Right lads, couldn't resist posting.
Here's my take on the game (for what's it worth)
England may be coming off their biggest-ever winning margin over the Aussies in 83 ODIs by emphatically winning the last ODI by nine-wickets at Headingley, but let's not get to carried away. As in years past, winning the toss in Leeds was absolutely crucial. Australia had to deal with a ball that was moving all over the place under cloudy skies. Then when England came to bat the sun came out and made batting far easier.
The Australians have two problems with their present one day team. the form of Jason Gillespie who was smacked to all parts of the ground last Thursday, conceding 66 runs in his alloted 10 overs. But if the baggy greens decide to drop who have they got in replacement, another out of sorts bowler in Mike Kasprowicz.
Their other concern is at the top of the batting order. Hayden and Gilchrist have made some reasonable starts, but that's all it has been, reasonable, as they have failed to go on to bigger scores and set the game up for a large team total for the Aussies.
Australia have two players to thank that they have been able to compete with England. The exploits of Andrew Symonds with the ball and bat and Mike Hussey's batting in the middle order have allowed Australia to stay competitive.
Australia have not become a poor team over the matter of a few matches. Yes they were hugely embrassed by their loss to Bangledesh, but as in any sport, the big upset does happen. Australia are being made to look poorer than they probably are because England have become a better team. They have an excellant blend of experience with youth and they have been able to blood many young players over the last three years where most other countries have picked the same players every game for so many years. England are becoming a force once again in cricket, and come the next world cup, they will have their best chance ever of winning it, mainly because it is going to take other countries two or three years to bed in the youngsters.
With the sides evenly matched, England having won two, Australia winning one and one game finishing a tie, the fact Australia are odds-on again on Sunday is hard to understand. Past reputation means nothing now. This is a new England team who are moving forward whilst Australia are a side out of form and possibly some of their key players are on the decline.
Once again this game could be decided by who wins the toss as sides who have chased a total at Lords in one day games have thrived in recent matches.
I cannot get involved in the outright market until I know who wins the toss and decides to bowl first. In the mean time, one bet does stand out to me because as I said these sides are evenly matched and little separated these two teams at Lords last weekend.
Sporting Odds match handicap
England +2.5wickets/13.5 runs start @ 10/11 x 3 units
