The Commonwealth Bank Series was the name of the One Day International cricket tournament in Australia for the 2006-07 season. It was a tri-nation series between Australia, England and New Zealand.

Australia booked a place in the final after just seven matches in the tournament, and having participated in just five, with five games left to play. The other place in the final came down to the last match of the series as New Zealand and England both had won only 2 games; England won this semi-final of sorts.

England won the final series by two games to nil to lift the trophy, making it their first major one-day tournament win since 1997 and their first Australian tri-series win since 20 years previous, when they also won the Ashes.

Fixtures

Matches played in the series were as follows:

No.	Date	Team 1	Team 2	Stadium	Location
Group Stage Schedule
1	12 January 2007	AUS	ENG	Melbourne Cricket Ground	Melbourne
2	14 January 2007	AUS	NZ	Bellerive Oval	Hobart
3	16 January 2007	ENG	NZ	Bellerive Oval	Hobart
4	19 January 2007	AUS	ENG	The 'Gabba	Brisbane
5	21 January 2007	AUS	NZ	Sydney Cricket Ground	Sydney
6	23 January 2007	ENG	NZ	Adelaide Oval	Adelaide
7	26 January 2007	AUS	ENG	Adelaide Oval	Adelaide
8	28 January 2007	AUS	NZ	WACA Ground	Perth
9	30 January 2007	ENG	NZ	WACA Ground	Perth
10	2 February 2007	AUS	ENG	Sydney Cricket Ground	Sydney
11	4 February 2007	AUS	NZ	Melbourne Cricket Ground	Melbourne
12	6 February 2007	ENG	NZ	The 'Gabba	Brisbane
Finals Schedule
Final 1	9 February 2007	AUS	ENG	Melbourne Cricket Ground	Melbourne
Final 2	11 February 2007	AUS	ENG	Sydney Cricket Ground	Sydney

Squads

Group Stage Table

Points System

Win = 4 points

Tie or No Result = 2 points

Bonus = 1 point

Loss = 0 points

If the team batting first match and restricts its opponents to 80% of its total, it gains a bonus point. If the team batting second wins the match in 40 overs, it gains a bonus point.

A team's run rate will be calculated by reference to the runs scored in an innings divided by the number of overs faced.

In the event of teams finishing on equal points, the right to play in the final will be determined as follows:

Group stage matches

Match 1: Australia v England, 12 January

' England won the toss and elected to bat. Kevin Pietersen was the only England player scoring 82. It was debated whether this effected his dismissal getting out caught playing a big shot, slightly after a Glen McGrath bouncer which injured Pietersen for the rest of the tour. In the end England scored a mediocre total of 242. The English team's bowling attack couldn't have got to a worse start after Gilchrist and Hayden smashed 16 off the first over. After Hayden and Gilchrist got out, Ponting and Clarke took over both going above 50. Australia cruised to an 8 wicket victory with 5 overs remaining.

Match 2: Australia v New Zealand, 14 January

' All of the Australian batsman scored reasonable scores that gave Australia a big first innings total. Shane Bond got a one-day hat trick while cleaning up the tail. New Zealand couldn't chase down Australia, Andrew Symonds named man of the match.

Match 3: England v New Zealand, 16 January

' Man of the match Andrew Flintoff scored 72 and hit the winning run with just one ball remaining to get their first win on tour.

Match 4: Australia v England, 19 January

' England were bowled ou for a low score and got early wickets and slowed the run rate to even up the match. Mike Hussey had a controversial decision being not out after knicking a ball to Nixon. He went on to become the man of the match for his 46 including a slog sweep which went for six.

Match 5: Australia v New Zealand, 21 January

Craig McMillan saved the Kiwis form a low score with the Kiwis losing earely wickets. New Zealand bowled well early with Clarke and Hussey rescuing the Aussies. This was also Nathan Astle's last match retitring due to poor form.

Match 6: England v New Zealand, 23 January

Match 7: Australia v England, 26 January

' England reached a new low bowled out for 110 in what was regarded as their worst performance on tour.

Match 8: Australia v New Zealand, 28 January

Hayden and Ponting both smashed 100's to give Australia a huge first innings score. New Zealand did well chasing falling just short with Oram smashing a 100.

Match 9: England v New Zealand, 30 January

Match 10: Australia v England, 2 February

England finally beat Australia with Ed Joyce scoring a 100 with England almost reaching 300. Plunkett bowled Gilchrist on the first ball with Symonds having to retire hurt.

Match 11: Australia v New Zealand, 4 February

Match 12: England v New Zealand, 6 February

' Paul Collingwood was back in form getting his first 100 since the Adelaide test match. The captain Fleming then led from the front scoring a 100 despite controversially running out his partner.

Final series

First match: Australia vs England, 9 February

Second match: Australia vs England, 11 February

English achieved slightly above average score, but it was expected Australia chould chase it down. However rain interrupted Australia's innings several times and with the interrupts wickets fell and the adjusted target and slow out field made the required run rate difficult. England ensured victory with further wickets as Australia tried to progress the score. It was a huge victory of England who had otherwise had a terrible tour and who at the start of the series were playing poor cricket. The defeat of Australia was a significant blow to the reigning world champions, they also lost their next three matches in New Zealand. The three sides then all competed in the 2007 World Cup, which Australia won.

References

1. ↑
2. ↑ Points table from Cricinfo, retrieved 6 February 2007
3. ↑ Points table from Cricinfo, retrieved 31 January 2007

External links

• Tournament home at Cricinfo
• Cricket Australia
• England and Wales Cricket Board
• New Zealand Cricket

Future Wicketkeepers: B.Haddin A.Croswaith F.Campbell