ENG vs AUS: Eoin Morgan set to return for the third ODI

England skipper Eoin Morgan missed the second One-Day International against Australia which was played at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. He was suffering from the back spasm and was ruled out of the game at the eleventh hour which prompted Jos Buttler to lead the side and Sam Billings replaced him in the line-up. However, the left-hander is set to return for the third ODI as England eye series victory at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Despite the absence of the in-form batsman in the top 5, the hosts managed to rake 342 runs on the back of a century from Jason Roy and the death overs heroics from their stand-in captain. Their bowling though remains an issue as they are struggling to close the game. They had Australia down and out at 164/5 after Glenn Maxwell was dismissed but then allowed a partnership to blossom. Eventually, the bowlers got their groove back in the final few overs and won the game by 38 runs.

Morgan will lend solidity

Eoin Morgan was seen training with the team comfortably on the eve of the game according to the reports in ESPN Cricinfo. He should slot straight back into the playing XI for Sam Billings who failed to impress in the one-off opportunity he received. Morgan’s return will lend more solidity to the already exceptional batting order. He was the one who took the game away from the Aussies in the first ODI with a brilliant knock when his team had lost three wickets very quickly.

Alex Hales will be under extreme pressure going into this game as he hasn’t had a good outing recently. Moreover, Stokes is close to being fit and is likely to take his place in the line-up for the upcoming ODI series against India. The rapcious form of Jonny Bairstow first forced him come down the order and now Hales has to play for his place in the side which is unfortunate.

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