Australia looking forward to wrap up ODI series against England
Australia will be looking forward to wrap up the seven-match one-day international (ODI) series against England after winning their fourth consecutive game in the series. The match will be played at Adelaide on 26 January.
This will be an ideal opportunity for Australia to win the series on Australia Day. The Kangaroos have come a long way after they were bruised by England in the humiliating Ashes series. The hosts lost the Ashes by a 3-1 margin and also started the limited-over
campaign with a defeat in the opening Twenty20 match. However, the Australians proved their mental toughness and bounced back in the ODI series perfectly.
England seemed to be the dominant team at the start of 2011 but they have now lost four of their last five matches. On the other hand, the Kangaroos have won four of their previous five encounters. The shift in momentum has been shocking for England captain
Andrew Strauss. He blamed the batsmen for the dismal show in the ODI series. The team started well in the first ODI but the batsmen failed to capitalise on their starts.
At one stage, the visitors threatened to post a massive total of over 325 in the series opener, but the home team got quick wickets and restricted England to below 300. From then onwards, the English batsmen have not been able to lift their game. The second
game yet again saw the English batting collapse, after the bowlers had restricted the Australians to a relatively low total.
The misery continued for the visitors as they collapsed for the third consecutive time in the ODI series. This performance from England has been a repeat of what was seen after the 2009 Ashes series. After winning the Ashes in 2009, England lost the ODI
series 6-1 against the Australians. The visitors will be eyeing a comeback in the series and a lot will now depend on their batting.
The return of Matt Prior hasn’t been a good one for the team as the veteran wicketkeeper didn’t manage to score any run in his two outings. England will be hoping that Prior and Strauss give them a positive start and lead them to victory in the fourth match. The
middle-order will also be expected to lift their game. Paul Collingwood has been the main concern for the visitors as he has been in terrible form throughout the tour.
The bowling has been disappointing for England as well, and they have suffered without their front-line bowlers, James Anderson and Graeme Swann. Anderson may return in the fourth ODI to boost his team.
On the other hand, the Australians have been in superb form. They don’t look like the team that lost the Ashes series last month. Although the team has suffered a lot due to injury concerns, Michael Clarke has not panicked at all.
The only thing that has to be improved in the team is the batting performance of stand-in captain Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120. His primary concern will be to win the series for his team, but he will also be looking forward to scoring some runs to regain form ahead of
the World Cup.
The kangaroos have been outstanding with the ball, and the return of Brett Lee has boosted the confidence of the team. In the context of the series, a win for England will keep the series alive, but http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 will be delighted if they are able to wrap things-up
in tomorrow’s (Wednesday's) match.
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