Harry Brook’s maiden captaincy stint for England hasn’t started on a good note. His team has lost the first two ODIs of the five-match series against Australia, with the visitors putting on an excellent show so far. The two teams will lock horns in the third ODI at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street today, and the hosts will be keen on staying alive in the five-match series.
Notably, Australia has been dominant in both matches played thus far, whether they were chasing or defending a target. They comfortably chased down 316 runs in the series opener and then defended a total of 270 runs with ease at Headingley, where England crumbled in their chase. Australia’s squad depth was evident as they had rested key players Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Glenn Maxwell in the first game. These three players made a significant impact upon their return for the second ODI, collectively picking up seven wickets.
On the other hand, England’s performance has been inconsistent across both batting and bowling. In the absence of their regular captain Jos Buttler, the team has struggled to find form under Brook’s leadership. England’s bowling lineup, featuring the likes of Jofra Archer, who has recently returned from an injury, hasn’t lived up to expectations. Similarly, their batting order has failed to deliver a cohesive performance, making their task of winning this series increasingly challenging.
The Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street will present a fresh set of challenges for both teams. From historical data, the venue’s average first innings score is 236 runs across 25 matches. However, a high score of 338 runs has been recorded here, indicating the conditions can offer something for batting as well. Furthermore, England has successfully chased down a total of 314 runs against Australia at this very ground, which offers some hope to the beleaguered hosts.
The balance of the Riverside Ground has historically favored teams bowling first, with 13 wins compared to 10 for teams batting first in the 25 matches played here.
. This statistic might play into the strategic decisions both captains will ponder as the coin toss approaches.
Taking a deeper dive into the numbers at Chester-le-Street, the highest total recorded here is 338 for 6, achieved by Sri Lanka against the West Indies. The highest score ever chased is 314 for 4 by England against Australia. These records suggest that while the average score might appear modest, the potential for high-scoring matches exists, given the right conditions and innings building.
Both squads have announced their lineups, presenting a mix of experience and young talent. Australia’s squad includes Travis Head, Matthew Short, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Cooper Connolly.
England’s squad, on the other hand, comprises Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Harry Brook (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Olly Stone, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Saqib Mahmood, Jofra Archer, Jordan Cox, and John Turner.
In related cricket news, Shakib Al Hasan’s availability for India vs. Bangladesh 2nd Test is in doubt, with the BCB set to assess his condition. Additionally, intriguing discussions about the type of pitch—red soil or black soil—that might be on offer for the India vs. Bangladesh 2nd Test in Green Park are ongoing. Sarfaraz Khan’s wait continues, as he is likely to be released from the Indian team for the Irani Cup.
As the England vs. Australia 3rd ODI approaches, all eyes will be on Harry Brook and his team. Can they break Australia’s 14-match winning streak in ODIs and revive their chances in the series, or will Australia continue their winning run? The answer awaits at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, under conditions that remain as unpredictable as the game of cricket itself.
