Australia, inevitably, start favourites, because they have the incentive of a slice of history to drive them on – no team has ever been whitewashed 7-0, although England themselves came close before their ODI tour to India was curtailed last year. With Ricky Ponting slotting back into the captaincy fresh from a well-earned week’s break, there’s no question that Australia’s desire will be maintained. England, on the other hand, have taken the opposite route. Paul Collingwood and James Anderson have been rested, a fairly sure sign that the series has already been surrendered.

Teams

England (possible): 1 Ravi Bopara, 2 Andrew Strauss (capt), 3 Matt Prior (wk), 4 Owais Shah, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Luke Wright, 7 Stuart Broad, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Tim Bresnan, 11 Ryan Sidebottom.

Australia (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Tim Paine (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Callum Ferguson, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Cameron White, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Brett Lee, 11 Nathan Bracken.

Timing

Saturday, September 12, 2009, Start time 10.15 (9.15 GMT)