England set to give favourites a run for their money

New look Australia lacking experience of World Cup winners

Cricket was always better in the old days wasn’t it?

A bit of reminiscing every now and then doesn’t hurt anybody and I’m no different, especially when it comes to one-day international cricket.

The Texaco Trophy, served up as an hor d'oeuvre to the main event of a Test series, played out in traditional white clothing over a lengthy 55 overs a side with, hard to believe nowadays, lunch and tea intervals.

When scores in the high 200s would result in victory nine times out of 10 and strike-rates in excess of 60 gave nosebleeds rather than guaranteed demotion for the next outing.

As it’s Australia in town for a five-match offering that gets under way tomorrow (Thursday) at the Ageas Bowl, it seemed only fitting that the memory banks were raided and as it coincided with my GCSE revision and I always liked watching Mark Waugh bat, the Edgbaston game of 1993 was where I headed.

Dig out the scorecard from that game and ignoring the blistering undefeated 167 by Robin Smith and Waugh’s serene, matchwinning 113, take a glance at Graham Thorpe’s contribution.

Batting at No.6, the Surrey left-hander made 36 from 63 deliveries with a solitary boundary. The kind of effort that was of its time and wouldn’t have caused anything as dramatic as a raised eyebrow.

But that was then and this is now so forget the relative tranquility of the 90s and get ready for some more run gluttony.

If the series victory over New Zealand can be used as a crude guide, and given the gung-ho mentality that has engulfed the ODI format, the bowlers are again on to a hiding to nothing.

Whereas Eoin Morgan’s statement pre the Blackcaps encounters of wanting to play a certain brand of cricket rang a touch hollow given the staid fare that had gone before, now some meat has been added to the bone it can be taken far more seriously.

There is no reason whatsoever why Morgan’s England won’t continue to play as they did earlier in the season and if they want to prosper moving forward then this has to be way to go.

There is a place for a more pragmatic approach every now and then – Australia’s troubles in the Ashes are a prime example – but that is clearly the exception rather than the norm.

The bookmakers have the visitors as favourites and rightly so given their most recent 50-over appearance saw them walk away with a nice, shiny World Cup trophy but significant changes in personnel may have an impact.

Gone are captain Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Aaron Finch with Steve Smith now in charge, Matthew Wade behind the stumps and, if the ODI in Ireland last week is anything to go by, the inexperienced Joe Burns potentially back at the top of the order.

The bowling doesn’t appear quite as potent either with Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood rested and James Faulkner suspended by his own board following a drink-driving incident, but that does provide an opportunity for players such as James Pattinson and Pat Cummins with points to prove.

As for the hosts, there is no Joe Root who has been given some time off but this means a recall for Moeen Ali who will most likely slot in at first wicket down.

The only surprise, if it could be called that, is the omission of Jonny Bairstow with James Taylor, part of the squad against New Zealand without playing a game, preferred.

The series, post Southampton, moves onto Lord’s on Saturday before a northern tour next week which incorporates a clash at Headingley sandwiched between two games at Old Trafford.

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