England v Australia Prediction: Aussies won the first game

England and Australia are going head to head in the Match 2 of One Day Series at Headingley, Leeds, Headingley, United Kingdom on 21st September 2024. The Aussies won the first game. Who will win this game of cricket?

Ben Duckett is going to open the innings with Philip Salt in the game. Duckett has promisingly transformed into an opener for ODI cricket and has batted at No. 3 and 4 for his first 11 games. After the total of 12 ODIs so far, with 1 century and 4 half-century knocks averaging 44.54, expectations will remain from this player. Will Jacks, who was slated to bat at number three, showed his explosive nature by hitting 62 runs in the first game at a strike rate of 110.71.

Harry Brook will be used at the middle order along with Jamie Smith and Liam Livingstone. Even though Brook hammered three sixes and 2 fours in his 39-run inning in the first game, an average of 29.73 might be a slight cause for concern. Liam Livingstone, the top run-scorer and wicket-taker in the T20I series, was also disappointing in the last game scoring a meager 13 runs and taking one wicket as well. The English middle order is devoid of players with an average above 30.

Newcomer Jacob Bethel did well in his debut, scoring 35 runs and taking a wicket. The bowling will be led by Jofra Archer, assisted by Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse, costly in the opener but good for a combined total of one wicket. Despite the horror story, Archer is still going to be required by England. He has a tally of 42 wickets in 22 ODIs and has an average of 23. The bowling depth will come under test with Potts and Carse, who have averages over 40. Adil Rashid will be the lone spinner with 199 wickets from 136 ODIs but goes wicketless from the last game.

Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Harry Brook (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid.

Australia lack one Ben Dwarshuis due to injury but there's already a backup paceman in the team. They lost three bowlers to injuries during the T20I series, while Travis Head has continued to keep up a good form from the T20I series which, however was a saving grace for the team in its desperate need for someone to reassure and hit decent runs. Head's just recently undropped 154-run knock has put him into the impressive tally of 487 runs in the last 8 matches, with an average of 69.57 and strike rate of 124.23. Today he will open with captain Mitchell Marsh, who has two hundreds to his name in the last ten. Steve Smith will bat at number three as he has so far amassed 1135 runs in 35 matches played at an average of 37.83 since 2010 against England.

The Australian middle order is full of all-rounders like Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, and Matthew Short. There is wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey too to strengthen the batting. Green has an average of over 38.93 in 23 innings while having taken 18 wickets. Overall, Labuschagne has been brilliant in contributing with bat and ball. This is well proven in his recent contribution: 77 runs and three wickets. With an average of 50 against England, Labuschagne remains a regular for Australia. Matthew Short may make way for Glenn Maxwell in the lineup.

Return of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood for the remaining games will reassure the Australians. Starc took 38 wickets in 22 Tests against England, while Hazelwood took 19 in 14 innings. The spinners in the last game did wonders for Australia after they bowled 30.4 overs in the last 18 overs and took nine wickets to set a national record. Adam Zampa spearheaded the attack with 3 for 49, while they were accompanied by Labuschagne with 3 for 39, Head with 2 for 34 and Short with 1 for 68.

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wk), Matthew Short, Sean Abbott, Mitchell starc, Josh Hazelwwod, Adam Zampa.

Australia have continued to win their games against the hosts in their last five games. Despite losing four pacers, the team has quite some experienced players expected to return to the team. Travis Head is anticipated to pose a significant threat for England with the support of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood. Our prediction is that Australia will surely win against England.