In a crucial series decider, Steve Smith has taken the reins as captain of the Australian cricket team for the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) against England at the County Ground in Bristol. This decision comes after regular captain Mitchell Marsh was ruled out due to soreness from the previous match at Lord's.
Marsh, who had bowled for the first time since April in the previous game, did not recover in time for the final match, prompting Smith to step in as captain. Smith, who has a rich history of leading Australia, last captained the team in the UK during the 2017 Champions Trophy. He expressed his hopes for a strong start under cloudy skies, saying, 'Mitch is a bit sore from the last game, no good today. Big game, 2-2, hopefully start well in a morning game, a few clouds around. Must-win games are what you play for.'
Toss and Team Changes
Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first, taking advantage of the overcast conditions and the potential for rain later in the day. England captain Harry Brook also stated that he would have chosen to bowl if he had won the toss, citing similar reasons.
The Australian team has made several changes for this decisive match. Cooper Connolly has been handed his ODI debut, replacing Alex Carey, while Matt Short and Aaron Hardie also return to the playing XI. Sean Abbott, who had expensive outings in the series, has been left out. For England, Jofra Archer has been rested to manage his workload, with Olly Stone returning to the side.
Series Context and Player Performances
The series is currently tied at 2-2, making this final match crucial for determining the winner. Australia's tour of the UK has been marred by injuries and illness, with several key players sidelined. Despite these challenges, the team remains hopeful of securing a series victory.
In the previous match at Lord's, England's Ben Duckett scored a century, but Australia's bowlers, particularly Travis Head who took 4-28, managed to keep the English total in check. The performance of the bowlers will be critical in this deciding match.
Teams and Lineups
The Australian lineup includes Travis Head, Matt Short, Steve Smith (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood. England's team features Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Harry Brook (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, and Adil Rashid.
