Mitch Marsh sees Steve Smith back as captain due to injury, with Alex Carey omitted from the decider
Steve Smith will lead Australia in today’s crucial match against England, while a sore Mitch Marsh will miss the final match of his tour of Great Britain.
Cooper Connolly made his one-day international debut in Bristol. It is one of three changes as the Australian team looks to regain its momentum from earlier in the series after being beaten by 186 runs at Lord’s Stadium as England equalized the five-match series 2-2.
Smith won the toss and opted to bowl under overcast skies in Bristol, which saw significant rainfall last week with further forecasts expected later in the afternoon.
Australia XI: Travis Head, Matt Short, Steve Smith (c), Josh Inglis (week), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
England XI: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Harry Brook (c), Jamie Smith (week), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, Adil Rashid
Marsh was hurting from the previous match at Lord’s, where he bowled for the first time since April, finishing with figures of 1-27 in four overs.
His pain stems from the heavy workload of Australia’s month-long tour of Great Britain rather than his return to the bowling alley, with today’s clash representing the fifth ODI in 11 days.
Australia’s experiment with playing both goalkeepers lasted only one match, with Josh Inglis, who was once again in good form, retaining his place at No. 4, with Alex Carey – the team’s second-highest goalscorer in the series – missing.
Connolly, who was gifted men’s ODI cap No. 249 by Marsh, becomes the 16th Australian player to feature in the five-match series.
Since arriving in the UK, the visitors have struggled with a number of injuries and illnesses, losing four fast bowlers and all-rounder Cameron Green throughout the tour.
No player has played more than eight of nine matches so far, including three T20s against Scotland and two against England before ODIs.
Green was the latest to be ruled out of the tournament after tests revealed a back injury after the third ODI in Durham, where he was Australia’s top bowler with figures of 2-45.
Marsh also missed the second T20 match against England in Cardiff due to illness.
Matt Short was recalled and replaced Marsh at the top of the table, with Aaron Hardie also included in the team in 7th place. Sean Abbott is the third player to miss the previous match.
Jofra Archer coped with the responsibilities following his spirited return to Lord’s in the fourth ODI, where he bowled Marsha with one of the balls of the series in his 2-33.
With the only change for the hosts, he was replaced by Olly Stone.
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Australia T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood (England games only), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Riley Meredith, Matt Short ( England games only), Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
September 4: Australia beat Scotland by seven wickets
September 6: Australia defeated Scotland by 70 runs
September 7: Australia beat Scotland by six wickets
September 11: Australia defeated England by 28 runs
September 13: England beat Australia by three wickets
September 15: Match abandoned
Australia ODI squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa. Sub: Mahli Beardman
September 19: Australia beat England by seven wickets
September 21: Australia defeated England by 68 runs
September 24: England beat Australia by 46 runs (DLS method)
September 27: 4th ODI v England, Lord’s, London, 21:30 AEST
September 29: 5th ODI v England, County Ground, Bristol, 8pm AEST
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