Upbeat Australia look to consign England to rare series defeat

ENG v AUS, 2nd ODI, preview

England haven't lost a bilateral ODI series (excluding one-offs) since January 2017. After winning the first game, Australia will fancy their chances of ending that streak.

Overview

England v Australia, 2nd ODI
Old Trafford, Manchester
13 September, 2020, 1.00pm local time, 12.00pm GMT

The last time Australia toured England for a bilateral ODI series, they were swept 5-0, but the visitors look far more formidable this time around and showed just how dominant they can be at full strength. Either side can't afford one-sided results like this with the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League bringing context to every ODI game. 

Australia will be particularly pleased with what Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell produced with the bat in the first ODI as their middle-order has been a touch frail at times.

For England, their inability to cash in on a great start to their bowling innings was another reminder that finding a replacement for Liam Plunkett, who excelled in the middle-overs with variations of pace and cutters, won't be as straightforward as they may have thought when they parted ways with the seamer after the victorious ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 campaign.

England have won won two and lost two in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League table while the last ODI was Australia's first in the league. Despite England's loss, there isn't much to pick between the two sides. The challenge of protecting a truly amazing streak may well serve as motivation for Eoin Morgan's men to hit back in the second ODI.

Remember the last time

Australia were in a spot of bother at 123/5 in the first ODI before Mitchell Marsh (73) and Glenn Maxwell (77) forged a measured 126-run partnership. England hit back in the final 10 overs to keep the visitors to 294/9. Express pacemen Jofra Archer and Mark Wood enjoyed great returns picking up three wickets each.

Josh Hazlewood delivered a phenomenal opening spell, not only dismissing Jason Roy and Joe Root, but keeping England to an uncharacteristically low scoring rate before coming back to claim the wicket of Moeen Ali later in the innings. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa (4/55) further chipped away at England's batting, but the hosts were not to bow out without a fight. Jonny Bairstow (84) and Sam Billings (118) carried England deep into the game, but couldn't prevent a 19-run loss.

What they said

Eoin Morgan, England captain: "Sam Billings and Jonny Bairstow did well to keep us in the game for so long, and they gave us quite a genuine chance as well."

Josh Hazlewood, Australia fast bowler: "The wicket was pretty helpful for a new ball, that's when it did the most for both teams, so it was about exploiting that as best we could and hitting that length. It was good fun to bowl eight (overs) upfront and test myself as well."