Australia and England will conclude their ODI series on Sunday with the final match of it which comes from Perth. It will be a momentous day for followers of cricket in the West as the new Perth Stadium gets used for the first time.
There is no more going to the WACA for England which you would think would help them as they look to finish the series on a high and secure a 4-1 outcome heading into the T20s which begin next weekend.
Australia
The home side finally got off the mark for the series in the previous game. It came too late for them to get back into the series but it did mean that they avoided the whitewash. You would have to say they only just did it though. Even though they were chasing a nothing total they only got there with three wickets remaining.
The theme of this series has been Australia struggling with the bat and that did not change in Adelaide on Friday. You get the feeling that if they can actually deliver a really good performance with the willow they will win comfortably but there haven’t been many signs that such an effort is arriving anytime soon.
England
The English have been far from their best in this series. I’ve laboured on about why that is and I don’t need to make the point again. We all saw it when they were reduced to 8/5 in the previous game but the beauty of this team is that it keeps on coming and that is not likely to change at any point, as Eoin Morgan confirmed in his post-match conference.
England have relied on individual performances with the bat to get the job done so far in the series but just like their opponents if they can put on a strong effort with the willow in hand you would think they have all the firepower needed to get the victory. Their bowling attack has been a concern in the past but not so much in this series.
Team News
Australia are said to be toying with the idea of bringing Glenn Maxwell into the side. Cameron White could miss out. Aaron Finch is still out injured while Mitchell Starc could return having been rested in Adelaide.
England have no need to make changes but with three or four players yet to taste action in the series it could be that they make some. Jake Ball, David Willey and Dawid Malan are among those who could come in.
Perth Stadium
This is the first time this arena will be used for competitive action so nobody has a historical advantage. The wicket is not expected to be anything like the one across the river at the WACA but it might take a match or two to bed in. There should be some short boundaries so the scoring should be high.
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Betting
I still think England are being underestimated by the odds compilers even though they lost the previous match. They will never be 8/5 again and even when they were they nearly got the job done which would have been an insane result.
Australia look to be in two minds to me in this format of the game which is never good. If their openers don’t get any runs you get the feeling they are going to end up well short and if their bowlers don’t find any movement with the new ball they could be cannon fodder. England haven’t been at their best in this series but they have played the better cricket for the most part and can do that again here and win again.
Tips
WON – Back England to win 5th ODI for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Ladbrokes
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