In the final round robin match of the tri-series, England and India face off in a do-or-die match at the WACA to decide who will face Australia in Sunday’s final. Join The Roar for live scores, commentary and discussion from 2.20pm (AEDT).
India will be desperate to atone for their abject performance against England last week at the Gabba where the Indian batsmen were so bamboozled by England’s fast bowling duo James Anderson and Steve Finn that they could only amass a paltry 153 from less than 40 overs.
India’s bowlers then failed to contain England’s new record ODI run scorer, Ian Bell, as the England opener scored an unbeaten 88 in his side’s total of 1-156, taking just 27.3 overs to secure the bonus point, almost before the Gabba floodlights came into effect.
Although England management have professed to being satisfied with the way England are playing under new captain Eoin Morgan, both they and the fans will be hoping that Stuart Broad is able to find some form leading into the World Cup. Australia’s favourite pantomime villain has failed to take a wicket this series since his return from a knee problem, and he will want look to his fast bowling teammates for inspiration in Perth.
Anderson, Chris Woakes and the reinvigorated Finn have all found form so far in this tournament and with Moeen Ali and the criminally underused and underrated Ravi Bopara providing backup with the ball, the England management has the luxury to allow Broad time to find his form.
As for India, who were thrown a lifeline by the inclement weather in Sydney, gaining a spot in the final could revitalise a weary squad ahead of the World Cup. India have already been on tour in Australia for two months, and fatigue looked to play a big part in their capitulation against England at the Gabba, with the majority of the batsmen’s shot selection being poor.
Regardless, India have a very good record against England in ODIs, winning four of the last five series against the Poms by a cumulative score of 16 games to 6. Indeed, England have only won 6 of their last 19 ODIs against all competition, and the bookies have India slight favourites for the win accordingly.
England assistant coach Paul Farbrace dismissed that his side were slight underdogs however, suggesting that England’s chances of getting into the final have been greatly enhanced by playing India on two of the quickest pitches in world cricket.
Farbrace also suggested the extra pressure of this match effectively being a semi-final will give England’s new-look team extra practice at playing under the pressure they will experience in next month’s World Cup.
Neither England or India have managed to beat Australia yet this summer, although there were promising signs for India in Game 2 at the MCG and for England last week in Hobart. Both sides will have to up their games considerably to seriously challenge the home side when they meet in the final in Perth on Sunday, and a good showing here could give either team some much needed confidence.
If the recent BBL matches are anything to go by, the WACA pitch will be typically quick and bouncy, but still a good batting track which will allow batsmen to score fairly freely once they’ve got in. If England’s pace quartet can restrict India early, then I’d fancy a flurry of wickets. However, showing patience early in the match could see either side rack up a big score.
Despite the bookies predictions, I’m backing England for the win – although not quite as comfortably as they did at the Gabba. India will have to bowl incredibly well to contain the in-form Ian Bell, although if he departs cheaply, England’s batting demons could surface and England will need someone else to step up and carry the innings.
Will India pick up a morale-boosting win to kick start their World Cup campaign? Or will it be England who advance to the final full of confidence? Join The Roar to see who prevails, and leave your comments below.
James
Guest
No chance against Australia in the final, but I will of course remain optimistic until we're 54-5 chasing Australia's 320
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
It was pretty terrible wasn't it Alex. They'll need to iron that out sharpish...
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
So Roarers, do England have a chance against Australia on Sunday? And will Sunday's match prove anything ahead of the World Cup opening fixture between the two sides on Valentines Day at the MCG. Where to now for India? Are they are chance for the World Cup, or will this tour prove to be too damaging mentally and physically for them to mount a credible challenge? Thanks for joining me today on The Roar, and please feel free to continue the discussion about todays match into the night. Congratulations to England, commiserations to India.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I hope Woakes and Broad are taken out behind the sheds for some of that rubbish that let the Indian tail put an extra 30 on in the last few overs.. seriously that was abysmal bowling.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
So England pick up the win by three wickets and go on to play Australia on Sunday at the same venue as today's game, the WACA in Perth. A 125 run partnership between Jos Buttler (67) and James Taylor (82) wins the game for England, and Taylor picks up the Man of the Match award for his dogged innings. The pitch looked quite uneven, but Taylor described it as a good cricket wicket in his post match interview. England will certainly need to play better than they did tonight to win on Sunday, and Australia will be massive favourites. As for India, they still have not won a match in Australia on tour, and with the World Cup starting next month, you'd imagine the main focus from the Indian players will be to relax and recharge their batteries and change their mindset leading into their opening match against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 7-202 - 46.5 overs. Broad 3, Woakes 4. Target 201 Jadeja returns. What a strange decision! Binny still has overs left and has taken 3 wickets. He has gone at 6.33 runs per over so far so this could be a good move for England. And a single off the first ball for Woakes brings Broad on strike. And another poor ball is put away for another single by Broad. England are edging towards the total in singles. 2 runs needed in 20 balls. And now with the scores tied England will be in the final. 19 balls to secure the win for Woakes... And a no ball WINS IT FOR ENGLAND!
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 7-196 - 46.0 overs. Broad 1, Woakes 2. Target 201 Oh and BIG SHOUT OFF BROAD FOR CAUGHT BEHIND?!?! NOT OUT! It hit Broad's arm guard. And Broad is facing a bumper barrage here. Shami gets called for a no ball for too many bouncers! And let off the hook, Broad steals a single from the full pitched delivery.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 7-193 - 45.2 overs. X, Woakes 1. Target 201 Shami returns for what will likely be his final spell. CHANCE! OUT!!!!! ITS NOT OVER YET!! ENGLAND 7 DOWN!! Buttler swung at a wide one and picked out the fielder on the boundary WICKET! Buttler 67 c. Rayudu b. Shami A good and fitting reward for Shami, who has been excellent today. Broad the new man
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 6-193 - 45.0 overs. Buttler 67, Woakes 1. Target 201 Patel bowls, and forces the leading edge! Dhoni was never going to get there but he flung his body after it regardless. And there is another CHANCE! If Dhoni was behind the stumps there Buttler could have been run out again! Terrible technique from all the players in this match. 2 from that over and England edge ever closer...
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 6-191 - 44.0 overs. Buttler 66, Woakes 0. Target 201 Big wicket for India, but too little too late? England still need to get the runs. Sharma deserved that wicket, and he gets a wicket maiden to complete his 10 overs. Woakes is the new man, England still need 10 runs off 36 balls.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 6-191 - 43.1 overs. Buttler 66, X. Target 201 Sharma continues and Taylor TOP EDGES IT TO FINE LEG! How important will that be with England still needing 10 runs? WICKET!! Taylor 82 c. Binny b. Sharma Taylor will be kicking himself for not being there at the end after all that hard work. I feel it may be too late for India, but will we see late drama? ENGLAND 6-191
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 5-191 - 43.0 overs. Buttler 66, Taylor 82. Target 201 Jadeje continues. 23 needed from 48 now for England. And more good running brings up another 2 for Taylor, who moves to 80. He's had to work hard for these runs Taylor but is looking really comfortable now. Buttler then plays an unusual looking shot, where he bends at the hips, with straight legs, and sweeps the ball out to the boundary. CHANCE! Finally a direct hit! And it is CLOSE! NOT OUT! Wow that had t be very very close! and the ball went for 4 over throws so that's 5 runs to Buttler! Only 11 needed to win the match! A single off the last ball means 13 off the over, and England are now just 10 away.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 5-178 - 42.0 overs. Buttler 57, Taylor 78. Target 201 Sharma is still running in hard, as England stutter towards the 200 mark, needing just 25 off 51 to win. CHANCE is there? Taylor is living dangerously with these chips, as he pops one up into the leg side, narrowly missing the fielder at square leg. A single off every ball this over apart from the final ball, 5 from it and England are looking more and more comfortable here.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 5-173 - 41.0 overs. Buttler 55, Taylor 75. Target 201 CHANCE! Another run out chance in this game, I think Taylor would have just been in, but that was a sharp single to take while England are fairly comfortable. That brings up the 100 partnership for the pair. Very good batting from Taylor and Buttler that might well have saved the game for their country. 10 runs off the left arm spinners over.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 5-163 - 40.0 overs. Buttler 51, Taylor 69. Target 201 Wonderful off drive from Buttler. Exquisite shot for 4 runs. FIFTY FOR BUTTLER! And then he chips another shot over long on for 4 more to move to 50 off 59 balls! He was worried for a minute there Buttler, but it landed safe and carried well over mid on's head. That's his 6th ODI 50. And a sharp single at the end of the over moves the score on to 163 with 10 overs remaining. England need 38 runs to win.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 5-154 - 38.0 overs. Buttler 42, Taylor 69. Target 201 Three dot balls from Patel, oh and then one squeezes down the leg side and gets tickled on its way by Taylor for 4 runs. Then some brilliant running from the England pair turns 1 into 2. Oh then a chance? Might have hit the glove and ballooned up into the air there, but it falls safe. 6 from the over.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 5-148 - 37.0 overs. Buttler 42, Taylor 63. Target 201 Taylor looks to break the shackles with a hook forward of square. Good fielding restricts it to 2 runs. But after a dot ball Taylor goes again! Good stop from Binny backward of square this time to restrict it to 1 run. Oh what a stop from Kohli. Saves a certain boundary in the covers. Brilliant athleticism to dive and stop that ball one handed.
slane
Guest
Meh. Thought England has been pretty crappy too. They should pretty much just hand the cup to the Aussies.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 5-145 - 36.0 overs. Buttler 42, Taylor 60. Target 201 Patel the spinner stays on for the powerplay overs, contrary to the tactics England utilised in their innings with Ali. Three runs from the over.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ENGLAND 5-142 - 36.0 overs. Buttler 41, Taylor 58. Target 201 And now we have the batting powerplay, or as I've come to call it, the partnership ending powerplay... India need a wicket, and the fielding restrictions could force one as Shami gets the ball to beat the outside edge of Buttler. That was cracking delivery of 138kph. Buttler looks to attack but finds the fielder... It has the feeling of something about to happen with the fielders up - these are dangerous times for England, and promising ones for India. Oh and that last delivery was CLOSE to the outside edge. Buttler living on the edge. Just 1 from the over.