Four-year losing streak long enough for England

Four years ago yesterday, England beat Australia in a one-day international, with Graeme Hick hitting a hundred at the SCG. The win gave England a 2-1 series lead, which Australia promptly turned into a 5-2 defeat.

England have finished at the wrong end of every encounter with the old enemy since, although they have twice come close to victory, at Bristol in the 2001 triangular series, and of course in Hobart this time last week.

On the face of it, England have their best chance since arriving in Australia three months ago of ending this unhappy run when the two teams meet at the Adelaide Oval tomorrow.

Australia are without their top three bowlers. Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne are all injured. McGrath was originally expected to play, but has been given the next two games off to rest his back. Brett Lee, who had himself been due for a rest, takes McGrath's place.

With Australia already through to next week's best-of-three finals, two other players are rested - captain Ricky Ponting and opener Matthew Hayden, while Darren Lehmann is starting a five-match one-day ban.

All England need to join Australia in the finals tomorrow is a bonus point. With the World Cup looming they would doubtless relish the extra practice the finals would give them.

Not that they can expect an easy ride against these opponents, tomorrow or ever.

"I don't think there is any chance of going in with a care-free approach or under-estimating the occasion," said Australia's stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist.

"We are still putting out quality teams and playing for Australia; the guys that come in are good enough to do the job and once we get to the World Cup people will remember whether we win or lose.

"The VB Series is very important but the World Cup is the one that everyone is focusing on and we want to make sure we have 15 fit, in-form players. The best way of doing that is having a bit of a break if you have had too much and a bit of a break if you haven't had a chance."

Gilchrist has already been rested under Australia coach John Buchanan's policy of rotation for this series, and no chances are being taken with McGrath ahead of the World Cup.

"Glenn wants to get rid of this niggle and make sure he is fully fresh for the finals and the big workload after that," Gilchrist said. "I have been involved in the rotation process and had a game or two off and I feel better for that being the case.

"Ideally, everyone would have the chance across the cricket world where you can get a week off and freshen up but that's not the case, it's a very hectic schedule and there are obligations we all have to meet.

"If we can do it in a subtle manner where guys do have a spell and get away to freshen up mentally and physically I think it's a positive thing. In the Ashes series England were crippled by injuries and all credit to our staff for managing ours really well."

Lee will open Australia's bowling with Nathan Bracken, supported by Brad Williams and left-arm spinner Brad Hogg. Former Australia Under-19 captain Michael Clarke, who has been in good form for New South Wales, will win his first one-day international cap in place of Lehmann.

"We realise England have a lot to play for so there is motivation there," Gilchrist added. "There is motivation there for guys who have not played a lot of cricket and motivation for one particular guy who is making his debut for Australia."

"If you go into the game thinking it's good to get a point you have probably got the wrong attitude and will probably find come the end of that match you won't have that point."

Steve Harmison is a doubtful starter for England after turning an ankle in yesterday's 19-run win over Sri Lanka. He is due to undergo an MRI scan on Monday.

Harmison's injury followed a difficult two-over spell on Friday sprinkled with wides, in which he went for 27 runs in two overs before being taken off.

"He just lost a bit of confidence in the last three games," said the England coach, Duncan Fletcher. "It could be that he lost it on one or two overs and put that together with the pressure-cooker situation of a one-day international against Australia it can start affecting you mentally and your confidence.

"It could be the other way around and that mentally one or two overs put him backwards and then he lost his confidence. He is still ok within the team, he still believes he can do it and we believe he can do it.

"No-one carries on producing the goods day-in, day-out. At some stage you are going to lose a bit of form and he's lost a bit of form at the moment. You have got to be careful how you handle it, you can't wrap him up in cotton wool, we showed that by playing him in the last game."

Fletcher also hinted that Alec Stewart might have made the number five spot in the batting order his own with his half-century yesterday.

"I don't think anything is permanent in the one-day game but we are concerned that six, seven and eight are the hardest positions to bat and we are exposing inexperienced guys in that area," Fletcher added.

"We want him to look after the bottom order. It is not set in stone, there is an 80% chance that will be the batting order at the World Cup but if conditions change he might not be there."