PERTH, Australia, November 11, 2026: Australia and England begin a three-match One-Day International series at Perth Stadium on Friday, November 13, with both teams searching for answers after disappointing tours and the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup less than a year away. Mitchell Marsh’s Australians return from a 2-1 ODI defeat in South Africa, while Harry Brook’s England won only once in four matches during October’s tri-series in Pakistan. The opening match starts at 11:30 a.m. Perth time, or 8:30 a.m. in Pakistan.
The contest brings two powerful batting lineups against bowling attacks undergoing significant changes. Australia have rested Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, while England have lost Josh Tongue and Jacob Bethell to injuries. Beyond the field, Australian cricket is confronting renewed questions about its 2018 ball-tampering scandal after allegations by Usman Khawaja, David Warner’s public support and Cricket Australia’s decision not to reopen its investigation.
Key Takeaways
- Australia and England begin a three-match One-Day International series at Perth Stadium on Friday, November 13, with both teams searching for answers after disappointing tours and the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup less than a year away.
- Australia and England will play three ODIs in six days, followed by five T20 internationals between November 21 and December 2.
- Perth Stadium, also known commercially as Optus Stadium, presents a particularly interesting opening venue.
- The series also arrives during renewed controversy over Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
Australia vs England ODI Series: Schedule, Venues and Match Timings
Australia and England will play three ODIs in six days, followed by five T20 internationals between November 21 and December 2. The ODI series is a separate competition from the Ashes, which are contested in Test cricket.
Story at a glance
Australia vs England ODI Series: Schedule, Venues and Match Timings
Australia and England will play three ODIs in six days, followed by five T20 internationals between November 21 and December 2. The ODI series is a separate competition from the Ashes, which are contested in Test cricket.
England’s Pakistan Nightmare Exposed a Dangerous Weakness
England’s recent results present an uncomfortable contrast. Brook’s side defeated India and Sri Lanka by 2-1 margins in home ODI series earlier this year, but finished third in the Pakistan tri-series, winning only their final league match.
Australia’s South Africa Tour Raises Questions of Its Own
Australia enter the series with little reason for complacency. The reigning ODI world champions lost their September series in South Africa 2-1, failing in their first two matches before recovering to win the dead rubber.
Khawaja’s Sandpapergate Claims Bring Fresh Scrutiny to Australian Cricket
The series also arrives during renewed controversy over Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
The Tactical Contest: Which Team Can Protect Its Weakest Phase?
England’s strongest opportunity appears to be attacking Australia’s relatively inexperienced fast-bowling group. Duckett and Banton can place immediate pressure on Bartlett, Johnson or Beardman, especially if conditions are favorable for batting.
| Match | Date | Venue | Local start | Pakistan time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Friday, November 13 | Perth Stadium, Perth | 11:30 a.m. AWST | 8:30 a.m. PKT |
| 2nd ODI | Sunday, November 15 | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 2:00 p.m. ACDT | 8:30 a.m. PKT |
| 3rd ODI | Wednesday, November 18 | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 2:30 p.m. AEDT | 8:30 a.m. PKT |
All three matches are scheduled to start at the same time for Pakistani viewers despite Australia’s different time zones. Perth Stadium opens its gates at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, 90 minutes before the first ball.
Perth Stadium, also known commercially as Optus Stadium, presents a particularly interesting opening venue. Australia’s men’s ODI team lost its first three matches there, including a 12-run defeat to England in 2018, before recording its first ODI victory at the venue against India in October 2025.
The ground has hosted relatively few men’s ODIs, making historical averages a limited guide to Friday’s conditions. Its pace and bounce may reward disciplined fast bowling, but batters who adjust early could exploit the hard surface and quick outfield. The toss will matter most when the captains have assessed the actual pitch and weather.
England’s Pakistan Nightmare Exposed a Dangerous Weakness
England’s recent results present an uncomfortable contrast. Brook’s side defeated India and Sri Lanka by 2-1 margins in home ODI series earlier this year, but finished third in the Pakistan tri-series, winning only their final league match.
The problems were varied, and several defeats came from positions where England had a realistic opportunity to win.
Against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on October 20, England were dismissed for 215 while chasing 303. Arafat Minhas took six wickets for 40 runs, exploiting a middle order unable to respond effectively to spin. TSE’s report on Minhas’ match-winning performance examined how England’s promising start deteriorated into an 87-run defeat.
Two days later, England produced one of the most extraordinary batting performances in ODI history and still lost. Brook scored 202 from 116 deliveries as England reached 429/4 against Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankans chased down 430 with one ball remaining, winning by two wickets. England’s inability to control the chase overshadowed their captain’s record-breaking innings, as detailed in our analysis of Sri Lanka’s historic pursuit.
England’s next defeat was arguably more revealing. They reduced Pakistan to 154/9 while defending 241 in Lahore, only for Shadab Khan’s unbeaten century and Haris Rauf’s resistance to turn the match into a one-wicket Pakistani victory. The Shadab Khan rescue exposed England’s difficulties finishing matches even when their bowlers had done almost everything required.
England finally defeated Sri Lanka by 55 runs on October 29, scoring 386/5 with Ben Duckett contributing 167. However, the result came too late to secure a place in the final. Sri Lanka’s earlier victory over Pakistan had already ended England’s qualification hopes.
Head coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged that the tournament had not delivered the desired results, but emphasized its value as World Cup preparation. Speaking ahead of the Australia tour, he said England had played some good cricket and learned lessons that should prove useful in 12 months.
The recurring concern is clear: England can generate enormous batting totals and create winning bowling positions, yet still struggle to sustain control across 100 overs. Perth offers an immediate test of whether the team has learned to close those gaps.
Australia’s South Africa Tour Raises Questions of Its Own
Australia enter the series with little reason for complacency. The reigning ODI world champions lost their September series in South Africa 2-1, failing in their first two matches before recovering to win the dead rubber.
South Africa won the Durban opener by 67 runs after scoring 297/8 and dismissing Australia for 230 in 41.2 overs. At Johannesburg, the hosts amassed 365/9 and defended it by 32 runs despite Australia’s 333.
Australia responded in Potchefstroom, posting 322/9 before securing a 45-run victory under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. The recovery prevented a whitewash but did not erase the broader questions about batting reliability and bowling control.
The subsequent Test series brought another disappointment. Australia won the opening Test by 214 runs, but South Africa responded with victories by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha and 176 runs in Cape Town. An Australian collapse to 111 in the final innings completed a 2-1 series defeat. Earlier, Matthew Renshaw’s outstanding Durban performance had offered a reminder of the talent available to Australia’s selectors.
The two formats should not be conflated, but the tour underlined the importance of converting promising positions into completed performances.
Australia have now won only two of their past eight bilateral ODI series. Against England, however, their recent record is much stronger: three consecutive ODI series victories and ten wins in the teams’ last 13 completed meetings in the format.
The contrast makes Friday unusually difficult to predict. Australia’s historical advantage against England is substantial, but its recent results against other opponents suggest the gap between these teams may be narrower than that record implies.
Khawaja’s Sandpapergate Claims Bring Fresh Scrutiny to Australian Cricket
The series also arrives during renewed controversy over Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
In his autobiography Sabr, former Australian batter Usman Khawaja alleges that knowledge of ball tampering extended beyond Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, the three players sanctioned following the Cape Town incident. He also alleges that sandpaper had been used during the preceding Test in Gqeberha.
These remain contested allegations. Khawaja’s account differs from Cricket Australia’s original investigation, and the governing body has not accepted his interpretation as an established finding.
Khawaja has argued that responsibility should have been shared more broadly across the team rather than concentrated on the three sanctioned players. In a subsequent television interview, he maintained that he was seeking collective accountability rather than attempting to identify individual offenders.
Warner, who received a 12-month playing ban and was permanently barred from leadership positions at the time, publicly supported Khawaja. He described his former teammate’s account as “100 per cent accurate” and criticized Cricket Australia’s original investigation as “rushed and botched.”
Warner questioned why Khawaja had not been interviewed during the investigation despite sitting near Bancroft in the dressing room. His remarks intensified scrutiny of how evidence was gathered and how the original findings were reached.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg rejected calls to reopen the investigation on November 10. He acknowledged contradictions between Khawaja’s account and other players’ recollections but said the governing body did not consider a new inquiry justified.
Greenberg said Cricket Australia saw “no compelling reason” to revisit the investigation, maintaining that the relevant information available to the organization had been considered.
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon previously denied knowing that sandpaper was being used. Starc reiterated his denial this week. Khawaja has not established that those individuals had specific prior knowledge of the method employed, and no new disciplinary finding has been announced.
The public disagreement does not directly determine the outcome of Friday’s ODI. Khawaja and Warner are retired from international cricket, while several of the players associated with the original controversy are absent from the ODI squad. Nevertheless, it has placed Australian cricket’s accountability and reputation back under examination as Marsh prepares to lead the team.
The statements by Warner and Greenberg were reported by ABC News in its coverage of Cricket Australia’s response.
Australia and England ODI Squads: Who Is Available?
Australia’s 14-player ODI squad
Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Ollie Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Liam Scott and Adam Zampa.
Australia’s principal absences are Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood, who have been rested as the national team manages workloads ahead of major Test commitments. Nathan Ellis is also unavailable for the ODIs while recovering from a side injury.
The reshuffle gives Xavier Bartlett an opportunity to lead the pace attack, supported by Spencer Johnson and the emerging Mahli Beardman. Australia must decide how many specialist quicks to select alongside the seam-bowling options offered by Green, Edwards and Scott.
Adam Zampa remains the squad’s established frontline specialist spinner. Cooper Connolly’s left-arm spin could become particularly valuable if Australia need an additional slow-bowling option without weakening the batting.
England’s updated ODI squad
Harry Brook (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, James Coles and Eddie Jack.
England originally selected Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue, but both have been ruled out. Bethell suffered another setback involving his right knee, while Tongue sustained a left big-toe injury. Coles and Jack have been called up as replacements and are expected to reach Perth on Thursday, according to the ICC’s November 11 squad update.
Jos Buttler remains unavailable following hamstring surgery. England nevertheless regain Jofra Archer, who was rested for the Pakistan tri-series, while their batting includes the experience of Root and the attacking options of Brook, Duckett, Banton and Jacks.
Neither side has announced a confirmed playing XI for the opening ODI. Final selections will depend on fitness, pitch conditions and the tactical balance preferred by the captains.
Six Players Who Could Decide the Series
Travis Head: Australia’s Early-Overs Weapon
Head can change a match before the opposition settles. His willingness to attack pace bowling makes England’s new-ball discipline especially important. Archer and Atkinson cannot afford predictable lengths that allow Head to free his arms. England will also remember his 69-ball Test century in Perth during the previous Ashes series.
Mitchell Marsh: Leadership and Middle-Order Power
Marsh carries two responsibilities: setting the tactical direction of an inexperienced bowling attack and delivering with the bat. Australia’s ability to convert positive starts into imposing totals could depend heavily on his decision-making through the middle overs.
Adam Zampa: Australia’s Main Middle-Overs Threat
With several senior fast bowlers absent, Zampa’s role becomes even more important. England’s struggles against spin in Pakistan will encourage Marsh to attack through the middle overs, particularly if the visitors lose an early wicket and need to rebuild.
Harry Brook: Spectacular Form, Unfinished Business
Brook’s 202 against Sri Lanka demonstrated his ability to overwhelm international attacks, but England still lost that match. His challenge is to turn individual brilliance into victories through better partnerships, bowling management and decisions under pressure.
Continue the Cricket Story
Ben Duckett: England’s Most Consistent Recent Run-Scorer
Duckett arrives after scoring 105 against Pakistan and 167 against Sri Lanka in England’s final two tri-series matches. His partnership with Tom Banton has developed rapidly, giving England an aggressive opening combination capable of changing the first powerplay.
Jofra Archer: The Bowler England Missed in Pakistan
Archer’s return gives Brook additional pace and wicket-taking potential. His effectiveness with the new ball and in the closing overs could address two areas where England struggled in Pakistan: breaking established partnerships and preventing opponents from completing difficult chases.
For Australia, Bartlett and Connolly are equally important players to monitor. Bartlett has taken 23 wickets in his first 12 ODIs, while Connolly offers a combination of middle-order batting and left-arm spin that could influence Australia’s World Cup selection plans. Their developing roles are explored in Cricket Australia’s official series analysis.
The Tactical Contest: Which Team Can Protect Its Weakest Phase?
England’s strongest opportunity appears to be attacking Australia’s relatively inexperienced fast-bowling group. Duckett and Banton can place immediate pressure on Bartlett, Johnson or Beardman, especially if conditions are favorable for batting.
But reckless acceleration could expose the middle order to Zampa. England’s recent trouble against spin suggests a better approach would combine boundary opportunities with consistent strike rotation, preserving wickets for Brook, Root and the finishers.
Australia’s greatest strength is its batting flexibility. Head can dominate the powerplay, Marsh and Green can accelerate through the middle, and Carey or Inglis can help maintain momentum depending on the final combination.
Its principal uncertainty lies in the bowling attack. The absence of Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Ellis removes substantial international experience. Marsh must find enough wicket-taking threat without exhausting his specialist bowlers or leaving too many overs to part-time options.
The decisive period could come between overs 11 and 40. England struggled to maintain partnerships against Pakistan’s spin and failed to control Sri Lanka’s chase through the middle. Australia, meanwhile, conceded 365 against South Africa in Johannesburg and must show that its bowling plans can withstand sustained pressure.
A winning team will need more than an explosive individual innings. Both sides must demonstrate that they can manage changing match conditions, recover after losing wickets and finish strongly with bat and ball.
What’s at Stake Ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup?
Australia remain the reigning men’s ODI world champions after winning the 2023 tournament, but recent bilateral results indicate that their title defense cannot rely entirely on established reputations.
The 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will demand squad depth, adaptability and effective bowling combinations. This England series offers Australia an opportunity to assess younger players before an extended period dominated by Test cricket.
England face a different challenge. Their batting has already demonstrated extraordinary potential, but the Pakistan tri-series exposed problems in handling pressure, defending totals and managing crucial phases of the innings.
McCullum and Brook need to identify which combinations can perform consistently rather than depend on exceptional individual contributions. Archer’s return, Root’s experience and the development of Duckett’s opening partnership provide a foundation.
The wider importance of ODI cricket is reflected in The Sports Encounter’s celebration of 5,000 men’s One-Day Internationals, which examines the matches and performances that have shaped the format. Australia and England have contributed extensively to that history, and their latest series provides another opportunity to demonstrate why the 50-over game remains tactically compelling.
The first result will not settle either nation’s World Cup prospects, but it will provide useful evidence about selection depth and the improvements made since their recent setbacks.
Australia have the stronger recent head-to-head record, home conditions and a dangerous batting lineup. England bring a returning Archer, an in-form Duckett and a captain capable of changing a match in a handful of overs.
Friday’s contest in Perth should reveal which team has made more progress on the issues that mattered most during its previous tour. With the World Cup approaching, that is a more meaningful test than the rivalry’s familiar reputation alone.
