AUS vs ENG Match Prediction : 1st ODI, England tour of Australia, 2026

Australia host England in the opening ODI of the three-match series at Perth Stadium on November 13. Both teams have made changes to their combinations, with Australia resting Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, while England are without injured all-rounder Jacob Bethell and fast bowler Josh Tongue.

Mitchell Marsh will captain Australia, whose new-look pace attack will be led by Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson and young Mahli Beardman. England have a significant boost with Jofra Archer returning to the side, while Joe Root is set to play his 200th ODI. Harry Brook will lead a batting line-up that also includes Ben Duckett, Tom Banton and Root.

With Perth traditionally offering pace and bounce, the opening match promises an exciting contest between two powerful batting units and bowling attacks looking to establish themselves.

Bettors will weigh Australia’s settled core against England’s explosive batting depth. We expect a competitive market, and readers comparing prices can consult our live odds overview through the cricket betting odds page.

Head-to-Head Record

Australia have historically dominated the ODI rivalry, winning 92 of their 162 meetings against England. The visitors have recorded 65 victories, with two matches tied and three ending without a result. Australia have also enjoyed considerable success in recent bilateral series, winning six of their last eight against England, including their last three in succession.

The five most recent completed meetings have seen Australia win three out of those matches.

Australia Preview

Australia have a powerful batting line-up, even without some of their regular Test and ODI players. Mitchell Marsh will captain the side and is expected to open alongside Travis Head, giving Australia an aggressive combination capable of taking advantage of the powerplay.

Head's attacking approach is particularly suited to Perth, while Marsh has the ability to dominate both pace and spin. Cooper Connolly provides a left-handed option in the top order, and Cameron Green adds considerable batting quality at number four. Josh Inglis is expected to keep wickets and will be an important middle-order batter, while Matthew Renshaw offers stability and the ability to build an innings.

Jack Edwards and Ollie Peake provide further batting options, with Edwards particularly interesting because of his ability to contribute in both departments. Australia have enough batting depth to post a substantial total, but they will need to be careful against Jofra Archer and England's pace attack, particularly during the first ten overs.

The bowling attack is less experienced than Australia's usual combination, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood rested following the South Africa tour. Nathan Ellis is also unavailable with a side strain. Xavier Bartlett is expected to spearhead the attack, supported by left-armer Spencer Johnson and 21-year-old Mahli Beardman. Bartlett has impressed with his ability to generate late swing and has been in outstanding Sheffield Shield form, while Johnson offers left-arm variety and the ability to extract bounce. Beardman is an exciting prospect capable of bowling close to 150 kph and is expected to make his ODI debut.

This series is a significant opportunity for Australia's younger bowling options to make a case for themselves ahead of the next World Cup.

Predicted Playing XI

England Preview

England arrive in Australia with a strong batting line-up led by captain Harry Brook and the experienced Joe Root. Ben Duckett is expected to open alongside Tom Banton, who has been in excellent form and has produced six scores of 50 or more in his last seven innings. Duckett is also coming off a substantial 167-run innings in his previous ODI appearance, making the opening combination a major strength for England.

Root will be playing his 200th ODI and remains one of the team's most dependable batters, having scored 680 runs at an average of 85 in ODI cricket during 2026. Brook brings explosive scoring ability and recently produced a remarkable 202-run innings against Sri Lanka in Pakistan. Jordan Cox is likely to provide wicketkeeping cover and additional batting depth, while Sam Curran and Will Jacks offer all-round ability.

England will miss Jacob Bethell, who has been ruled out following a setback in his recovery from knee surgery. The absence of the talented left-hander is a significant blow, although Tom Banton's recent performances have strengthened his position as Duckett's opening partner. James Coles has been brought into the squad as additional all-round cover, giving England another left-arm spin option and batting resource.

England have a varied bowling attack, with Jofra Archer's return being one of the biggest talking points ahead of the series. Archer has the pace to trouble Australia's aggressive top order and will be particularly important on a surface such as Perth. Gus Atkinson provides another quality fast-bowling option, while Jamie Overton offers bounce and useful lower-order batting.

Sam Curran can contribute with left-arm seam and is effective at changing pace, while the newly added Eddie Jack provides another fast-bowling option after Josh Tongue was ruled out with a toe injury. Jack has recently impressed for England Lions, taking five wickets for 42 runs against West Indies A, and could be considered for an opportunity.

Adil Rashid remains England's main specialist spinner, although the selectors may consider the balance of the attack given Perth's pace-friendly conditions.

Predicted Playing XI

Toss Prediction

The captain winning the toss may prefer to bowl first at Perth Stadium. The new ball can offer pace and bounce, while chasing could become easier once the initial movement settles.

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

Perth Stadium traditionally offers pace and bounce, making it an attractive venue for fast bowlers and aggressive batters. The surface should provide good carry, allowing players such as Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Harry Brook to play their attacking shots once they settle. However, the new ball can be challenging, particularly for batters facing high-quality pace bowling. Historical ODI matches at the venue have produced relatively modest first-innings totals, although the current batting quality on both sides could push the scoring higher.

A total around 250–270 should be competitive, with anything above 280 putting the batting side in a strong position.

The forecast calls for clear skies with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius, low humidity near 31 percent, and light to moderate winds. Conditions look settled, with zero cloud cover supporting uninterrupted play.

Our Prediction

We give Australia a slight edge in this contest. The hosts have a powerful batting combination suited to Perth's conditions, while their new-look pace attack has several exciting options capable of making an impact. England have the quality to challenge, but Australia's home advantage and stronger familiarity with the conditions make them our preferred selection for the first match of the series.

For those weighing markets and platforms, our primer on reputable options is here: best cricket betting sites. For broader forecasting across upcoming matches, see our latest cricket predictions and tips.

Bet on Australia to win.