Australia have made four changes from the side that lost in Brisbane on Friday for the third Gillette ODI Series match at the SCG.
Captain Steve Smith won the coin toss and sent England in to bat first in Sydney.
And Steve Smith has dropped himself a spot in the batting order with Cameron White to take over at No.3, with the Australia captain looking to mirror the anchor role that England’s Joe Root – who is not the captain in the white-ball format – has employed for England.
The hosts welcome back pace duo Josh Hazlewood (illness) and Pat Cummins (rest), wicketkeeper Tim Paine (illness) and leg-spinner Adam Zampa (omission) for the must-win clash after falling 2-0 behind in the series.
Batsman Travis Head and fast bowlers Andrew Tye and Jhye Richardson have been dropped, while Gabba debutant Alex Carey makes way for Tim Paine, who has recovered from illness.
Head has averaged just 29 in 10 matches since scoring his maiden one-day international century against Pakistan 12 months ago, a lean run that has coincided with Australia recording just one win to make it their worst 10-match stretch in ODI history.
Tye, despite bowling economically, is yet to take an ODI wicket while Richardson captured 2-57 on debut in Brisbane. But both players were expected to occupy the sidelines once Australia’s premier pace trio were collectively fit and available.
The SCG has been an ODI fortress for Australia, with the home side having won nine of their past 10 completed matches at the iconic venue, while England last tasted victory in the harbour city a decade ago.
England last won three consecutive ODIs on Australian soil at the back end of a tri-series in early 2007, but they have cruised to victory by five wickets in Melbourne, and four wickets on Friday night at the Gabba.
Joe Root has been unbeaten at the crease in both matches as England completed their wins, anchoring an explosive batting line-up that has caught Australia by surprise.
It means England have now won five of their past six ODIs against Australia, and will be aiming for a fourth consecutive win in Sydney. England’s winning streak dates back to the Champions Trophy last winter when a Ben Stokes century bundled the Aussies out of the competition.
However, there is no better place than Sydney for Australia to resurrect the campaign – England have not won at the venue for a decade.
England’s last victory in Sydney was a 34-run Duckworth-Lewis win in February 2007 where Paul Collingwood smacked 70 and Liam Plunkett claimed 3-43 as the Australian innings was interrupted by downpours several times.
England and Australia have played in Sydney four times since then, with the Aussies winning each match.
In fact, the SCG is something of an ODI stronghold for Australia, with the home side having won nine of their past 10 ODI matches there, including the World Cup semi-final in 2015.
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Cameron White, Steve Smith (c), Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood.
2017-18 International Fixtures
Gillette ODI Series v England
Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Cameron White, Adam Zampa.
England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
First ODI England won by five wickets at the MCG
Second ODI England won by four wickets at the Gabba
Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets
Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets
Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets
Prime Minister’s XI
PM’s XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets
Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series
England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood.
First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets
Second T20I Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets
Third T20I Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets
Fourth T20I NZ v England, Wellington, February 14
Fifth T20I NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16
Sixth T20I NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18
Final TBC, Eden Park, February 21
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