England vs Australia, 2nd ODI, Manchseter: England Predicted XI

Despite Sam Billings’ blistering and maiden ODI hundred, England weren’t able to cross the finish line against Australia in the first ODI in Manchester. Josh Hazlewood’s opening spell was hard to get away with for England’s top-order batsmen, leaving the middle-order to do too much for later.

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Sam Billings and Jonny Bairstow tried their best with a century stand before the latter’s departure made the task a monumental one. Even with Billings’ incredible hitting, he could not find the much-needed support from the other end. They fell 19 runs short of chasing 295; however, will come back hard on the Australians with the series on the line.

We take a look at England’s predicted XI for the second ODI against Australia:

Jason Roy:

Jason Roy recovered from the side strain that forced him to miss the T20 series against Australia and Pakistan. However, Jason Roy’s return was not a particularly idyllic one. He spent 12 deliveries at the crease for only three runs as Josh Hazlewood took a brilliant return catch to remove him. The swashbuckling right-hander would be looking forward to making amends in the second for that.

Jonny Bairstow:

Like most English batsmen, Jonny Bairstow also struggled to get going being at ten from 30 balls at one stage. Josh Hazlewood kept him in check at large, not allowing any room to Bairstow to swing his arms. The 29-year old began opening up after taking 15 runs off Adam Zampa’s sixth over that included two sixes.

He shared a 113-run stand for the sixth wicket with Sam Billings to give the hosts an outside chance of a win. However, when on 84, the right-handed batsman went for a slog that arrived off the toe of the bat, caught by Hazlewood brilliantly at cow corner. Jonny Bairstow will also retain his place.

Joe Root:

Joe Root played his first ODI on Friday since February and was one of Josh Hazlewood’s three victims. Hazlewood kept testing Joe Root outside the off-stump and beat him on several occasions. In the first ball of the 7th over, the English Test skipper tickled the ball to Alex Carey behind the stumps after managing only a single, pitched outside off-stump. Root, who has been one of the best ODI batsmen for England, would be seeking a turnaround.

Eoin Morgan (c):

Eoin Morgan looked in imperious form from the get-go, refusing to play the old school cricket. Instead, he aimed to put the pressure back on the Australian bowlers, who flourished with the new ball. Morgan thumped three boundaries, including a six off Josh Hazlewood.

Nevertheless, in Adam Zampa’s first over, the southpaw went for the pull shot and ended up pulling to mid-wicket where Glenn Maxwell took a comfortable catch. His promising 18-ball 23 came to an end, and Morgan would want nothing more to make up for that.

Jos Buttler (wk):

Jos Buttler came on the back of a scintillating form in the T20 series, scoring a match-winning 77 in the second one to seal it. Hence, Australia had no time to relax even as England found themselves three down for 57 in 16 overs since Jos Buttler could quickly take the game away from them.

After Adam Zampa struck in his first over, the leggie came back to dismiss Jos Buttler as well, rather more cheaply. Marnus Labuschagne took a fantastic catch at long-off which the batsman miscued while going for the big hit. Buttler might have realized it was a reckless shot in the scheme of things and would be looking forward to an impactful performance in the second.

Sam Billings:

Sam Billings was perhaps the best batsman for England on the night. Billings came to the crease at the fall of Buttler and with the visitors all over on England. Sam Billings and Jonny Bairstow kept quiet initially; however, Billings got the license to attack as well when he saw Bairstow flexing his arms.

Even as the wickets kept tumbling, the right-handed batsman kept the boundaries coming. He reached his hundred in the 49th over; however, the game had slipped out of his hands with the Australians deploying the variations well. The keeper-batsman departed for 118 in the last delivery of the innings to Mitchell Marsh.

Moeen Ali:

Moeen Ali did not have a particularly satisfactory outing in the first ODI, bowling his full quota of overs but without wickets. Moeen Ali conceded 59 runs off ten overs that contained six boundaries. With the bat, the southpaw made only six runs when England needed him to stick around Billings. It is expected that Ali will retain his place for the second ODI despite an ordinary show.

Chris Woakes:

New-ball bowler Chris Woakes accounted for one of the nine Australian wickets to fall, which was of Adam Zampa. Unlike the semi-final of the World Cup where Chris Woakes plucked three wickets, he could not do the same on this occasion.

Notably, during his bowling spell of 10-0-59-1, he conceded a six off the final ball of the innings that pushed the tourists past 290. Hence, the seamer would be looking forward towards upgrading his bowling performance with the new ball and remaining economical.

Adil Rashid:

Adil Rashid proved unplayable initially as he kept the Australian batsmen guessing. In only his third over, he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne with a googly and removed Alex Carey three overs later. However, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh took him apart to finish with figures of 10-0-55-2. Hence, the leggie would be aiming to bowl more economically in the middle overs.

Jofra Archer:

Jofra Archer, who featured in his first ODI since the 2019 World Cup final, plucked the first Australian wicket in the form of David Warner. Jofra Archer stunned the opening batsman as the delivery swung in to clip the top of off-stump.

The 25-year old provided a major breakthrough in the form of Glenn Maxwell, who was rapidly taking the English bowlers to the cleaners. Despite going for two maximums, he did not lose his calm and dismissed Maxwell with a slower ball. Archer went on to dismiss Pat Cummins too to finish with figures of 10-0-57-3.

Mark Wood:

Mark Wood was the pick of English bowlers in the first ODI against Australia, taking three most essential scalps. Mark Wood removed Aaron Finch and proceeded to dismiss Marcus Stoinis for 43, who was beginning to gain fluency.

The Durham pacer plucked Mitchell Marsh’s scalp in the 47th over as the all-rounder was looking to cut loose. There were passages of play when Wood’s pace was enough for the Australian batsmen to put him away for boundaries. Despite that, his figures stood at 10-0-54-3.

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