Cricket News sort by Australia tour of Ireland and England - 2012

England won the final ODI at Old Trafford comfortably to clean sweep the NatWest Series 4-0. Australia as a result faced its worst ever defeat in 40 years in a bilateral ODI Series.

The series may have been lost, however considering the pride with which they play the game, Australia would be keen to end a disappointing series on a high note.

Australia are going to miss the services of senior players – Shane Watson and Brett Lee for the fifth and final ODI at Old Trafford in Manchester. The duo had sustained calf injuries during the Fourth ODI at Chester-le-Street. Australia have already lost the ODI Series 0-3.

England have gone onto capture the NatWest Series at Chester-le-Street 3-0 with one more match to come. Needing only 201 to win, England was lucky to get improved batting conditions as the overcast conditions disappeared and the sun came out to ease things for the batsmen.

They may have lost the opportunity of claiming the number one ODI spot due to the abandonment at Edgbaston, but England still have a lot to play for in the remainder of the two games.

England, who are still 2-0 up in the NatWest Series following yesterday’s abandonment at Birmingham have rested senior bowler Graeme Swann for the fourth and fifth ODIs.

The third One Day International between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham was abandoned without a single ball bowled. Heavy showers left the ground with puddles to leave a large crowd disappointed because of the zero cricket action.

Times have changed indeed. When was the last time England went 2-0 up in a five-match ODI series against Australia? Sunday’s easy win at The Oval game them that cushion, and now they can have faint hopes of claiming the top ODI spot, which would happen if they beat the Aussies 5-0, an extremely tough task, but not impossible for the current English squad, at least home conditions.

England have taken a 2-0 lead in the NatWest Series against Australia after defeating the hosts by 6 wickets in the Second ODI at The Oval in London on Sunday. Ravi Bopara and Ian Bell scored fifties as England chased down Australia’s target of 252 comfortably with 26 balls to spare.