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| A new approach and the Ashes win makes the home side the favourite in the ODI series |
During the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, England had a tough time adapting to the rapid pace of the game but, by making a few changes to its squad, it has been able to reverse its fortunes and also the perception about itself.
The extent to which the change has helped was clear during its 3-2 ODI series victory over New Zealand. Four times out of five, it has made scores upwards of 300. The only time it didn’t was in the fifth ODI where it was set a target of 192. As if to prove another point, it pipped New Zealand in the series-ending Twenty20 International by 56 runs.
Then, when it was time for the Ashes, it was in fine fettle as it regained the urn by winning the five-Test series 3-2. It also came up with a stellar show to seal the following T20I by five runs, with Moeen Ali and Eoin Morgan slamming impressive half-centuries.
The only things left before Australia heads back home are the ODIs and England would try and not give it the pleasure of a series win, and it clearly has the resources to ensure that.
Though Joe Root has been given a break after a hectic summer, England looks a composed unit with the return of Moeen and Chris Woakes. Mark Wood, too, will play a part, but England has not included Jonny Bairstow despite his success in the series against New Zealand. Reece Topley, who made his international debut during the one-off T20I with figures of 4-0-35-1, is also likely to be given a run.
Across the divide, Australia has the chance to restore some parity after a humbling few weeks in the United Kingdom, and would be all geed up to leave on a high. With Steven Smith, the skipper, in stellar form – as evidenced by the 53-ball 90 from the T20I after a successful Test series personally – and the likes of David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson in its ranks, the visiting side is equipped with enough to hurt England on its day.
Also in the side are Joe Burns and Marcus Stoinis and Ashton Agar and Matthew Wade and James Pattinson, all fresh from impressive performances on the Australia A tour of India recently.
And there is Mitchell Starc at the head of the bowling attack, which wears a formidable look with Nathan Coulter-Nile and Pat Cummins in the mix.
But would it be able to put behind a tough English summer behind and look ahead? That’s going to be tough even if it motivates itself by thinking about the 111-run win it notched up on the opening day of the World Cup when the two teams last met. A lot has changed since then.
Teams (from)
England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan (capt), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Billings, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Australia: David Warner, Shane Watson, Steve Smith (capt), Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Agar, Joe Burns, James Pattinson.
Source: ICC