Faulkner fires Aussies to miracle win

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JAMES Faulkner became the new Michael Bevan when he helped Australia perform a great escape act to extend England's shameful summer of misery.

England's cricketers, already the biggest losers of the sporting world, are now the biggest chokers as well after failing to defend 8-300 at the Gabba.

It was an astonishing and epic ending to the game when Faulkner, who last year became the fastest Australian cricketer to score an ODI century, came in at No. 9 and went on an amazing six-hitting rampage.

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All look lost when Australia had plunged to 5-120 but Faulkner (69 not out off 47 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (54 off 39 balls had other ideas).

Even at 9-244, all looked lost but Faulkner refused to give up as he launched an incredible 66-run 10th-wicket matchwinning stand with Clint McKay.

He smashed Ben Stokes for successive big sixes in the 49th over to give the home side a sniff. Then, with Australia needing 12 runs to win off the final Tim Bresnan over, Faulkner hit three successive fours to conjure an incredible final act.

It was the highest successful run-chase at the Gabba but a jubilant Faulkner said he had few doubts even when the game looked gone.

"I knew I could do it deep down but it's nice to get the boys over the line,'' Faulkner said.

"I saw one of the boys bouncing a beach ball in the dressingroom at one stage. Everyone was nervous but it was good to get the win.''

All of Faulkner's five sixes came off Ben Stokes and if England couldn't win Friday night's game they might as well give up and go home.

Faulkner's finishing knock, getting Australia home with three balls to spare, was reminiscent of some of the great last-gasp knocks by former Australian batsman Michael Bevan.

"He is the new finisher, he is the new Michael Bevan,'' skipper Michael Clarke declared.

Irishman Eoin Morgan started the ball rolling by smashing 106 off 99 balls to become just the second 'Pom' on tour, after Kiwi-born Stokes in the Perth Test, to make a century.

Helped by a captaincy error from Michael Clarke when he had made just two, big-hitting Morgan helped to bloat England's score to 8-300.

Fast bowler Chris Jordan, born in Barbados, snared both Australian openers early and took one of the catches of the summer in the process.

Jordan's one-handed catch off his own bowling to dismiss Dave Warner (18) was nothing short of freakish, given the batsman had absolutely belted it back to the bowler.

Gary Ballance, born in Zimbabwe, chipped in to take a wonderful one-handed grab at mid-off to send Aaron Finch packing for a duck.

After the Aussies plunged to 5-120, the 'Big Show' Maxwell did his best to revive the home side with an audacious display of hitting.

Maxwell, who was bought for $1 million in last year's IPL auction, reverse swept spinner Joe Root for three consecutive boundaries which had the Gabba crowd in raptures.

Maxwell did it again, this time reverse hooking fast bowler Tim Bresnan to the fence before pulling a ball straight to midwicket on the next delivery.

In a night of jubilation for the Aussies there was some pain.

George Bailey, who was lbw for 24, suffered a groin injury and rocked his head back in pain while running between wickets.

Bailey received attention from Australian physiotherapist Alex Kountouris but batted on and is likely to be assessed further on Saturday.

His Test spot for next month's South African tour is already under a cloud so an injury is the last thing Bailey needed.

In the field, Clarke made a rare captaincy blunder when Morgan had made just two.

Noticing that Clarke had one too many fielders positioned outside the fielding circle off his own bowling, Morgan went for a premeditated wild swipe and tried to clear the deep midwicket fence.

He was caught on the boundary but immediately motioned to the umpires there were too many Australian fielders outside of the circle.

Video replays proved him right and umpires called a no-ball.

Morgan went on to bash a cascade of big hits, including successive huge sixes off Faulkner which went many rows back.

He jumped for joy when he hit an innovative high ramp shot for four over the keeper's head off Nathan Coulter-Nile to bring up his century off 94 balls.

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