- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Australia and England will look to fine-tune their preparations for the 2015 World Cup as they go head to head in the first of the ODIs of the Carlton Tri-Series on Friday. You can follow the live blog on The Roar from 2:20pm (AEDT).
The upcoming matches make an important series for both teams – and India, the third side in the tri-series – for more reasons than one.
First; all sides will look to get their hone their combinations before the 2015 World Cup.
Second; the teams also need to get into the rhythm of playing in ODI cricket in Australian conditions, something that all teams need to do given the circumstances.
Australia are just coming off a four-match Test series while England’s previous ODI series came in Sri Lanka where the pitches are never going to hold a candle to those in Australia.
The tournament also presents an opportunity to give their main guys enough rest going into the World Cup. The last time the tournament was played in Australia and New Zealand, the hosts Australia had been exhausted by the longish prelude to the competition, and weren’t left with enough gas in the tank.
England also have a point to prove. Written off by most experts in this format, they can do themselves a huge favour by notching up a couple of wins in this tri-series, making it to the final and probably even wining the tournament.
Playing under a new captain, Eoin Morgan, who is looking to establish himself in that role following the sacking of Alastair Cook, the young England side will hope to continue with the form that was on display in the warm-up games.
They played two and won both with consummate ease. And the few question-marks they had were also erased for the time-being, especially with the cementing of Ian Bell’s position at the top of the ODI order.
His 187 against the Prime Minister’s XI was a top innings, and even if it came in easy conditions they would have given him a lot of confidence.
The George Bailey-led Australian outfit will be without a few of their key men but the rest look to have enough potency to topple England in the series opening match.
There will be no Michael Clarke, Mitchell Marsh or Mitchell Johnson, while Josh Hazlewood could also be rested.
That will put the onus on the likes of Shane Watson, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to conjure up enough magic while Bailey knows he does not have too much time to resume his run-getting, something he hasn’t really done in recent times.
Australia will be a confident side too. After having steamrolled South Africa in a five-match ODI series, they had absolutely no issue to beating India in the Tests that followed.
Steven Smith and David Warner have turned into run-scoring machines and this will be a format they will like.
The one question-mark will be on the selection of Xavier Doherty in the starting XI and whether the Sydney pitch will have much for him.
A frontline spinner is a must and on a flat track, as Sydney is, his presence assumes even more importance.
You can follow the live score of this 1st ODI between Australia and England from 2:20pm local time on Friday and post your comments in the section below.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.