AUS vs ENG, Sydney Starts on Jan 16 Free Games & More! Download UC Browser Commentary Preview: It is perhaps indicative of how Englands prospects at the 2015 WC are viewed by the media that on the eve of the teams tri-series opener against Australia at the SCG, captain Eoin Morgan found himself insisting that Kevin Pietersen has no place in Englands ODI side - at least for the foreseeable future. England cricket has hit a rough patch over the last year or so, starting with the 5-0 Ashes drubbing, Pietersens subsequent exile and a string of ODI series defeats culminating in Alastair Cooks removal as captain and axing from the ODI squad, and now Morgan is left with the task of driving the team into some sort of form before England open their World Cup campaign at the MCG on February 14. And still, Pietersen - the most exciting batsman England produced in this era - dominates discussions of England and ODI cricket. The team now has at least four ODIs - five if they reach the ti-series final in Perth on February 1 - to figure out what combination to play at the World Cup, as well as get key players into some sort of form. Morgans team goes into the tri-series on the back of a 5-2 loss in Sri Lanka, which itself came after they were beaten at home 4-1 by India. Sandwiched between a 4-1 loss in Australia and a 3-2 home defeat to Sri Lanka was Englands only series win of 2014, a 2-1 win in the West Indies. England have won just nine of 24 ODIs in the last 12 months, and common across those matches were the inability of the batsman to put up big totals and the bowlers to click in unison. Going into the tri-series also featuring defending World Cup champions India, Morgans challenge is to himself get into top form - he averages 24.28 in the last year - and inspire a flagging team. Cooks spot at the top has been taken by Ian Bell, who drilled 20 fours and three sixes during his 145- ball 187 against a Prime Ministers XI in Canberra on Wednesday, while Moeen Ali (71 off 49) and James Taylor (71 off 77) also got runs to secure their places at Nos 2 and 3. Morgan said at the pre-match press conference that Bells innings epitomised the ruthlessness his side needed to succeed in the ti-series and the World Cup, and now the talk must be backed by replication down the order. With Stuart Broad back in the side after an injury break, the team gets some extra oomph. James Anderson is in doubt for the match as he battles to recover from a knee injury, sitting out of the win over the PMs XI. Australia do not have as many worries as England, though they will hope to have Michael Clarke fit for the World Cup. In his absence, the side will be led by George Bailey whose ODI record as a batsman is impressive but who, like Morgan, needs runs to increase his confidence for the mega- event. The hosts are likely to use the ti-series to fine- tune their plans, such as whether Glenn Maxwell can bowl ten overs of spin and if recalled left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty deserves to get playing time come February 14. World Cup debutants
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:23:15 +0000
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