While Usman Khawaja’s autobiography and supposedly new revelations concerning ‘Sandpapergate’ are dominating the cricket world, we should not forget that a fresh Australia vs England series starts on Friday at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Less than 12 months after the Three Lions were demolished 4-1 in the Ashes, Harry Brook and his men are back Down Under for three ODIs and five T20s.
Unsurprisingly, the Aussies have rested a number of their big hitters for the ODIs, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood – three bowlers right at the centre of the latest ‘Sandpapergate’ storm.
As for England, Brook and coach Brendon McCullum have a strong squad of players to pick from, with the 2027 Cricket World Cup now less than a year away.
An exciting one-day feast of cricket with some Aussie off-field chaos thrown in for good measure, what is not to love?
Check out our full sports betting preview for the 1st ODI below, with tips and the latest cricket odds from the NetBet Sport platform.
Where can I watch Australia vs England in the UK?
The 1st ODI in the Australia vs England series will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with the match set to start at 3:30am UK time.
Australia vs England Preview
Recent results
England beat Sri Lanka 2-1 at home in their previous ODI bilateral series, before losing three of four matches in the ODI tri-series in Pakistan, which the hosts went on to win. The Three Lions even lost to Sri Lanka after posting 429/4!
Australia beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in an ODI series back in September, but then suffered a 2-1 defeat to South Africa shortly after.
Head-to-head record
Since losing to England in the semi-finals of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, Australia have dominated this famous ODI rivalry.
The Aussies won 2-1 in the next bilateral series hosted in England, before winning 3-0 on home soil in 2022-23.
At the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Australia won the group-stage encounter in Ahmedabad by 33 runs, before claiming a 3-2 away series win in 2024.
And the previous ODI clash between the nations came at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, in which Australia chased down 352 runs with five wickets to spare.
Oh and the last time England played in Perth during the 2025-26 Ashes, a barnstorming Travis Head innings of 123 (83) saw Australia win the First Test by eight wickets within two days.
Team news
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Alex Carey, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Oliver Peake, Liam Scott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa
England squad: Harry Brook (captain), Tom Banton, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Eddie Jack, Joe Root, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Henry Crocombe, Adil Rashid
Australia vs England Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Australia are slight favourites on home soil at odds of 1.70. An England victory is priced at 2.02.
Australia vs England Betting Tips
Australia top batter – Mitchell Marsh @ 4.00
Marsh was electric in The Hundred 2026 for Sunrisers Leeds, and continued to shine in Australia’s recent ODIs. He tallied scores of 36, 53 and 8 vs Zimbabwe, before hitting 60, 84 and 56 against South Africa. One of the most consistent white-ball batters on the planet right now, if Marsh gets going England’s bowling attack – which struggled badly at times during the tri-series in Pakistan – could be torn apart.
England top batter – Harry Brook @ 3.50
Brook really looks to have found his mojo in the 50-over arena. The England captain hit scores of 67 and 77 in the three-match home series vs Sri Lanka over the summer, but it was in the recent tri-series where he really shone. Brook became the first Englishman to hit a double-century in the ODI format, smashing 202 vs Sri Lanka – albeit famously in a losing cause. Against an inexperienced Aussie bowling attack, the multi-format star may shine bright once again.
England top bowler – Jofra Archer @ 3.25
Archer is England’s most consistent, fastest and most threatening ODI bowler, and his absence was sorely felt in the tri-series. However, that period of rest will have done the pacer a lot of good, allowing him to enter this run of games fit and fresh. Archer took 71 wickets from his 42 previous ODIs at a very healthy average of 26.42, and on a potentially bouncy wicket in Perth, he could wreak havoc.
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