ODI preview / Ed Hawkins / 21 June 2010 /

The old rivals meet at Southampton's Rose Bowl on Tuesday for the first of five matches. Can we trust England in the limited-overs format or will Australia repeat their stroll of a year ago? Ed Hawkins analyses game one

Team news
England's genesis as a one-day team to take seriously began when they recognised that opening batsmen need to be able to hit the ball over the top and for the second time we will see a partnership which might just have it all: Andrew Strauss, the skipper, and Craig Kieswetter could complement one another perfectly.

Ajmal Shahzad, Stuart Broad and James Anderson make up the pace bowling unit while the selectors must decide whether to go with Michael Yardy or Tim Bresnan as the auxiliary allrounder. Yardy was pencilled into bat at No 6 in the victory over Scotland and one wonders whether Ian Bell might come into the reckoning as an extra batsman.

Australia's strength was emphasised in the warm-up against Middlesex. Struggling at 64-4, Cameron White and Mike Hussey put on their overalls and got their hands dirty in the engine room. White made 106 and Hussey 72.

Their one selection question is: James Hopes, the allrounder, or Steve Smith, the legspinner who can bat a bit? Hopes took five wickets against Ireland and should probably get the nod given that Nathan Hauritz is first-choice spinner.

Venue and conditions
The average first-innings score at the Rose Bowl is 238 in the last eight (there was one washout and we have not included Australia's beating of the USA). It highlights the venue's reputation as one which gives assistance to bowlers in a format which has too often been dominated by the bat.

That said, one would not shy away from backing Australia for 275 or more at around the [1.85] mark if they were to bat first. Australia have won both of their matches there while England have two victories from four.

Match odds
With the game under lights the natural reaction is to wonder whether it would be best to blindly back the side batting first. There is no evidence that it is particularly tricky to bat last under the beam at the Rose Bowl - a study period of two wins by 'runs' in three is far too sleight.

Certainly both sides are set up to make the most of any movement. Doug Bollinger, Ryan Harris and Clint McKay can make it bend while James Anderson and Ajmal Shahzad will need it to.

As stated in the series preview, there does not appear to be much to choose between the sides. Australia, statistically, have the superior batting line-up over the last 12 months, but a shortage of games does not take into account the brilliance of Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan. Kevin Pietersen, who should bat at No 3, redresses the balance, too now he has overcome his injury problems.

The hosts therefore get the nod at [2.28] with Australia too skinny at [1.76]. England have confidence coursing through their veins as a one-day unit following their unexpected World Twenty20 title while Australia, hammered in the final of that tournament, don't have the "firepower" of old. Not my words, but Owais Shah's who faced them for Middlesex last week.

Top batsman
White has to get the nod for Australia. In three List A matches at the Rose Bowl, White averages 61. His century for Australia there last year inspired Australia to six-wicket win in a series they dominated, albeit because England were still celebrating Ashes glory.
White will go off at around the [6.50] mark with Ricky Ponting and opener Shane Watson taking up a large percentage of the book.

For England, Strauss top-scored the last time the sides met at the venue and although he is fancied to go well again, Morgan in the middle order is continually underrated. If you can get north of [6.50], take it.

Featured market
The highest individual score parameter is set at over/under 82.5 runs. With three centuries in each of the last three games, the formbook says the only way is up.

Ed Hawkins says: back C White for top Australia bat at [6.50] or bigger

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