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England vs Australia 2nd ODI predictions: Head can star again for tourists
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Joe Champion
Spotlight
Travis Head has been in excellent form with bat in hand for Australia in recent ODIs
Travis Head has been in excellent form with bat in hand for Australia in recent ODIs

- Australia have won 13 consecutive ODIs
- Travis Head has top-scored for Australia in three of his last four ODI innings
- Recommended bet: Travis Head top Australia Run Scorer

England started well in the first ODI in Nottingham on Thursday, recovering from Phil Salt's early dismissal to reach 213-2 before Ben Duckett was caught and bowled in the 33rd over by Marnus Labuschange, sparking a collapse which ultimately proved their undoing.

Interim coach Marcus Trescothick watched a succession of batsmen succumb to a makeshift Aussie bowling attack as Labuschagne claimed 3-39 while Travis Head also chipped in with two wickets.

Despite missing Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, Australia restricted England to 315 - a low score on a flat Trent Bridge pitch - and their batsmen soon knocked off the runs with six overs to spare thanks to a masterful unbeaten 154 from Head.

Team news

England will persist with Harry Brook as captain after regular white-ball skipper Jos Buttler was ruled out of the five-match series with a calf injury.

The hosts could retain the same top seven who started at Trent Bridge. Jordan Cox is another option despite making scores of 17 and 0 in the drawn T20 series.

The bowling attack is more likely to change with seamers Saqib Mahmood, Olly Stone, Reece Topley and John Turner all waiting in the wings.

Australia's fast-bowling stocks are comparatively lighter and captain Mitchell Marsh has another potential headache on his hands in that department after Ben Dwarshuis bowled just four overs on Thursday.  

The stats

England have a fine record in one-day internationals in Leeds but that might not count for much as it's over five years since the Three Lions' last completed Headingley match.

World champions Australia bring much more immediate form to the table having won 13 consecutive 50-over matches, the second-longest streak in men's ODI history.

That magnificent run included a World Cup victory over England, who they have beaten in six straight ODIs.

Marcus Trescothick saw England collapse after reaching 213-2 in the first ODI against Australia
Marcus Trescothick saw England collapse after reaching 213-2 in the first ODI against Australia

Prediction

England will hope to exploit Australia's fast-bowling weakness in a bid to level the series but Australia's formidable ODI record suggests they're worthy favourites to make it 2-0.

It could pay to expect lightning to strike twice by backing Head to contribute the most runs for the tourists.

The opener was in sparkling form on Thursday, firing 154 runs from 129 balls, and he led the way with the bat in two of his previous three ODI appearances, scoring 62 against South Africa in a low-scoring World Cup semi-final and a memorable 137 against India in the final.

Head also scored 59 and 31 in the T20 series so he looks in rare form.

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