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Australia vs England 3rd ODI predictions: Aussies look set for series whitewash
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James Milton
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Mitchell Starc took four wickets in the second ODI and he can spearhead Australia's bid for a series whitewash
Mitchell Starc took four wickets in the second ODI and he can spearhead Australia's bid for a series whitewash

Australia have taken out some of their frustrations from the T20 World Cup on England's one-day international team and they are aiming to complete a convincing 3-0 series victory in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The Aussies, hosts and defending champions, failed to reach the semi-finals of the T20 tournament which England won but they have outclassed their traditional rivals in the first two ODIs.

In the first match, David Warner (86), Travis Head (69) and Steve Smith (80 not out) helped Australia comfortably chase down a target of 288 after Dawid Malan had made 134 for England.

However, number three Malan and opener Jason Roy were dismissed for ducks in Saturday's second ODI in Sydney and, despite half-centuries from James Vince and Sam Billings, England slipped to a 72-run defeat.

England are 11/8 with LiveScore Bet to claim a consolation victory at the MCG while Australia can be backed at 8/15 to seal a 3-0 series clean sweep. 

Starc could deepen England's opening woes

England's T20 openers Jos Buttler and Alex Hales played key roles in their World Cup success but Roy and Phil Salt have found things tougher at the top of the order in the first two ODIs.

They have contributed scores of six, 14, nought and 23 in Adelaide and Sydney while Aussie openers Warner and Head racked up a first-wicket stand of 147 off 118 balls to set up victory in the first ODI.

Australia are 8/11 with LiveScore Bet to have the Highest opening partnership in game three and that could be worth a bet given the fine form of their top two batsmen and their new-ball bowlers.

Captain Pat Cummins was rested for the second ODI but his replacement Josh Hazlewood is a top-class operator and Mitchell Starc clearly has a point to prove after being dropped at the T20 World Cup.

The left-armer paceman is 3/1 with LiveScore Bet to be the Home Team Top Bowler and he will be eager to have another crack at England's batters, having taken two wickets in his first over on Saturday, finishing with figures of 4-47.

Vince value to shine in England batting unit

James Vince will be looking to prove a point for England in the series finale
James Vince will be looking to prove a point for England in the series finale

Australia have established an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series so both teams may use the MCG clash as a chance to test their bench strength.

Ace Aussie batter Steve Smith will be eager to retain his place, however, after scores of 80 not out and 94 in the first two matches and he is understandably pleased with his game at the moment.

Smith's MCG record in one-day cricket is modest by his high standards with two half-centuries and one ton from 10 innings but he is worth considering at 3/1 with LiveScore Bet to be the Home Team Top Batsman.

England's James Vince is also an appealing bet at 9/2 with LiveScore Bet to be the Away Team Top Batsman. 

The Hampshire captain has a fine record in the Big Bash, Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition, and his career-best Test score of 83 came against the Aussies in the 2017-18 Ashes.

Vince made a typically attractive 60 from 72 balls in the second ODI, hitting three fours and two sixes, and the fierce competition for places in England's 50-over batting unit means he has plenty of motivation to shine in the series finale.

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