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In an One Day International that could decide the fate of the series in favour of England, the home team take on Australia in the third match of five at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
England have won eight ODIs in a row and a victory here will not only give them another series win at home but also a new record of nine successive triumphs in this format.
Australia have not looked like a team which holds the number one ranking in the ODI world. Their performance has been scratchy at best with the bowling having failed to impress despite the choice at their disposal.
Interestingly, Australia’s opening batsman Shane Watson had scoffed at England’s batting depth at the start of the series thanks to the hosts’ decision to play five frontline bowlers. The shoe’s on the other foot as the Australian bowling has failed to contain the opposition batsmen in both games.
Despite Matthew Wade batting at seven, Australia have failed to put the runs on the board.
There has been talk in few quarters that Wade should be batting higher than seven but that also exposes the possibility of one of George Bailey or Peter Forrest facing the slog overs. Or that of Michael Clarke or David Hussey batting lower than their current spot.
Criticism that England is a highly top-order dependent ODI team vanished with Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara coming good in the first two matches respectively. Ian Bell continues to impress in his new position at the top of the order and has a 41 and 78 to his name.
Alastair Cook and Jonathon Trott have got some runs too which means that everyone in the top five has been amongst scores. Craig Kieswetter, who has opened the innings for England too, has been batting at six but hasn’t had too many opportunities.
The question is whether the Australian bowling can show enough incision to put the English lower-middle-order under any pressure.
England will make at least one change to their 11, with Jade Dernbach expected to miss the game. Dernbach has been given a leave on compassionate grounds to attend Tom Maynard’s funeral.
Australia could be tempted to push Mitchell Johnson away but it was his comeback match at Oval on Sunday. The selectors might give him another go. Clint McKay continues to remain the bowler the opposition finds difficult to get away.
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