Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

ENG vs AUS 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs AUS 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Australia 2nd ODI Key Players | Old Trafford Manchester Pitch Report

Australia’s fate in the opening ODI depended greatly on how well their middle order coped. With half their side out for just 123, including their prolific openers out cheaply, many of Australia’s supporters at home may have thought it was the perfect time to get some sleep.

However, led by Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell, two of Australia’s maligned cricketers, the tourists came roaring back. A score of 294/9, on a surface where bowling into the pitch reaped rewards, was a competitive one, even more so with the superb Josh Hazlewood in such breathtaking form, with apt support from the wily Adam Zampa.

All of a sudden, England have now lost two consecutive games dating back to the third T20I. In fact, one may argue that Australia have had the better of England across the four white-ball matches to date, so Eoin Morgan’s men will be out for a response in the second match. Their first up defeat was not without positives, though, with Sam Billings’ superb hundred further showcasing his ability, to go with strong displays from Jonny Bairstow, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Adil Rashid.

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Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Man of the match Josh Hazlewood produced some spell in the first ODI. His performance of 10-3-26-3 led Australia to victory. Can he make another big impact?
• Sam Billings is England’s go-to man in run-chases in recent times. His last three scores in run-chases, dating back to the Ireland series, reads: 67* (54), 46* (61) and 118 (110).
• David Warner’s struggles against Jofra Archer continued. The Aussie opener has now been dismissed by Archer three times on this tour. Also, the question will be whether Warner can improve on his average of 30.76 in 22 ODIs vs England.
• Jonny Bairstow has hit some form. Last two scores (third T20I and first ODI): 55 and 84.
• Aaron Finch is crucial to Australia’s chances. His tour has been full of starts (46, 40, 39, 16), but his average of 48.80 in 28 ODIs vs England suggests he is a danger man.
• Marcus Stoinis has shown very promising signs higher up the order. Given Steve Smith is in doubt due to a head knock, Stoinis could bat at three again. His scores this tour: 23*, 35, 26 and 43.
• However, the two batting stars for Australia in the first ODI were Mitchell Marsh (73 off 100 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (77 off 59 balls). Will they show consistency and deliver again?
• Eoin Morgan has the most runs of any player ever in England-Australia ODIs (1,887 runs, avg. 41.02, SR 92.13). The skipper needs to make an impact in a must-win game.
• Jos Buttler’s failure last game was a rare occurrence in recent times. He can be expected to bounce back.
• Jofra Archer and Mark Wood made successful returns to ODI cricket, each taking three wickets in the first ODI. Their pace and variations will be key again.
• Adil Rashid (2/55) will also be key. He has 40 wickets in 22 ODIs in Australia, and he and Adam Zampa (4/55) will have key roles to play on what is expected to be a turning track once again.
• Time for Mitchell Starc to fire? He has taken just two wickets in four matches on tour, which includes a hit-wicket.

Stats and Facts

• England have won 10 of their past 13 ODIs against Australia. However, Australia are beginning to claw back, winning two of the past three.
• Eyes will be on Joe Root. He averages just 27.95 in 26 ODIs against Australia.
• So too Jason Roy. He averages very well against the old enemy (47.05 in 18 ODIs), but has struggled in his last four ODIs: 24, 0, 1, 3.
• The team batting first has won each of the last six ODIs at Manchester. The last chasing team to win was England against Australia in 2018, with Jos Buttler producing a gem to get England home by one wicket.
• Jonny Bairstow averages 62.60 in six ODIs at Manchester (two fifties, one century).

Possible Playing 11

Eoin Morgan isn’t one to panic. So, England could look to persist with the same XI that lost the first ODI.

England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jonny Bairstow, 3. Joe Root, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Jos Buttler (wk), 6. Sam Billings, 7. Moeen Ali, 8. Chris Woakes, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Mark Wood

Steve Smith is in doubt for this game, after missing the first ODI due to a head knock suffered at training. So, Australia are likely to go in with the same XI if Smith is unavailable.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Marcus Stoinis, 4. Marnus Labuschagne, 5. Mitchell Marsh, 6. Alex Carey (wk), 7. Glenn Maxwell, 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Josh Hazlewood

Old Trafford Manchester Pitch Report and Conditions

The pitch in the first ODI offered assistance to the spinners, as well as those bowlers who would bowl into the surface. A score of 275+ batting first could very well be a winning one. Similar conditions can be expected for the second ODI, with the weather forecast also very promising.

Dream11 Prediction

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Match Prediction

Another very interesting game awaits. England will look to make inroads into Australia’s top order again, and this time take advantage. The home side certainly have it in them to bounce back, but it could come down to whether the team batting first can notch a score in the region of 270 on the slowish Manchester track.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Do you write cricket blogs? Here are 6 tips to writing great cricket blogs!