go out and play with enough confidence to put a competitive score on the board and at the same time make good decisions and we haven't quite got the balance right so far.”

Owais Shah was at least unlucky to be given out leg before wicket in Mitchell Johnson's first over to a ball that was missing his stumps – just. Paul Collingwood made 28 and Eoin Morgan 43, but with the exception of the skipper himself nobody made a half century, but Strauss took no pleasure from his knock. If anything he was critical of himself. “I think I'm as culpable as anyone in the first three games,” said Strauss. “I'm batting well, so when you are batting well you should make hay. I haven't been able to do that. I think as a group we need to be honest and accept that we need to improve.”

Strauss made 63, but thought that he should have made a big score as Cameron White did for the Australians later, but Michael Clarke, deputising as captain for the last time before Ricky Ponting takes control back at Lord's, took a brilliant low catch off Nathan Hauritz at short-leg to send Strauss back to the pavilion. He had hit seven boundaries in his knock. England collapsed to a dreadful 147 for 6 in the thirty-sixth over. Of the recognised batsmen only Morgan remained, but once again England's tail resisted.

Tim Bresnan once again got the nod over Adil Rashid, but Strauss was adamant that Rashid had not been dropped – it was a question of choosing the team best suited for the conditions. “Adil wasn't dropped,” said Strauss. “I think it was just a change of balance in the side and in one-day cricket that happens to various bowlers and batters, so we're very encouraged with what he's shown and he's been working very hard and he will have a big role to play for us going forward, so we'll just have to see what happens with the balance of the side. At this stage of the season two spinners sometimes don't play as big a role as the seamers, so it's frustrating because he played so well at the Oval. I think our seamers have bowled pretty well. I haven't got any real worries with a seam bowling attack.”

Rashid must wonder what he has to do to get a game. The side is far from balanced. Despite Strauss' view that they competed in the first two matches, Australia were better and while the top batsmen failed, the bowlers failed to contain the Australians as efficiently as they controlled England's batsmen. Tim Bresnan at least contributed with the bat, making an unbeaten 31 from 37 balls and Ryan Sidebotton, batting at ten scored 24 from 28 balls before picking out Craig White from the last ball of the innings to give Shane Watson his third wicket. “I think our bowlers put them under a lot of pressure,” said White. “We fielded really well.”

Easy:

Chasing a low target, Australia started their innings on top. “Twenty more runs would have made it hard,” said Clarke, who played the support role to Man of the Match Cameron White. Watson made just seven and his opening partner, wicket-keeper Terry Paine, 29. It didn't require reckless attacking batting. White came to the wicket after five overs and remained at the crease until the penultimate over of his team's innings.

He easily bettered his best performance in ODIs. This was his first century in that format – a superb 105 from 124 balls. He hit nine fours and a six during that innings, which was also the first century of this series. If there were jitters when Clarke joined him at 52 for 2, they didn't allow it to show. Their partnership realised 143 runs in 30.1 overs. Clarke's share was 52 and included just one boundary, which brought up his half-century. He was bowled by the next ball from Graeme Swann, but compared to White's innings it had been chanceless.

James Anderson should have run out White, but somehow missed from two yards away with White yards out of his crease. He made the most of his luck and benefitted again after a horrible mix-up when England failed to run him out for the second time. He received the third and last life in the nervous nineties. He offered an easy catch to Bresnan at long-on, but somehow Bresnan spilled it. “We're all a bit frustrated that we didn't take all our chances,” said Strauss. “Our fielding wasn't as good as it should have been.” That was an understatement.

White soon reached his century, before finally throwing his wicket away with end in sight by holing out to Sidebottom. There was no 4th life. Luke Wright was the lucky bowler. He had bowled 6.2 overs at that point and conceded just sixteen runs – all of them were singles and that over turned into a wicket-maiden despite a leg-bye. Despite his recent run of form White accepts that he could be dropped down the order, or even altogether to accommodate the return of Ricky Ponting. “It was obviously until Ricky comes back,” said White about his chance to bat at three. “Once the opportunity arose then I jumped at it. It was always a good challenge and I'm glad I took it on. I've put a good case forward to show I can bat anywhere really. I've really enjoyed the opportunity – just see what happens. I just like to be playing. If I slip back to number seven I don't really mind.”

They have a winning team, so is there an argument to make no changes? “No,” said White, “He's the best player in the world, so we look forward to having him back and I'm sure he will do very very well.” After all Strauss' talk of balance in the team, it will be the winning Australians that change the balance of their team – a team that is winning comfortably.

Callum Ferguson made a rapid 20 not out to steer Australia home, but with eight runs required from two overs 'Mr. Cricket' Michael Hussey only required three balls from James Anderson and two scoring shots – an all-run four followed by a boundary to bring Australia to the brink of clinching the series emphatically. Australia deservedly won by six wickets. It was easy really, but White demands improvement. “Definitely we want to keep the momentum going,” he said. “I don't think we're playing at our total best at the moment. There's still probably some areas that we think we can improve on, so that's probably things we've got to work on to get better no matter the situation for the rest of these four games, so hopefully four more games we're at our peak.”

England had best beware. White sees no reason why Australia cannot inflict a 7-0 drubbing in the ODI series. “I think if we keep playing good consistent cricket, keep bowling and fielding well there's no reason why not,” says White. It would be a pretty strange thing to happen, but i'm not saying it can't.”