2018 Australia v England ODI series: When is it, where is it and who to look out for.

Andrew Lucas

2018 Australia v England ODI series: When is it, where is it and who to look out for. image

England will be looking to change their fortunes when they face Australia in the 2018 Gillette ODI series.

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Australia beat England 4-0 in the Ashes series, but both squads will have signficant changes for the one-dayers.

THE FORMAT

The 2018 Gilette ODI series will be played over five games in a two-week period following the conclusion of the Ashes series.

14 January, 2018 Australia vs England, MCG, Melbourne

19 January, 2018 Austraia vs England, The GABBA, Brisbane

21 January, 2018 Australia vs England, SCG, Sydney

26 January, 2018 Australia vs England, ADELAIDE OVAL, Adelaide

28 January, 2018 Australia vs England, OPTUS STADIUM, Perth

 

WHO IS PLAYING?

AUSTRALIA:  Australia will head into the ODI series against their arch-rivals extremely confident, with half of their 14-man squad featuring in the Ashes demolition of England. The hosts will have a powerful batting line-up with David Warner, Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh all capable of taking a game away from their opponents. Add Australia's trifecta of pace bowlers, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins and you have an ominous line-up.

ENGLAND:  The tourists have brought in the reinforcements as they look to change their worrying form following a demoralising Ashes series. Only seven players from the 16-man ODI squad featured in the Tests, with English selectors desperately hoping the new players can make the difference. The English squad possess a talented batting line-up with the likes of Jason Roy, Alex Hales and Joe Root all capable of making big scores.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aaron Finch, Australia-  The hard-hitting opener will look to stamp his authority on the ODI series in the first match at the MCG. Finch has been in good form in the Big Bash, striking the ball at 139 with a high score of 51. The Renegades opener has been a mainstay in the national ODI team, averaging 36.6 at a strike-rate of 90.

Steve Smith, Australia-  Where can this man go wrong? The Australian Test captain was simply outstanding in the Ashes series scoring 687 runs at an average of 137.4. Smith will face a similar bowling line-up, so will be looking for more of the same. 

Eoin Morgan, England-  The England one-day captain will be pivotal to the tourist's chances of upsetting the hosts. Morgan is a veteran of the English ODI set-up and averages 38.2 at a strike rate of 89. 

Joe Root, England-  He's been the face of England's dismal Ashes campaign. Root reached fifty on several occassions throughout the Ashes series and is still considered one of the best four batsmen in the world. If he can find that form, England will be a big chance to upset the Aussies on home turf.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?

The last time Australia and England met was in June at Birmingham in the 2017 ICC Champions trophy with the Poms winning by 40 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method. The two teams last played an ODI series in England in 2015, with the Aussies winning the series 3-2. 

RANKINGS

The teams sit third and fourth, tied on 114 rating points on the ICC ODI rankings.

Ranking Team Rating
1 South Africa 120
2 India 119
3 Australia 114
4 England 114

HOW TO WATCH

HEAD OUT TO THE VENUE.

For those more comfortable sitting at home to watch the games, all five ODI's will be broadcast on Channel Nine .

TICKETS

Tickets are on sale for the one-day series starting from $10 for children, $30 for adults and $65 for families.

The fifth ODI at Perth's Optus stadium has already sold out, and will be the first international game at the new venue.

Andrew Lucas

Andrew Lucas Photo