England vs Australia ODI Series 2024: Betting odds and Prediction

The ODI series between England and Australia kicks off on September 19 in Nottingham, with the final match set for September 29. After the T20 series ended in a 1-1 draw, with the decisive match at Old Trafford canceled due to rain, both teams will be eager to tip the scales in their favor. In our article, you'll find up-to-date statistics, pre-match insights, and betting options.

Who will win the match

England

It's safe to say that the Three Lions are not currently experiencing their best form in ODI cricket. In last year's Cricket World Cup, they failed to reach the knockout stage, finishing fourth from the bottom in the group stage, just two points ahead of the last place with an NRP of -0.572.

One of the three teams that finished below England was Sri Lanka, who recently dampened their spirits in the T20 tests, ending England's 10-year unbeaten head-to-head streak. Thanks to Pathum Nissanka's efforts, the final match of the series ended with Sri Lanka winning by 8 wickets.

Returning to ODI, in their last five matches, England suffered two defeats—both against the West Indies—and secured three victories. Against weaker opponents like the Netherlands and Pakistan, England managed to score around 300 runs, but against the West Indies, except for one game, their total hovered around 270 runs. They often started cautiously in the first overs but consistently picked up the pace by the middle of the match.

Jos Buttler is still unavailable due to a calf injury, which also kept him out of the T20 series and The Hundred. "It's disappointing to miss cricket, but I want to ensure a full recovery," he told Sky Sports.

In his absence, Harry Brook will captain England in the series. The 25-year-old has made a strong impression in his international career, particularly excelling in Test and T20 formats. However, his ODI performances have been less remarkable, averaging 29.07 across 15 innings.

Additionally, left-arm seamer Josh Hull is sidelined with a quad injury, and in-form all-rounder Liam Livingstone, a match-winner with both bat and ball in the T20 at Cardiff, has been added to the squad. Adil Rashid remains a key bowling figure. Last year, he became the first England player to take 100 T20 international wickets, and in ODIs, he is the leading wicket-taker for England as a spinner.

Australia

The Baggy Greens are the reigning world champions, having defeated South Africa and India in the knockout stage. Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa were named to the tournament's symbolic team, with Zampa finishing second in total wickets (average 22.39).

In recent T20 matches, Australia demolished Scotland (3-0), with Travis Head and Mitch Marsh setting a new record for the highest-ever Powerplay score in a men’s T20 international, accumulating 113 runs. They also started the series against England with a win but faced strong resistance afterward, with the final match decided by the weather.

Australia have remained undefeated in their last five matches, a streak that spans from November last year to February this year. These include three matches against the West Indies, one against South Africa, and one against India. They defeated the West Indies in the last match by 8 wickets, with 259 balls remaining.

Australia enter the series against England with a changed, if not experimental, lineup due to injuries. Key players like Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, and Riley Meredith are out. Pat Cummins has also been rested. Nevertheless, head coach Andrew McDonald sees this as an opportunity to test younger players.

For example, the team includes Mahli Beardman, a 19-year-old fast bowler from Western Australia, who impressed at the Under-19 World Cup, notably taking 3 for 15 in the final against India, earning Player of the Match honors. Australia also confirmed that 21-year-old Cooper Connolly would stay on the England tour for the ODIs, adding to their growing pool of young talent.

“We obviously welcome in a lot of experience to our group, and I know that guys like Starkey (Mitchell Starc), Maxi (Glenn Maxwell), Marnus (Marnus Labuschagne), and Smudger (Steve Smith) are really hungry. For the young guys, this will be a great experience to be around them,” captain Mitch Marsh told The Australian.

Starc has the confidence of both the captain and bookmakers, with odds comparable to the legendary Adam Zampa and even higher than England’s Adil Rashid.

Prediction

Australia have won all of the last five matches between the teams, dating back to 2020. However, it’s too early to label any team as clear favorites or underdogs, as some bookmakers even suggest the possibility of a tie.

England still have an interim coach, and Australia are fielding a heavily rotated lineup. At the same time, the Three Lions are also experimenting with young debutants, missing their captain. This will be an exciting and unpredictable series, and Australia look poised to take the first win.