Australia v England 2nd ODI Tips: England need to turn it on now

• SCG pitch could be full of runs

• Steve Smith set to shine

• Buttler value at 5/1

Australia v England
Saturday 19 October, 03:20
TV: Live on BT Sports

Team news

Australia are 1-0 up and they look a well-balanced unit. They bat all the way down to No 10 and have six bowling options. One would expect them to keep faith with a winning team.

That means Josh Hazlewood misses out on his home ground. If Australia wanted an extra pace option they could move Ashton Agar aside.

If there is a criticism it is that they may lack 'big boy' power in the middle order. Marnus Labuschagne is yet to convince in this format and looks like an anchor. But it is worth remembering that Glenn Maxwell, out with a broken leg, is an automatic pick.

Probable XI: Warner, Head, Smith, Labuschagne, Carey, Green, Stoinis, Agar, Cummins, Starc, Zampa

England could be forgiven for resting Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran after their T20 exertions. But if at least two of them don't come back for this one then the series can be filed away in the farce category.

If you're not going to pick your best players for the majority of a series then it devalues the process, not to mention disregarding spectators.

Fortunately Dawid Malan produced a masterclass with a fabulous century in Adelaide to make it a contest. How Malan fits into this XI in future is something of a mystery though with Joe Root another absentee.

Moeen may replace Sam Billings with Sam Curran coming in for the slightly expensive Luke Wood.

Probable XI: Roy, Salt, Vince, Malan, Buttler, Moeen, S Curran, Dawson, Jordan, Willey, Stone

Pitch report

In the last five ODI at the SCG the average run rate is six. Unsurprisingly, there have been some monster scores, notably Australia's 389 and 374 against India two years ago. We shopudl expect the side batting first to target a minimum of 300. This is an overs play on the par line but we'd be more confident about the Aussies batting well. Around 3.002/1 may be available for 300 or more. It may pay to go long of 330, 340 and 350 at decent numbers, too.

The weather forecast is okay. No rain is expected but it would have been a cloudy day.

How to play

Australia are 1.625/8 with England 2.588/5. Those prices are about right - if the XIs would remain unchanged.

We do need to see some evidence that England are motivated by returning their best calibre players. If we could be sure of that then they would be worth a nibble at what is a chunky price.

One suspects the toss will be important. Both are chasing teams. England have won seven of their last ten batting second and Australia seven from ten.

Tops value

David Warner won for the fifth time in his last 13 (two-year study) in Adelaide. He is 11/4 with Sportsbook. But Steve Smith looked in sensational touch having made significant technical changes. Such is the remodelling that Smith is actually now an attractive sight at the crease. he has four wins in 12. and is also 11/4.

Smith looked so good we note the 5/1 and 9/1 that he wins top match bat and man of the match on his home ground. We'd be keen on a runs buy at around 27.5 at around 20/21.

Malan is 16/5 favourite for top England bat after his ton. Jos Buttler has appeal at 5/1 with three wins in his last 12.