 The third ODI of the five match series between Australia and England will
be played at the Old Trafford in Manchester. England leads the series 2-0 and
will be looking to win the third game as to ensure that the series is theirs for
the taking. Australia, on the other hand, haven't lost an ODI series for some
time now, and will look to find ways to overcome the growing English armada.
Click for Live Score Card of England Vs Australia
Australia's problems for the two successive games now has been their bowling
attack. With Ryan Harris pulling out of the previous game due to his injured
groin, it was only obvious that the side would have struggled to make a good
match out of it with a virtual second string bowling attack.
Steven Smith and Andy McKay have barely played much international cricket,
whereas Nathan Hauritz seems to be struggling a bit with his bowing as well
which means that the only ones remaining are the likes of Doug Bollinger and
the other medium pace bowlers in Shane Watson and James Hopes.
However, with Watson and Hopes, both looking like they are just about okay
medium pace bowlers in the side, it is only evident that it has left Ponting
scratching his head and thinking about how to go about their business.
The Aussie batting, thus, has to take on a lot of responsibility if they have
to make sure that the side is able to defend the total. The top-order needs
to not only get the starts but also score the big ones. The other issue has
been with the way Michael Clarke has batted so far, and that can only
be overcome if the side is able to promote either Hussey or Clarke to the top
of the order.
For England, the going has been so smooth that they would be pinching
themselves for the same. It looks like the side could do with a bit of a better
and more incisive bowling at the top of the innings, but apart from that, their
game has been of the best draw.
Andrew Strauss played a welcome innings of 50 before throwing it away, whereas
the rest of the batsmen batted superbly again. Eoin Morgan's continuing good
form has made it difficult for the opposition bowling, and if Craig Kieswetter
and Pietersen can keep coming hard at the opposition, things can only get better
for England.
With Stuart Broad bowling the way he did, a 3-0 scoreline looks like
a decent possibility.
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