Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

ENG vs AUS 3rd ODI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs AUS 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction | England vs Australia 3rd ODI Key Players | Old Trafford Manchester Pitch Report

Had you stopped watching the second ODI when the home side was reeling at 149/8, you would have been in shock at the result. The same applies when the tourists were sitting pretty at 144/2, requiring 4.50 an over to seal the series. So, the fact that this series comes down to a decider is remarkable.

England’s amazing comeback in the second ODI was another episode in their summer of comebacks. And The Barmy Army’s Twitter admin was loving it. After international cricket made a comeback in July, England came from behind to beat West Indies 2-1, achieved a remarkable Test win from the dead against Pakistan, and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat twice – one each in T20I and ODI cricket – against Australia. So, if you believe that England have the psychological advantage heading into this third and final ODI, you may very well be right.

Jofra Archer is all over David Warner. Australia’s middle order, despite saving the team first up, still has significant question marks about it. Adil Rashid is bowling as well as he ever has, and Eoin Morgan well and truly knows that no game against Australia is complete until those final runs are hit. England have not lost an ODI series at home since losing 3-2 to Australia in 2015, and they will be out to keep this record alive. They have a great chance of doing so, given the mental advantage they possess over the old enemy.

Where to for Australia? Captain Aaron Finch was as shocked as anyone post-match, at a loss to explain what on earth happened in the second ODI. Their collapse of 7/23 is another scene in a horror movie that is Australia’s tendency to collapse over the past few years, particularly away from home, across formats. This goes hand-in-hand with poor bowling at the death, offering a buffet of half trackers and half volleys, with Adil Rashid and Tom Curran helping themselves to crucial runs on a sluggish track. So, after an excellent display first up, can Australia put the second game behind them and leave England with an ODI series win?

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Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Jofra Archer is having a series to remember. He has taken six wickets in two ODIs (3/57 and 3/34), and has dismissed David Warner four times in five games across the ODIs and T20Is.
• Chris Woakes was absolutely outstanding in the second ODI, as he and Archer inspired a collapse. He is coming off 3/32 with the ball, as well as an important 26 with the bat.
• Steve Smith is expected to return in this game, and he will be crucial to Australia’s chances.
• Smith and Aaron Finch have the potential to set up the innings for Australia. Finch has 1,342 runs at 49.70 in 29 ODIs vs England, and has scored 214 runs in five matches on this tour (46, 40, 39, 16 and 73).
• Is this the game where Jason Roy fires? He was looking good in the second ODI (21 off 22 balls), before getting run out. Roy has a good record vs Australia, averaging 45.68 in 19 ODIs against them.
• Eoin Morgan will have an important role to play in managing the middle overs for England. He is the highest ever run-scorer in England-Australia ODIs, with 1,929 runs at 41.04.
• Will both Mitchell Marsh (avg. 37 in 15 ODIs vs England) and Glenn Maxwell (avg. 37.60 in 23 ODIs vs England) play? Given they saved Australia in the first ODI, chances are they will, and will be key to Australia’s hopes.
• Third-time lucky for Jos Buttler this series? England’s star keeper-batsman has been out for 1 and 3, so it will be interesting to see how he bounces back.
• Adil Rashid vs Adam Zampa will be another great battle to watch on the slow Manchester surface. Zampa has been superb, with combined figures of 7/91 in 20 overs this series (4/55 and 3/36). Rashid has the most wickets of any currently player in England-Australia ODIs (41 in 23 matches).
• Josh Hazlewood so far this series: 10-3-26-3 and 10-2-27-1. He has bowled superbly.
• Mitchell Starc is coming off his best haul so far this tour (2/38). His partner in crime, Pat Cummins, has been underwhelming (1/74 and 1/56). Can the star pacer bounce back?

Stats and Facts

• The team batting first has won the past eight ODIs at Manchester.
• England have won the past two bilateral ODI series vs Australia (4-1 and 5-0, both in 2018).
• Sam Billings performs brilliantly when England chase. His last three scores in ODI run-chases: 67* (54), 46* (61) and 118 (110).
• Surprisingly, Joe Root and Steve Smith have underwhelming records in England-Australia ODIs. Smith averages 33.23 in 30 ODIs, and Root 28.43 in 27 ODIs.
• David Warner has been dismissed by Jofra Archer in four of five matches on this tour. Warner now averages below 30 (29.63) in 23 ODIs vs England. Can he deliver in the series decider?
• Jonny Bairstow averages 52.11 in seven ODIs on this ground, despite a duck last game. Jofra Archer has taken three wickets in each of his three ODIs on this ground.

Possible Playing 11

Steve Smith had passed a concussion test ahead of the second ODI, but was left out as a precaution. He should be ready to go for this game, and will likely replace Marcus Stoinis.

Australia also have decisions to make regarding their middle order and death bowling. Will Josh Philippe or Matthew Wade come in? What about Kane Richardson or Riley Meredith? Given this is a decider, Australia might look to persist with the current personnel.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Steve Smith, 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

England dropped Moeen Ali for the second ODI. Given his replacement, Sam Curran, took an excellent three-wicket haul, chances are he will be left out again. Also, Tom Curran, who bowled at an economy rate of 2.80 and scored a crucial 37, could keep his place depending on Mark Wood’s fitness.

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

Old Trafford Manchester Pitch and Weather Report

It will be a different pitch used in this game, after the same track was played on in both the first and second ODIs. However, given quite a bit of cricket has been played on the square this season, another slowish pitch can be expected in this clash. It remains to be seen if the bounce, which was inconsistent last game, is consistent this time.

The weather forecast looks good once again for this clash.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

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Match Prediction

Bat first, and get 250 on the board. This could be the key to victory on a ground where setting a score reigns supreme. This will be particularly important for Australia, who have looked shaky on every occasion where they have chased a score this tour.

Thanks for reading!

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