England vs Australia 2018: 5 player battles to watch out for

After the infamous ball-tampering saga, the Australian team led by a new captain in Tim Paine is all set to take on the number one ODI side England.

Justin Langer, the newly appointed coach has already set the ball rolling by chalking out plans to redefine the public perceive the Australian side.

However, without David Warner and Steve Smith, the Australian side will have their backs against the wall and need the other players to step up and be counted and get the job done for the side against the hosts.

England, on the other hand, were humbled by Scotland in the one-off ODI and would want to get their house in order as they take on a much more formidable opponent in Australia.

Here in this slider, we take a look at five player battles which could determine the result of the match and the series as a whole.

#5 Billy Stanlake vs Jonny Bairstow

With the new ball and in the powerplay, this contest will be keenly observed as Billy Stanlake has been impressive ever since his Australian debut. He is pacy and gets disconcerting bounce and has the ability to pick up wickets.

He will be up against Jonny Bairstow who is enjoying a rich vein of form and will be taking guard in the match after scoring three successive hundreds in this format.

While Bairstow generally likes the get going from the outset, how he makes adjustments against the tall and lanky Stanlake will dictate the tone of the rest of the match and also the series.

Bairstow is very good off the backfoot and favours the pull and cut strokes and hence Stanlake cannot keep bashing the pitch as this length will work perfectly for the Yorkie.

Australia need to get rid of Bairstow early in the piece and thus Stanlake will have to put his hand up and get the job done.

#4 Chris Woakes vs Aaron Finch

Another battle right at the top with Chris Woakes and Aaron Finch going against each other.

Woakes generally gets the ball to swerve around and would look to pitch it up and swing it away from Finch who enjoys English conditions and is in good touch.

The Victorian would also want to gauge the conditions as he is good enough to make up for the dot balls in the initial stages of his career.

#3 David Willey vs Travis Head

Although, the conditions at the Oval will be perfect for batting, David Willey has the ability to get the white ball to swing away and he would want to do just that against Travis Head who looked in good form in the practice match.

Willey generally pitches the ball up and gets it to move away, enticing a drive and then grabbing the edge.

Head too likes to play his strokes on the up and hence he should be watchful against Willey and his skills, especially in the first 10 overs.

#2 Andrew Tye vs Jos Buttler

Both men had a bumper Indian Premier League and have been key cogs of their respective ODI sides.

Buttler has had a good run even in Test cricket against Pakistan and is perhaps England's best white ball player. He will walk in at number five and then would look to take the innings deep and play the role of the finisher.

However, he will face Andrew Tye who is improving as a bowler with each passing game and has great skills up his sleeve which will be employed to stop Buttler in his tracks.

#1 Kane Richardson vs Joe Root

Kane Richardson has only played 15 ODIs, but is now one of the leaders of an inexperienced ODI bowling for Australia and he has to deliver the goods in conditions which are expected to be tilted heavily in favour of the batting team.

He will have to take care of Joe Root as the form and performance of the right hander might well translate into how England go about their business.

Root has had a decent run in ODI cricket off late and he has to now start scoring hundreds and bat right through the innings.