Visitors Australia (AUS) will be playing England (ENG) in a five-match ODI series, starting on Thursday, September 19, at Trent Bridge, in Nottingham. To highlight the shrinking relevance of bilateral ODIs, this is just the second series for both England and Australia since their contrasting World Cup campaigns last year: England lost 2-1 in West Indies last December while Australia beat the same opposition 3-0 in February.
Australia and England are set to renew their white-ball rivalry as they lock horns in the first of a five-match One-Day International series at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, starting Thursday, September 19.
ENG vs AUS : Previous Performances and Team News
The Australia vs England ODI series is all set to entertain cricket fans from both nations. The T20I series witnessed a thrilling battle with both sides winning one game each. Since the final game was washed out due to rain, the series ended in a 1-1 tie.
After a break of over two months, senior cricketers Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc will be making their returns. While Australia would hope to see Travis Head fire as he did in the T20I series. In Pat Cummins’ absence, Mitchell Marsh will be leading the side in the ODI series.
England, on the other hand, will miss the service of Captain Jos Buttler, who is out with a calf injury. Harry Brook has been appointed as the leader of the series. In Buttler’s absence, Ben Duckett will be opening for the Three Lions alongside Phil Salt while Jamie Smith is expected to make his debut. Jofra Archer will be leading the bowling unit but his workload will be managed throughout the series.
ENG vs AUS : Head to Head
| Matches Played | 156 |
| Won by England | 63 |
| Won by Australia | 88 |
| Tied and No Result | 05 |
| First-ever Fixture | 05/01/1971 |
| Most-recent Fixture | 04/11/23 |
ENG vs AUS : Pitch Report
Trent Bridge is renowned for producing high-scoring contests, particularly in ODI cricket. Historically, the venue has seen some massive totals, but 2024 hasn’t delivered the same volume of runs as previous years.
However, bright weather and favorable conditions are expected, which could still lead to a high-scoring affair. In the 50 ODIs played here, teams batting second have won more often (25 matches) than those batting first (22 matches), with the average first-innings score being 251. Given this, expect the captain winning the toss to opt for fielding first.
The surface at Trent Bridge will favour the batters. The pacers are likely to get some help in the initial overs but overall, it’s a good surface for batting. Anything over 320 runs can be considered to be a good total on the board. Trent Bridge can be a great place to bat in one-day cricket: since 2010 it has the highest average and strike-rate of all England and Wales venues. But the ball can also swing which gives the bowlers a chance. The sunny weather is set to hold on for at least the start of the series.
ENG vs AUS : Big Picture : Australia’s Mahli Beardman a discussion point ahead of an exciting series
After a T20 series where the view was longer-term to 2026, a number of big names were missing and the decider was washed out on a horrid day in Manchester, it feels like this upcoming five-match ODI series – yes, old-school and, yes, probably overkill – has a little more immediate relevance with an eye on next year’s Champions Trophy as some key multi-format players return.
To highlight the shrinking relevance of bilateral ODIs, this is just the second series for both England and Australia since their contrasting World Cup campaigns last year.
One significant player who won’t feature in these matches is Jos Buttler after a setback in the recovery from his calf injury. It means Harry Brook joins the list of England captains for the season, and it’s probably not insignificant given the feeling he is a genuine long-term option to lead the side. There will also be plenty of interest in how Jofra Archer goes in his first 50-over appearance in 18 months. It will be a significant increase in workload for him, although he will be carefully managed.
Australia, meanwhile, have had an influx of senior names with Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc all part of the series. Alex Carey is also in the squad but, in ODIs, he is now Josh Inglis’ understudy after being dropped early in last year’s World Cup. Either way, the tour will include his return to Lord’s next week, the scene of a dramatic storyline in Carey’s career
At the other end of the experience scale – you couldn’t actually go much further – is the call-up of quick bowler Mahli Beardman as a back-up player. With just one professional game under his belt it has certainly generated a talking point and, though he isn’t officially part of the squad yet, it wouldn’t take much more than some general soreness among the other fast bowlers for him to make a further step up.
“He’s a ripping young kid,” Mitchell Marsh, a fellow West Australian, said. “For a 19-year-old he’s got a lot of talent, he showed that during the Under-19 World Cup. I think he’s going to learn a lot by being here. I’ve certainly faced him in the nets a few times. We’ve seen over the history of Australian cricket we’ve got a long list of guys who have been plucked, I guess, out of nowhere but Mahli is certainly extremely talented and bowls fast.”
ENG vs AUS : In the spotlight: Jofra Archer and Glenn Maxwell
The A-word will never be far away. So much of what England are doing at the moment is with an eye on the 2025-26 Ashes and the rehabilitation of Jofra Archer is at the top of that list. This match will be his first 50-over game – international or domestic – since March 2023 having until now been kept on a diet of T20 action in a carefully-managed return to action.
That step-by-step approach will continue and there’s a chance he may not even bowl his full allocation of 10 overs, but it marks another significant step in Archer’s comeback and another stage towards what is hoped is an eventual return to Test cricket.
Glenn Maxwell was rested for the series against West Indies earlier this year so hasn’t played an ODI since the World Cup final. After his horror leg injury in late 2022, the effects of which he still has to manage, he is another player who will be carefully handled by the selectors. At the age of 35 he’s one of those who may not be around come the next ODI World Cup in 2027, so the Champions Trophy could be a 50-over farewell for one of the most dynamic white-ball cricketers there has ever been.
ENG vs AUS : Vital Stats that matters
- Australia are on a 12-match winning streak in ODIs. A victory in Nottingham would put this side joint second with Sri Lanka, behind Australia’s own 21-match run in 2003.
- Adam Zampa will play his 100th ODI: since the 2020 tour of England he has taken 94 wickets at 21.71
- The last time the sides met in an ODI at Trent Bridge, England made a then-world record of 481 for 6 It is one of only four times the teams have met in a one-dayer at this venue.
ENG vs AUS : Probable Playing XIs
England
England enter the series with a depleted squad, struggling to find rhythm in the 50-over format. The absence of regular captain Jos Buttler, who is yet to recover from a calf injury, leaves a leadership void, with Harry Brook stepping up to captain the side for the first time. Although Brook has been a revelation in Test and T20 cricket, his relative inexperience in ODIs could be a factor.
Phil Salt, who captained the T20 side in Buttler’s absence, adds more responsibility to a squad that appears light on experience. Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, seasoned campaigners in the bowling department, will be tasked with spearheading England’s attack, while all-rounder Liam Livingstone, in fine form, will be crucial to their middle-order stability.
England are undergoing a transitional phase in their white-ball setup, especially with Brendon McCullum taking over duties in the 50-over format following Matthew Mott’s sacking. It remains to be seen how this new regime will take shape in what promises to be a demanding series.
England Playing XI : Phil Salt (wk.), Will Jacks, Ben Duckett, Jordan Cox, Harry Brook (c), Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, Reece Topley.
Australia
On the other hand, Australia arrive with a squad brimming with experience. The return of Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marnus Labuschagne, and Alex Carey adds significant firepower to the lineup, while young talents such as 19-year-old Mahli Beardman also offer future promise.
Travis Head has been in scintillating form, particularly in the T20 series, and will aim to carry that into the ODIs, where he is expected to open the innings. Injuries have hit Australia’s fast bowling stocks, with Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, and Riley Meredith ruled out.
However, Ben Dwarshuis and Mahli Beardman have been flown in to fill the gap. Mitch Marsh will lead the side in Pat Cummins’ absence, and with youth and experience, Australia will look to continue their remarkable run of 12 consecutive ODI victories. Given their recent dominance, Australia will likely rotate their side across the series, giving opportunities to youngsters like Cooper Connolly, who is in line for a potential debut as they aim to start the series on a winning note.
Australia Playing XI : Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk.), Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Ben Dwarshuis.
ENG vs AUS Fantasy XI : Philip Salt, Josh Inglis, Will Jacks, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Glenn Maxwell, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Harry Brook.
ENG vs AUS : Probable Top Performers of the Match
Probable Best Batter: Travis Head
Australia’s explosive opener Travis Head is in remarkable form at the moment and would hope to carry on with the momentum. If he manages to stay in the same zone, Head can prove to be difficult to stop and he is someone who can take the game away from England’s reach. The hosts should be aware of his aggressive batting and try to get him out early.
Probable Best Bowler: Mitchell Starc
Australia international Mitchell Starc played 121 ODI matches and picked up 236 wickets at an average of 22.96. Ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy, he would like to get into the zone and make an impact and what better way than to do it against England
ENG vs AUS : Match Prediction
Scenario 1
Australia win the toss and opt to bowl first
PP Score: 55-65
Australia: 290-310
Australia win the match
Scenario 2
England win the toss and opt to bowl first
PP Score: 45-55
England: 245-265
Australia win the match
Considering the current form in the format, and overall team composition and experience, Australia are the favourites to win this clash. The Australia vs England T20I series ended in a tie but the ODI series will draw a winner as it comprises five games. The team that wins the first encounter will definitely get a head start in the series.