3 player battles to watch out for in England vs Australia 2024 ODI series ft. Travis Head vs Jofra Archer
Something feels so good about the upcoming ODI series between England and Australia, which begins on Thursday, September 19, at Trent Bridge. It's not just the memories of the 2018 ODI here when England smashed a then-world-record 481/6 in the first innings against an Australian team that had, with the utmost respect, Tim Paine as the captain after the ball-tampering saga.
The fresh new faces on both sides, considered prodigies in the respective countries, are also worth looking forward to. Also, the fact that at a time when bilateral ODIs are dying a rapid death, two members of the Big Three competing in five games is a welcome sign.
It might be one of the last such rubbers not involving India, making it much more important to enjoy. To increase that enjoyment and build some hype it deserves, we have listed below three player battles we'd be keeping our eyes on.
#3 Phil Salt vs Mitchell Starc
Two current IPL champions and two men who added so much to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their first years at the side, Phil Salt and Mitchell Starc, will go head-to-head in one of the first notable battles in the series. They'd have played each other a lot in the nets in Kolkata and perhaps forged some plans too.
Starc might bowl the first ball to Salt to start things off and we know by now how iconic he's in these moments. They haven't faced each other much in ODIs, while Salt smashed Starc for two big sixes at the 2024 men's T20 World Cup.
But in the upcoming series, the left-arm quick will have enough time to find his radar and trouble the English wicketkeeper-batter with those in-swingers. Salt would not want to put too much pressure on himself because of Jos Buttler's absence and play his natural game, making the duel more exciting.
Salt negating Starc early would be a massive confidence boost for England. Whereas, the Aussie knicking off Salt in the powerplay, or even keeping him under control in important phases, would go a long way for the visitors.
#2 Adam Zampa vs Harry Brook
A video of English youngster Jacob Bethell taking down Australia's best white-ball spinner Adam Zampa in the recent T20I series between the teams went viral on social media. Bethell's skill and disdain made it feel like England had unearthed another Harry Brook before the first had even shown his full potential.
But Bethell, 20, is unlikely to start for England in the ODIs, and in Buttler's absence, Brook has been nominated captain. He should now naturally assume the responsibility of similarly managing Zampa in the middle overs, with his ODI strike rate of 108.7 against leg spin probably a cause of worry for the Aussie.
Brook and Zampa have fenced for only a handful of balls in international cricket. But Zampa dismissed Brook in the latest edition of the Men's Hundred.
Australia would look at Zampa to dominate the English middle order, more so because they'd likely host them on pitches with negligible help on offer for pacers. If Brook can score quickly against him, it'll take pressure off his teammates but if he gets out, Zampa might be able to run through the middle and lower order.
#1 Travis Head vs Jofra Archer
Now, this is where the blockbuster is. This is where you do all the hard work of going to the supermarket, finding the best butter popcorn available, getting a big bowl ready, and clipping off your nails in advance.
Travis Head has been in smashing form for the past few years now. He's one of the few top-level batters in the world who hasn't hit a rough patch big enough to question his place in the national team across three formats for a long time.
After three quickfire 80, 59, and 31 in the two series against Scotland and England recently, Head would want to get off to similar starts in ODIs. England's flat tracks and short boundaries would only be fodder for his game.
But doing any of that against Archer would be a big ask. Although Head hit him for three boundaries in the second T20I, the right-arm quick has gotten the better of Head once each in the Big Bash League and the Ashes and also dismissed him at the 2024 T20 World Cup. Archer would want to repeat the feat in ODIs, a format that suits him better because it affords him time to settle in and find his lengths.
Two all-format superstars who are simply the most breathtaking in the world when operating at full potential, going head-to-head for bragging rights: it is as good as it gets in the modern game.