Arch-rivals England and Australia face-off in the second ODI match in Manchester on Sunday, September 13. Australia are 1-up in the series, courtesy their win in the first ODI by 19 runs.
Australia have a piece of welcoming news ahead of the second game. Steve Smith, who missed the first game due to a concussion is available for selection in the second. By all means, he will be included in the playing XI in Manchester. Smith will bat at his familiar number three position.
Marcus Stoinis batted at number three in the first match and scored an important 43, which helped Australia post a mammoth score of 294 for 9. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc has injured his groin in the first match and is likely to be rested for the second.
England, on their part, has to resolve the top-order. England opened with Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow. While Roy was dismissed early, Bairstow found it tough to score initially. He scored 84 off 107 eventually, an effort that was not enough to see England home.
The world champions might be tempted to get Jos Butter to the top, where he has been so successful in his career. Meanwhile, Moeen Ali, Joe Root and captain Morgan will look to bat with a bit more responsibility in the second game. They would like to keep Sam Billings in the XI, who scored a century batting at number six in the line-up. Bowling wise, they will look to put up a better performance as well.
Also Read: Steve Smith Passes Concussion Test; Available For Selection in 2nd ODI vs England
Date and Venue: England vs Australia, 2nd ODI at Old Trafford, Manchester on September 13 (Sunday) at 5.30 PM IST
Weather and Pitch Conditions
The pitch in Manchester has been historically assisting the pacers. It provides considerable seam and swing movement for quality bowlers. Given that both sides have quality bowlers in their ranks, the contest between bat and bat is expected to be an even one.
If the batsmen play the moving ball with a bit of caution early on, they can cash in in the later part of the innings as was seen in Billing’s case.
Team News
Steve Smith will be available for selection in the second ODI after missing the first for Australia. Mitchell Star has picked up a groin injury and might be rested. If that happens either of Andrew Tye or Daniel Sams might play.
Unlike Australia, there are no injury concerns for England. However, after their loss in the first game, they would like to tinker with their batting order. Buttler might open the batting and keep. This might see Jonny Bairstow rested. Also, Tom Banton might replace Jason Roy at the top, given that he failed with the bat as well.
Also Read: ICC T20I rankings
Squads
England
Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Reserves: Dawid Malan, Phil Salt, Saqib Mahmood
Australia
Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Daniel Sams, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
England vs Australia 2nd ODI – Match Prediction
Australia are likely to win the second game given that they have an upper hand and are 1-up in the series. However, an England-Australia match in recent times has always been intriguing and this one promises to be another one of the same. England as an ODI outfit has been very competitive in recent times and cannot be counted out.