England host Australia in the first of three One Day Internationals with the series kicking off at Old Trafford on Friday at 10pm AEST.
The T20 series has concluded with England winning 2-1 as they step up to 50-over cricket in Manchester. Here are our best tips for the first ODI between England v Australia.
England v Australia 1st ODI Tips, Predictions & Preview: England’s Top Batsman
With the T20 series done and dusted, Australia will try and gain momentum following their dead-rubber victory in the final game of that series. Big hitter Jos Buttler is exciting to watch when he is at the top of his game. He will be looking for boundaries when he gets to the crease, that is assuming he plays in the first ODI after leaving the bubble to be with his family. He scored 44 off 29 balls in the first T20 match before an unbeaten 77 off 54 balls. He did not play the third T20 but will be full of confidence heading into the ODI series. The Lancashire wicketkeeper looks a good bet to be top scorer for the hosts.
England v Australia 1st ODI Tips, Predictions & Preview: England’s Top Bowler
With the series already won, England’s bowlers didn’t impress in the dead rubber match. Jofra Archer can be frustrating; he can be complacent with his bowling so happy to overlook him here. Tom Curran took 1/23 off his four overs in the final T20 match and will need to bowl better in the 50-over format of the game. Leg spinner Adil Rashid looks the pick of the English bowlers at the moment and took 3/21 off four in the third T20 match. He looks the key to the bowling attack on Friday.
England v Australia 1st ODI Tips, Predictions & Preview: 1st Over Total Runs
There’s no better feeling in cricket than getting off the mark early. While some players will look to smash the ball to the boundary to open their account, other opening batsmen will prefer to be conservative early. Both teams have openers that can find the boundary and they may do so in the first over of the match. Over 3.5 runs in the first over looks a good play to kick off the ODI series.
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