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SYDNEY - It's only hit and giggle but England's cricketers struggled to crack a smile as Australia's press took another chance to put the boot in yesterday.
"Hapless England fails again," said the front page of the Australian.
"And now for some real Pommy bashing," blared the Sydney Morning Herald.
A bumper crowd of 35,628 crammed the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch Australia rack up 221 for five, a Twenty20 world record total, before England staggered to 144 for nine for a 77-run defeat.
It was meant to be a nice entree for the tri-series also involving New Zealand but it just meant more of the same tasty fodder for Australian fans and England's critics.
Sydney Morning Herald columnist Peter Roebuck said while Twenty20 could never be taken seriously by the cricket purist, it was an "enjoyable frolic" which carried on the theme of the 5-0 Ashes drubbing.
"The Australians sought to land the ball on nearby roofs; often they succeeded. Meanwhile, the Englishmen tried desperately to hold them in check. It all had a familiar ring."
There were plenty of sixes and loud music as Channel Nine did its bit with the now-traditional on-field, mid-game interviews with microphones pinned to the captains' collars.
England's returning skipper Michael Vaughan kept his sense of humour, admitting his neck was hurting as he craned to watch Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds and Cameron White clear the pickets.
Commentators informed their viewers the other English players had refused mid-game interviews, while the home side were only too happy.
Asked to take viewers to the commercial break, a chatty Gilchrist signalled at a future in the commentary box as he jogged down the pitch between overs.
"Australia well on top here, and England in real trouble as they have been all summer, four for 60."
Kevin Pietersen got England's biggest cheer of the night, a standing ovation when he dropped a catch on the boundary. Vaughan stroked a tidy 27 off 21 balls in his return from knee surgery but all the positives were again with Australia who unveiled, from their large talent pool, big-hitting legspinner White, slippery outswing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and the quicker-than-he-looks paceman, Shane Harwood.
It all looked a touch ominous for tomorrow's Tri-series opener between the two in Melbourne, before New Zealand try to make an early impression against the hosts in Hobart on Sunday.
- NZPA
