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Perth: Despite both sides being down on numbers, one hopes this will be an appropriately dramatic end to this series.
England's massive three-month tour is set to finish in Perth on Sunday at the same venue where it all began. But the English team that will play in Sunday's final one-dayer of the summer is a far cry from the positive force that landed on our shores last October.
At that stage, this was a fully fit touring party that meant business and that business was defending the Ashes. State opponents were casually flicked aside as England prepared for the Australian conditions with a level of purpose unseen by any touring party for many a year.
With that business sorted, it was time to turn to the one-day international series, a definite chance to grind Australia further into the dust and ensure the Aussies were psychologically a spent force by the time the World Cup began. The end result of this for England: Epic fail!
Despite Australia having already won the series 4-1, these sides played out a classic in their last match in Sydney. Powered by Jonathan Trott's 137, England made 7-333 at the SCG on Wednesday night.
Collingwood has became the latest casualty sent home after his back spasms on Wednesday evening. He joins Tim Bresnan (calf), Ajmal Shahzad (hamstring) and Chris Tremlett (side strain) as the latest players sent back to the Old Dart, while Graeme Swann (knee, back) and Stuart Broad (abdomen) travelled back a few weeks earlier. Luke
Wright now looks likely to play in Collingwood's place, while Liam Plunkett was in St Kitts with the English Lions when he received a call-up from the ECB to come to Perth. Four flights and 25,000 kilometres later, Plunkett reckons he's ready to go to assist bowlers Jimmy Anderson, Chris Woakes and Steven Finn, but only time will tell if he even gets a game.
Cameron White, though, will get the opportunity to take his Victorian captaincy skills to a new level when he pits his wits against Strauss, while it seems likely Tim Paine will open in place of Watson.
Forgotten WA batsman Adam Voges, a regular ODI player last summer, has been given a last-minute recall for this series and will probably bat in Clarke's place after some good form this summer in the domestic one-day series where he averages 62.
Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is keen to ensure England head to the World Cup with their tails between their legs as the Australians prepare for Sunday's.
Although Australia suffered a 4-1 drubbing in the Ashes, the hosts have turned the tables during the one-day international series, leading it 5-1, the Australian's last victory on Wednesday evening coming from the fourth-highest run chase of all time.
Cricket is rarely boring when Jason Krejza is involved. From 12 wickets on his Test debut in India, to being hammered by South Africa in his only other Test during a near-record chase at the WACA, to opening the bowling for Tasmania in one-day games, Krejza is always worth watching.
Teams from
Australia Cameron White (capt), Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin (wk), David Hussey, Adam Voges, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, James Hastings, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Shaun Tait, Doug Bollinger
England Andrew Strauss (capt), Matt Prior (wk), Jonathan Trott, Keven Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Miachel Yardy, Steven Finn, Luke Plunkett, Ahmed Shahzad, James Tredwell, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson, Chris Woakes, Steve Davies (wk), Luke Wright
Pitch and conditions
The return to some of the quick and bouncy characteristics for which the WACA is famous helped Australia win their only Test of the summer, and again men like Shaun Tait and Brett Lee will enjoy the conditions. The forecast for Sunday in Perth is sunny and windy with a maximum temperature of 29oC.
Stats and trivia
Match facts
Sunday February 6, 2011
Start time 11.20am (0320 GMT)
