[Lord Snooty]

Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series
Australia v England v India

There couldn't possibly be a more difficult set of circumstances facing England as they start their final preparations for the 2015 World Cup. Not just the opponents, but after three years of building the squad for this purpose and the fine toning of the team and tactics, the selectors suddenly dropped the bombshell of sacking the captain, not just from the skippership, but from the squad entirely. Alistair Cook will be replaced as the leader by the equally out of form Eoin Morgan.
Captain Cook can now turn his attentions fully to the test arena, with 17 test matches coming up in the next 12 months, including an Ashes series. That's not the problem. The problem is the timing. Why now? Why not last summer or even last winter when it was becoming obvious that he wasn't up to the job. He even missed one of the ODI tours, the West Indian series just before the t20 World Cup. That series was skippered by Stuart Broad, who if fully fit, and maybe still has to prove that, would've been the obvious choice to replace Cook as captain.
Anyway, Cook missing out has meant that Gary Ballance, mysteriously omitted from the ODI scene since late summer, is back in the set up. Also back from missing the pre Christmas tour of Sri Lanka as well as Broad is James Anderson, giving the attacking options a bit more experience. They have replaced Harry Gurney and quite surprisingly, Ben Stokes. Surprising, not because of the form he's been in, which isn't good, but the fact that his best performances as an England player have come in Australia, the very same places that we now head to for this tri series and then the World Cup itself.

The Aussies and the Indians have been warming up for this by playing out a 4 match test series. With one match left, Australia have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead by drawing the 3rd match. Defeat in this series has now led to their inspirational skipper, MS Dhoni, also handing in his notice. He will take control of this ODI series though and the World Cup.
The Aussies will be led by George Bailey in the absence of the injured Michael Clarke, who despite saying his career may be over following his latest injury, might now be back in time for the World Cup.
As yet, neither the Australian or Indian squads have been announced.


Jan 12: England v ACT Invitational XI, Manuka Oval, Canberra. - England won by 216 runs Scorecard
Jan 14: England v Prime Minister's XI, Manuka Oval, Canberra. - England won by 60 runs Scorecard
Jan 16: Australia v England, Sydney Cricket Ground - Australia won by 3 wickets Scorecard
Jan 18: Australia v India, Melbourne Cricket Ground - Australia won by 4 wickets Scorecard
Jan 20: England v India, The Gabba, Brisbane. - England won by 9 wickets Scorecard
Jan 23: Australia v England, Bellerive Oval, Hobart. - Australia won by 3 wickets Scorecard
Jan 26: Australia v India, Sydney Cricket Ground - No Result Scorecard
Jan 30: England v India, The WACA, Perth. - England won by 3 wickets Scorecard
Feb 1: Final, Australia v England, The WACA, Perth. - Australia won by 112 runs Scorecard

England squad: Eoin Morgan ©, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.