Australia vs England 2013: 1st ODI Preview - New look sides to continue the battle

Aaron Finch is in devastating form

After a resounding 3-0 defeat of Australia in the recently-concluded Investec Ashes series, hosts England return for a five-match ODI series against the old enemy, with the first game starting today at Headingley, Leeds.

Both sides have chosen to go in with a blend of youth and experience. While England have rested most of their Ashes heroes and have a new leader in the innovative Eoin Morgan, Australia will look to skipper Michael Clarke to deliver the goods in the middle order.

It will be interesting to see how he peps up a side that has been smarting from the shameful surrender in the longest format.

Nevertheless, the warm-up games with Scotland and Ireland gave an opportunity to both heavyweights to test their bench strength. For the Kangaroos, Aaron Finch has been a revelation at the top of the order with his free-flowing style and ability to hit the big shots.

The Poms have also unearthed a fast-bowling talent in former Irish player Boyd Rankin, who took four wickets in the one-off ODI against his former team, and looks to be in fine touch.

England are under no pressure to clinch the series, unlike Australia, who would like to end their nightmare of a tour on a positive note. While their batting looks great on paper, it is the bowling that might turn out to be the weakest link, and off-spinner James Tredwell looks to be the only one who could pose difficulties to the Aussie batsmen.

Opener Michael Carberry had a forgettable outing against Ireland, while Steven Finn proved expensive. Still, with the amount of youth and experience in the side, it wouldn’t be good to underestimate the hosts.

Australia also have a great batting line-up with Finch and Shaun Marsh providing an explosive start at the top, followed by Watson and Clarke down the order. Matthew Wade needs to fire as both batsman and keeper, and T20 captain George Bailey will also be needed to play a useful innings.

On the bowling front, left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson is likely to return to the side, especially since his variations in the shorter format have troubled batsmen around the world. Leg-break bowler Fawad Ahmed can bamboozle the inexperienced ones in the line-up with his bag of tricks, as he showed in the T20 game at Southampton.

Match conditions

The weather in Headingley is cloudy with light rainfall expected during the day; there are chances that the atmospheric conditions might worsen as the day progresses. If the conditions remain overcast and wet, we could very well see a curtailed game. However, I would recommend that the team that wins the toss should bowl first and look to take early wickets.

Key Players:

1. Aaron Finch (Australia)

Fresh from a record-breaking 156 in the first T20I and a brilliant 148 against Scotland, the 26-year-old opener will look to play his natural game and give his side an explosive start at the top of the order. Finch has completely changed his mindset since his international debut in January and backs himself to play shots all over the wicket.

Powerful off the front foot and possessing excellent hand-eye coordination, the Victorian tends to score rapidly and is a superb player of spin as well.

His propensity for hitting sixes was on full display during the savagery he unleashed on the hapless English in Southampton; so once he gets going, he will be an unstoppable force.

Perhaps through his efforts, Australia might just manage to hit back at the hosts for subjecting them to utter humiliation in the Ashes.

2. Boyd Rankin (England)

Boyd Rankin had a good outing against his former side, Ireland, picking up 4 wickets

The giant Irish pacer showed what he could do with the ball when he knocked over four of his former teammates without so much as a fuss. The conditions at Leeds will suit his style of bowling as he can extract bounce from the most sluggish of pitches.

As long as he keeps his injuries under control, Rankin can easily form a potent strike-bowling combination with fellow fast bowler Steven Finn.

Prediction

On current form, England should be able to win this game, but they will have to get Finch, Marsh, Clarke and Watson early, and negotiate the threat of leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, whose variations proved to be quite a handful at Southampton.

The ground fielding has to be top-class, and with the exuberance of youth around, Australia will find it difficult to score easy runs. My money’s on the hosts to win this one.