england v australia

Friday, 04 September 2009
England v Australia, Brit Oval

England have once again suffered an injury scare during the process of playing football for fitness training. With scares to other players during the Ashes series, occurring from the same decision to employ the contact sport as part of training, opener Joe Denly has now suffered a blow to his left knee when colliding with Owais Shah. Kent player Denly made less than impressive start in the first Twenty20 match against Australia where he was out for a Golden Duck. Both Twenty20 matches were abandoned due to the Manchester rain.

One may question as to why England are wasting time playing football, when they have enough problems with aspects of cricket to sort out in the shortened formats of the game. Now England Skipper Strauss is looking at whether alternative methods should be sought out. Despite the training session being non-tackling affairs, Denly was prostrate on the ground for a quarter of an hour after the collision.

A late decision may be made on young hopeful Denly. If not, then Jon Trott, the man who stepped into the fray so well in the deciding game of the Ashes series, will probably make an appearance. While Captain Andrew Strauss will once more take his role in the England team after not playing in the Twenty20 games, more pressure will be heaped on an out of form Ravi Bopara who will likely open if Denly fails to make the team. Bopara cannot have too many lifelines left after impressing so well against West Indies earlier in the year, but failing miserably since then.

England certainly need some solid performances against the Aussies in the one day format. It is the resurgence of a hotly contested series of games, stretching back to 1971 when the first One Day International game was played between the two nations. The list of results since then hasn’t particularly favoured England, as they have only won 37 times out of 93 attempts against the old foe. Not known for being the most dynamic team, England may once again suffer at the hands of Australia on home territory. A lot of guidance will be needed by the older heads of AndrewStrauss and Paul Collingwood, and hopefully the weather will stay fine enough to produce some exciting matches.

There will be no Ricky Ponting to enjoy watching getting bowled out, as the Australia captain sits on the sidelines for a break during the opening three fixtures. This will mean that the best Aussie player of the Ashes series, Michael Clarke will lead the men from down under into battle. The two teams square off in seven One Day Internationals, and the Australians will fancy their status as going into it as favourites. This will be backed by some inept, indifferent and decidedly average England ODI performances over the last year or so, and it will be the Australians’ last chance to take some positives and some pride back with them.

MATCH ODDS:
England to win: 11/8 at William Hill
Australia to win: 8/3 at Victor Chandler

Series Betting Tips: England do not seem the most productive ODI team, and are searching for a settled side while the Aussies flourish with the dynamics of the game. With no Flintoff and no Kevin Pietersen, England may struggle to fill those decidedly big shoes, and some of the responsibility has been handed to newcomers Trott and Denly. Maybe a new hero will emerge like Adil Rashid, and there will be no finer a time for Stuart Broad to prove to selectors and fans alike that he really is the man who can carry the all-rounder torch after big Freddie Flintoff retires.

Australia to win series: 4/7 at Victory Chandler.

Correct Series Score: Australia to win 4-3 will fetch 11/4 at Boylesports. While is hard to predict a correct score, not because of games not being decided, but due to the English weather and games being called off, hopefully England will have some stick ability and push the Aussies to a close series. A 5-2 Aussie win can be had for the same price at Skybet.

England Top Bowler: Stuart Broad 5/2 at Coral seems like a very good bet. While, digging a little deeper, if he turns up and on form, then conditions this late in the year could suit Ryan Sidebottom to a tee, he is 5/1at Boylesports.

Top England Batsman: Looking at the Squad sheet, it is a little hard to see where positive quick runs will come from. Andrew Strauss will be the sensible bet 11/4 at BlueSquare, while the more ambitious punter could go for Matt Prior 13/2 at Totesport.