Bailey warns of Aussie fightback

AUSTRALIA are convinced England’s chances of a 5-0 NatWest Series whitewash remain slim. The tourists slid to a disappointing defeat at The Oval two days ago, and must therefore beat England at Edgbaston today – unless bad weather intervenes – to keep the five-match one-day international series alive.
England would depose Australia at the top of the International Cricket Council rankings if they were to claim a clean-sweep and, when asked whether Australia believe England are on that sort of unstoppable charge. their batsman George Bailey said: “I hope not. If we can play as well as we believe we can, and as well as we believe we should then I think it will be very difficult for them to win 5-0.”
Bailey scored a career-best 65, in just his seventh ODI, but accepts he still needs to up his game after he and Shane Watson became bogged down against England’s accurate attack in the ‘middle overs’ at The Oval.
“It’s as much about the confidence as anything, and me backing myself a little bit more,” said the 29-year-old Tasmanian.
“I appreciate it probably didn’t look very good. But we were really clear in the plans we had in terms of keeping wickets in hand, but we just didn’t execute it as well as we could have. I don’t think a great deal has to change, probably just a bit more freeing up myself and a little better intent … build those partnerships a little quicker, and then launch at the end.”
Bailey also echoed the admission of coach Mickey Arthur – that Australia may have to start imitating the methods of the opposition.
“It was difficult, weighing up the balance of trying to keep wickets in hand so that we could build a bit of a platform to go hard – which England have done really well,” he said.
“That’s one of the key points of England’s success, certainly playing over here and with two new balls. That’s probably been one of the differences between the sides, so you don’t finish your innings seven or eight down and try to have recognised batsmen in at the end.”

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