Big Picture
After a T20 series where the vision was long overdue until 2026, a bunch of big names were absent and the decider was washed out on a terrible day in Manchester, it feels like this upcoming five-match ODI series – yes, old school. and, yes, perhaps an exaggeration – there is an immediate relevance with an eye to next year’s Champions Trophy as some key players across multiple formats return.
One key player who will miss out on the matches is Jos Buttler after suffering from a calf injury. This means that Harry Brook joins the list of England captains this season, and it is probably no small feat if you feel that he is a long-term option to lead the team. There will be a lot of interest in how Jofra Archer fares in his first 50-over appearance in 18 months. It will be a huge increase in work for him, although he will be managed carefully.
Australia, on the other hand, have had a host of top names with Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc all part of the series. Alex Carey is also in the squad but, in ODIs, he is now under Josh Inglis after being dropped at the start of last year’s World Cup. Either way, the tour will include his return next week at Lord’s, the site of an exciting storyline in Carey’s career.
At the other end of the experience scale – you couldn’t go much further – is the naming of fast bowler Mahli Beardman as a playmaker. With just one professional game under his belt he has made the talk and, although he is not yet part of the team, it won’t take more than the usual pain among other fast bowlers to make the ball. head on.
“He’s a raging little kid,” said Mitchell Marsh, another West Australian. “For a 19-year-old he’s got a lot of talent, he showed that during the Under-19 World Cup. I think he’ll learn a lot from being here. I’ve certainly faced him in the sticks a few times. We’ve seen in the history of Australian cricket that we’ve had a long list of guys who have been sent off, but Mahli he is extremely skilled and fast.”
Form guide
(last five games completed, most recent first)
In England LWLWW
Australia WWWWW
Highlights: Jofra Archer and Glenn Maxwell
The word is never far away. Much of England’s current focus is on the 2025-26 Ashes and the renewal of the Jofra Archer is at the top of that list. This match will be his first 50-over game – international or domestic – since March 2023 until now he has been kept out of T20 matches to return to carefully controlled action. That step-by-step will continue and there is a chance he may not bowl his full quota of 10 overs, but it marks another important step in Archer’s comeback and another stage towards what is hoped to be a return to Test cricket.
Glenn Maxwell he was rested from the series against the West Indies earlier this year so he has not played an ODI since the World Cup final. After his horrific leg injury late in 2022, the effects of which he still has to deal with, he is another player who will be treated carefully by the selectors. At 35 he is one of those who may not be at the next ODI World Cup in 2027, so the Champions Trophy could be a 50-over farewell to one of the greatest white-ball cricketers of all time.
Club news: Archer plays; Australia’s opening question
Ben Duckett will open for the first time in his ODI career with stand-in captain Brook at No. 4. Jamie Smith has been confirmed as the wicketkeeper and might have done so even if Buttler had been fit. Archer will play in the series opener. Jacob Bethell is in for a chance to play and the final decision will come down to who will slot in at No.6 with spinner Liam Livingstone likely to work his way into Brook spreading the overs between himself, Bethell and Will Jacks.
In England: (probable) 1 Ben Duckett, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Jamie Smith (wk), 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Jacob Bethell, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley
As in T20s, Australia are looking for a long-term replacement for David Warner. Inglis and Jake Fraser-McGurk ended up against the West Indies after Travis Head was rested following the opening game so there was no shortage of options. Captain Mitchell Marsh has had success there, too, and if he steps up it could create space for both Smith and Labuschagne. Australia may start the series with their strongest attack before judging who needs a rest there. Inglis did not train much before the opening game so there may be a question as to whether he plays. If so, Carey would enter.
Australia: (probable) 1 Travis Head, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis/Alex Carey (wk), 6 Cameron Green/Marcus Stoinis, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
Tone and context
Trent Bridge can be a great place to bat in one-day cricket: as of 2010 it has the highest average and strike rate of any venue in England and Wales. But the ball can swing which gives the bowlers a chance. The sunny weather is expected to continue at least for the start of the series.
Quotes
“That’s still a long way off. Personally, I’ll just try to focus on each game and I’ll urge everyone to try that too.”
Harry Brook plays down the relevance of this series to the 2025-26 Ashes.
“It’s definitely a busy schedule and there are times when we might have to manage the boys and playing five games in ten days is a big job but we’ll do our best.”
Mitchell Marsh to Australian fast bowlers
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