The third ODI between England and Australia is set to take place at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street. Australia currently holds a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series, having won the second ODI by 68 runs. A victory in this match would secure the series for Australia, leaving England with an uphill battle to avoid a clean sweep.

Two key players to watch from the Australian side will be Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc, both of whom delivered standout performances in the second ODI. Carey played a crucial knock, scoring 74 off 67 balls, which helped Australia post a competitive total of 270 runs in the first innings. On the bowling front, Starc was equally impressive, taking 3 wickets and playing a pivotal role in restricting England to 202, ensuring a comfortable win for his side. Both players will be eager to continue their excellent form in the third ODI as Australia looks to wrap up the series.

ODI stats and records at the Riverside Cricket Ground

Total Matches: 25
Matches won batting first: 10
Matches won bowling first: 13
Average 1st innings Score: 236
Average 2nd innings Score: 185
Highest total recorded: 338/6 (50 overs) by Sri Lanka vs West Indies
Lowest total recorded: 98/10 (43.4 overs) by England-Women vs New Zealand-Women
Highest score chased: 314/4 (44.4 overs) by England vs Australia
Lowest score defended: 161/10 (48.5 overs) by New Zealand-Women vs England-Women

Also READ: Alex Carey, bowlers propel Australia to victory over England in 2nd ODI

ENG vs AUS Riverside Ground Pitch Report

Chester-le-Street’s Riverside Ground presents an intriguing balance between bat and ball, offering something for both batters and bowlers. However, there’s a unique twist. Unlike many English grounds, which traditionally favour fast bowlers, the pitch at Riverside slows down as the match wears on. This gradual change brings spinners into play, making them a much greater threat in the later stages of the game.

What’s particularly notable is that despite the average first-innings score being a modest 236, teams winning the toss frequently opt to bowl first. This strategy allows them to exploit the early conditions, which tend to favour pace bowlers before the pitch begins to deteriorate.

Durham Weather Forecast

The weather forecast for the 3rd ODI between England and Australia is not promising, with a significant chance of rain throughout the day. At the start of the match, there is a 51% probability of rain, accompanied by wind speeds of around 11 km/h. As the day progresses, the likelihood of rain will persist, though cloudy conditions are expected to dominate.

By the evening, the situation may worsen, with rain becoming more probable. As night falls, the chances of precipitation increase to around 60%, significantly raising the risk of rain disrupting play. Given these conditions, there is a strong possibility that rain will interfere with the match at some point.

ENG vs AUS 2024: Predicted XI of both teams

England: Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook (c), Jamie Smith(wk), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Olly Stone, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Jofra Archer, Jordan Cox

Australia: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Mitchell Marsh (c), Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey(wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green

Also WATCH: Mitchell Starc’s magnificent bouncer dismisses Olly Stone to seal the 2nd ODI for Australia |ENG vs AUS 

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