Australia v England second ODI Tips: Root and head to deliver top-bat wins

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Sunday 15 November, 03:00
TV: Sky Sports

Australia v England second ODI team news

Australia, as is their hubristic wont, will be feeling very pleased with themselves. Despite the sandpaper gate scandal, Pat Cummins lecturing Usman Khawaja about racism and Australia cricket eating itself, some things never change. They gave England a good thumping at home.

We knew the Perth pitch can be tricky to bat on but few would've expected England to be shot out for just 131. Mahli Beardman is the new hero for the Aussies. His six-for suggests they have another tyro off the old production line. Spencer Johnson wasn't too shabby either with three wickets as express pace did for the Poms.

The Aussie line-up did spring a surprise. There was no Alex Carey. Josh Inglis took the gloves. That gave Australia six genuine bowling options with Cameron Green and Jack Edwards both in the XI. The temptation will be to stick with the team that dominated.

Possible XI: Marsh, head, Connolly, Inglis, Renshaw, Green, Edwards, Bartlett, Zampa, Johnson, Beardman 

England's batting flopped again. In three weeks they have been rolled for 131 by Australia and 241 and 215 versus Pakistan. But there have also been monster totals. And going back to the summer they batted without fear, too.

In terms of personnel there is not really anything they can do to improve their fortunes. They have picked five specialist batters only and each of them will play. Swapping all-rounders in and out isn't really going to solve anything. James Coles for Sam Curran for example. They need a proper batter at No 6 when they find themselves in trouble. In that regard the loss of Jacob Bethell is keenly felt.

Adil Rashid was overlooked again in favour of Liam Dawson. Rashid would have made no difference to the result but at some stage this series England may well lose a game because of that policy. But it shouldn't really be about Rashid or Dawson. In time do England really need four all-rounders?

Probable XI: Banton, Duckett, Root, Brook, Cox, Curran, Jacks, Dawson, Overton, Atkinson, Archer

Australia v England second ODI pitch report 

There have been seven day-night ODI at Adelaide in the last ten years. The runs per over average is 5.6 with an average of 33.6 runs per wicket. The last day-nighter played there was in October 2025 when India batted first and managed only 264. They lost by two wickets. Australia had been rolled for 164 by Pakistan the year before and England failed to defend 287 in 2022.

Historic scorecards suggest a good battle between bat and ball. That Australia collapse against Pakistan and the hosts 369 in 2017 at the only two extremes one might suggest.

The forecast for Adelaide is pretty good. In other words there should be no real reason why England produce another horrible batting effort. Skies are not heavy, pitch is pretty good. England's total runs at 269.5 at 10/111.91 is an option with Betfair Sportsbook.

Australia v England first ODI match prediction 

Five of those seven day-night games at Adelaide Oval have been won by the chaser. It's not a huge study sample or a list with enough recent matches but one might need a comfort rug to consider backing England. It might sound bonkers following the hammering they suffered in game one, but there's really not much to choose between these two sides.

England may well improve for the run and they might argue they were unfortunate to run in to two Aussie quicks who found rhythm and pace on a helpful wicket. Another 60 or 70 and it could have been an interesting chase.

However, if it is true that England are a prospect batting second, then so too are Australia. Perhaps more so. And odds-against Australia at the break, up to 2.305/4, can be a bet. The reference point is England's hopeless ability to defend in the tri-series in Pakistan. The awkward angles of the Adelaide would not inspire confidence, either.

Australia v England second ODI player tips 

Joe Root made it onw win his last ten games on top-bats for England in this format in Perth. He really should have taken the win with Gus Atkinson's 29 a big-priced upset. Root looked a shoo-in with 17 on the board and three team-mates already out. We keep the faith because we know that, as an elite batter, Root busts 30% on this market in the last two years and a failure just gets him closer. Patience is beginning to run a little thin, admittedly.

Travis Head recorded a duck in Perth but on his home turf he is taken to bounce back. In five ODI in Adelaide he has high scores of 128, 96 and 69. The last two were against England. Betfair Sportsbook offer 11/43.75 about a top-bat win.

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