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ENG vs AUS 2024, ENG vs AUS 3rd ODI Match Preview

Posted on by Vanessa
ENG vs AUS 2024, ENG vs AUS 3rd ODI Match Preview

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Australia have played like world champions, England like a team that has just come together and is trying to find its next style of one-day cricket. And that is exactly the position of both sides.

What will (or at least should) frustrate Harry Brook and Marcus Trescothick – stand-in captain and coach – is that England had their chances in both games: at Trent Bridge they were 213 for 2 in the 33rd over before falling behind against Australia's collection of spinners, and at Headingley they had the visitors at 161 for 6 and 221 for 9 before Alex Carey turned the momentum around.

In both games, Australia delivered key performances from perhaps unexpected sources, first with Marnus Labuschagne's three wickets and then with Carey's superb 74 from 67 balls from a gap created only by Josh Inglis' injury.

With Australia ravaged by illness before Trent Bridge, there was always a feeling that this would be a huge missed opportunity for England and so it turned out when Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Glenn Maxwell returned at Headingley to combine for 7 for 119. Looking ahead, Aaron Hardie's performance of 2 for 26 was also notable.

England have some of the building blocks in place to make their rejuvenation efforts a success. Ben Duckett is in great form, Jamie Smith is a top-class batsman whatever colour of ball he faces, Brydon Carse could still fill Liam Plunkett's role – although Carse says it has never been discussed – Adil Rashid is still world class (although there are thoughts about his replacement) and there are a number of quick players with real pace.

At the moment, however, they don't seem to be getting into their stride, especially with the bat. Brooks' comments about not caring if batters get caught trying to clear the boundary don't yet carry the weight that Eoin Morgan gave his team's ultra-aggressive mantra in 2015. There is still time to get the rebuild going. Chester-le-Street would be a good place to start to at least ensure that this series remains tied for a few more days.

Form curve

(the last five completed games, most recent first)
England LLWL
Australia WWWWW

In the spotlight: Phil Salt and Steven Smith

Phil Salt seems tasked with playing the ultra-aggressive opening batting but he has not looked entirely convincing in the first two games. At Trent Bridge he seemed a little confused while bowling as he made room against Ben Dwarshuis and at Headingley he was tackled hard by Josh Hazlewood. He survived a review for a caught behind and was dropped at slip as he hit Hazlewood's relentless short-of-a-length line around the off stump before batting his way through to Carey. He will no doubt be fully banked on to continue in this style but Australia's fast bowlers are not easily knocked off their lengths.

Back home, Steven Smith is at the centre of the most important debate in Australian cricket – or at least as much as these things attract attention during the final football season in September – about where he will bat when India come to the Test series. He has batted at Nos. 3 and 4 so far in this series and would no doubt like to get a decent score. He looked to be in good form in the opening match before offering a return catch to Liam Livingstone and then being beaten by a superb throw from Matthew Potts at Headingley. There is a good chance of a second rematch with Jofra Archer, which is always exciting to watch.

Team news: Archer is about to return, Australia hopes he has overcome his illness

Archer is likely to be reinstated after being given the rest he expected at Headingley. It will be interesting to see who he replaces: Olly Stone bowled with good pace at Leeds, Potts was excellent and Carse provides a little more batting depth at No.8. England felt they may be lacking a seamer in the last game but without a genuine all-rounder who bowls fast, it's hard to fit another option in.

England: (possible) 1 Ben Duckett, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Harry Brook (captain), 5 Jamie Smith (wk), 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Jacob Bethell, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Matthew Potts

Ben Dwarshuis has flown home after suffering a chest injury that restricted him to just four overs on his debut in Nottingham. That being said, however, Australia will be hoping to field a full squad for the first time in the series. If Inglis is fit, it is an interesting choice after Carey's success in the last game. Inglis could play as a specialist batter, but there is no room for that either unless there is rotation. An extra pace bowler option may be needed in the north of England in September with Cameron Green and Sean Abbott available.

Australia: (possible) 1 Travis Head, 2 Matthew Short, 3 Mitchell Marsh (captain), 4 Steven Smith, 5 Marnus Labuschagne, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Aaron Hardie, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Adam Zampa

Pitch and conditions

The teams had to practice indoors on Monday, but the weather forecast for match day is slightly better, albeit with the possibility of showers. To say it will be mild might be an exaggeration. Overhead conditions could help the bowlers, although the pitches at Chester-le-Street are usually pretty good for batting in one-day cricket.

Statistics and interesting facts

  • Starc needs one more wicket to move into sole fourth place in Australia's ODI tally, having equalled Mitchell Johnson's 239 in the last match.
  • England have two ODI centuries in the starting XI that played at Trent Bridge – one each for Duckett and Salt – while Australia had 28.
  • England have a 3-1 winning record against Australia at Chester-le-Street. In 2018, Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh scored centuries, but England made 311 with ease as Jason Roy scored 101 off 83 balls. Only three players from that game are likely to be in the match this time: Carey, Travis Head and Adil Rashid

Quotes

“There have been big changes, new batters, new bowlers. It will take time. It will always take time when it is a rebuilding process. We have every base covered as far as bowling, batting and keeping are concerned. Everything is there for us.”
Adil Rashid about England's new era

“There's been a big emphasis on being flexible and adaptable. There are so many players who have secured their place – Travis up top, Mitch (Marsh) in the middle and then Smith and Labuschagne. So it's just about filling the roles as they come up, be it with the bat or the ball. You just have to be adaptable, jump up and down the order and be able to contribute wherever you can.”
Aaron Hardy about his work in the one-day page

Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo

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