ENG vs AUS 2018, 1st ODI: Arch-Rivals Eye Dominant Run after Recent Setbacks

A startled England Cricket team will be desperate to topple a revamped Australia under the leadership of Tim Paine, when both the teams square-off against each other at the Oval on June 13 (Wednesday).

Meanwhile, this five-match One-Day Internationals has a lot of potentials, particularly after England’s unexpected rumbling in Edinburgh at the weekend.

Eoin Morgan’s team have played a fearless brand of cricket over the last three years. Previously, they defeated Australia 4-1 early this year at their backyard. However, as it stands, it looks like the attack will be as is.

As settled as the squad seems to be, Morgan and the management admit they are receptive to bolters, and David Willey, along with Sam Billings, look the two most vulnerable in the squad. Meanwhile, Jos Buttler, who missed the Scotland ODI will return to the playing XI.

However, they will be out of their main players Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes due to injury. England’s batting is often able to match whatever the opposition puts up – but it is a high-risk strategy.

Australia, meanwhile, goes without five of their mainstays due to punishments and injuries. Preparations against Sussex and Middlesex, have not yet provided solutions to batting unit which needs a bit of sorting done.

Nevertheless, Tim Paine’s quest to improve this Australian team’s standing on a national and international level starts on Wednesday.

The Aussies will bank on their senior cricketers Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell to stand up to the occasion. Finch has five out of ten centuries in England and will have to continue with his statistics.

On the bowling front, the Justin Langer coached side will rely heavily on Billy Stanlake to do the job with the new ball.

Form guide

England – LWLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia LWLLL

Pitch and conditions

The Oval tends to be good for batting whatever the format, and there have been ten 300-plus ODI scores on the ground since 2015. Given the recent dry weather, there might, however, be some purchase for the spin.

Meanwhile, the forecast for Wednesday is warm and cloudy, but don’t expect the white Kookaburra to swing.

Squads

England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan(c), Sam Billings(w), Moeen Ali, David Willey, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Jake Ball

Australia: Aaron Finch, D Arcy Short, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Tim Paine(w/c), Ashton Agar, Kane Richardson, Andrew Tye, Billy Stanlake, Alex Carey, Michael Neser, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson

Stats and trivia

• Morgan needs 110 runs to overtake Ian Bell as England’s leading run-scorer in ODIs.
• Before the loss to Scotland, England had won six bilateral one-day series in a row.
• Australia’s last ODI victory at The Oval came in 2010. Since then, they have suffered two defeats and a no-result.
• Jonny Bairstow has three hundred in consecutive innings – only two players have four in all ODIs: Kumar Sangakkara and Amy Satterthwaite

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