The ODI series between Australia and England wraps up in Melbourne on Tuesday in a match which is little more than a dead rubber even though the narrative around it will be continuing preparation for the World Cup next year.
Australia claimed the series in Sydney at the weekend so if England didn’t want much to do with proceedings to begin with you would imagine they will be even less motivated for this final game than they might otherwise have been.
Australia
I guess it was always going to be easier for Australia to get up for this series. They are at home, probably had a point to prove after making a mess of the T20 World Cup and are just really getting towards the meat of their summer so they had all of that to motivate them but they still had to deliver the goods. They have done that as well. They probably haven’t played their absolute best in the series but they have had more than enough to get the job done.
We know that Australia have strength in their bowling department and the fact they have won both matches resting Josh Hazlewood in the first game and Pat Cummins in the second game highlights that perfectly. They are still a work in progress with the bat but that is largely down to getting their best batting order together. One thing they don’t lack for is options with the bat so Australia look in a decent place to complete the clean sweep.
England
There were more than enough vibes ahead of the series that made it clear that England had no motivation for it whatsoever and although it is harsh to say, that has been fairly evident throughout the series that was the case. With the exception of one individual innings in Adelaide and one partnership in Sydney, England haven’t offered much with the bat and in truth they haven’t really been in the game with the ball either.
It is easy to say that England have to raise their game if they are going to avoid the clean sweep but when you consider the highs of winning the T20 World Cup, the seven match series in Pakistan which preceded it and the Test series in Pakistan which begins next week, something just has to give and clearly it is this series. I expect England will want to leave Australia with a performance behind them but when you’ve achieved what you set out to do the plane home looks even sweeter.
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Team News
We know that Australia will be without Mitchell Starc as he has been rested for this match. Riley Meredith has been called up to replace him. Cameron Green has been rested for the Test with West Indies while Ashton Agar has left to play for the PM’s XI. Sean Abbott is expected to play here.
England rested Jos Buttler in the last match but you would imagine their captain will return for the final match on the tour. The pace and bounce in the pitches in Melbourne could give Luke Wood another chance to shine.
Betting
We saw in the T20 World Cup that there is a lot of life in this Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch so you’ve got to think the bowlers are going to hold sway in this match. England haven’t really batted all that well in the series anyway. They have an inexperienced or out of form opening pairing and then by the time they get to the form players the spin from Australia is squeezing them and I don’t really see much changing here.
There is talk that England will be at their strongest with the ball in this match and when you consider that Australia have let some of their batting depth leave to prepare for the cricket to come, they might be a little more vulnerable with the bat than they have been in the series so far. There is no shortage of heat in these two sides but if spin comes to the party both teams have that covered as well so I like under 553.5 runs on this expansive cricket ground.
Tips
Back Under 553.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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