5 Battles that will decide the fate of the England v Australia ODI series

5 Battles that will decide the fate of the England v Australia ODI series: After regaining the beloved Urn, the English team defeated the Australian side in the one-off T20I match as well. Now, they are all set to take on the World Champions Australia in the 5-match ODI series which will commence from 3rd September at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. Australian’s will be playing their first ODI match after the magical night in Melbourne where they had won the World Cup final against the Black Caps. The series will mark the beginning of the Smith era who will be taking over the reins in ODIs as well after Michael Clarke’s retirement. While the English side will look to carry on their winning momentum from the only T20I match to this ODI series. Though cricket is a team game but no one can rule out the very fact that it is individuals who have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. On the eve of the series, we list 5 Battles that will decide the fate of the England v Australia ODI series: 1. Mitchell Starc v Eoin Morgan: Mitchell Starc v Eoin Morgan. (© Getty Images) The World Cup hero Mitchell Starc is in red-hot form and has emerged as the most destructive fast bowler this year. From the possession of a deadly in-swinging Yorker to the ability of bouncing out the batters, this man is a shivering prospect indeed for the opponent team. While on the other side of the coin lies the English skipper Eoin Morgan who recently got all his tuning right after a horrid run of form. Morgan had blasted 329 runs in 5 ODIs against New Zealand and is coming in the series on back of a blistering half-century against the Aussies in the only T20I match. The battle between both the southpaws in the death overs will certainly decide the fate of the game and will bear significant impact in the series as well. A mouth-watering clash is certainly on the cards. 2. Glenn Maxwell v Adil Rashid: Glenn Maxwell v Adil Rashid. (© Getty Images) Glenn Maxwell is the X-factor of the Australian side and has some serious abilities to rip apart any bowling attack on his day. He is in belligerent form this year and has accumulated 478 runs in 14 matches at an average of 47.80 with 3 half-centuries and 1 ton. While in Adil Rashid, England have an attacking leg-spinner in their ranks who doesn’t fear giving flight to the ball and will be the biggest threat for the visitors. This contest will be a clash of titans. Let’s see whether it’s Maxwell who smacks big sixes off Rashid over the mid-wicket or the leggie outfoxes him with his deceptive variations and lusty flight. 3. Joe Root v Ashton Agar: Joe Root v Ashton Agar. (© Getty Images) The English batting stalwart Joe Root who has grown in stature with time has big appetite for runs and will certainly look to continue his purple patch with the willow in hand. Since 2014, Root has hammered 6 centuries in ODI cricket and in this series as well England will depend upon him to bail out the team from dire positions. While Ashton Agar who recently got the ODI call-up after his exemplary performances on India A tour would look to find his feet in international cricket. Agar is an attacking left-arm spinner and looks tailor-made for the limited overs format. In the middle overs of the game it would be interesting to see whether Agar outdoes Root with all his shrewd bowling tricks or the English batter will dominate the inexperienced bowler with his sheer class and elegance. 4. Alex Hales v Pat Cummins: Both Hales and Cummins are a breath of fresh air for their respective sides. On one side lies the English T20I star Alex Hales who is renowned for his demolishing abilities with the bat. While on the side lies the young Aussie speedster Pat Cummins who has the capacity to bowl in the range of over 90 mph on consistent basis. Both of them are yet to prove their mettle in ODI cricket and the series would present a stern test of their skill and character. The battle between Hales and Cummins will be a belter and something definitely to watch out for. 5. David Warner v Steven Finn: David Warner v Steven Finn. (© Getty Images) With a tally of 592 runs at an average of 53.82 in 13 ODIs this year, the Australian southpaw David Warner has been in impeccable touch whenever he has donned the colorful jersey. While if we talk about Steven Finn, he has certainly emerged someone who can take up the responsibility of the side apart form James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Finn has grabbed 27 scalps in 15 matches, thus far this year. The contest between these two players will certainly set the tone of the match and the series. It will be exciting to witness whether the pocket dynamo dominates the Lanky England pacer or Finn adds to the miseries of the Aussies on this tour.