Tri-series final today

February 01, 2015 12:41 am | Updated 09:09 am IST - Perth:

Australia's coach Darren Lehmann speaks with captain George Bailey (right) during a practice session at the WACA ground in Perth on Saturday. The tri-series final will be played on Sunday.

Australia's coach Darren Lehmann speaks with captain George Bailey (right) during a practice session at the WACA ground in Perth on Saturday. The tri-series final will be played on Sunday.

In what seems to be a dress rehearsal of the opening game in the World Cup, an unbeaten Australia takes on England in the cricket tri-series final here on Sunday.

Having accumulated 15 points from four matches, the George Bailey-led Australia undoubtedly starts as overwhelming favourite with a fit-again Mitchell Johnson set to bolster the attack at the WACA.

Despite the absence of Michael Clarke, it has appeared to be a gelled unit, with both batting and bowling clicking during the tournament.

Perhaps the biggest question mark is the form of Bailey. He has scored 10 and 5 in his two outings so far, before being suspended for the Hobart match against England.

With Shane Watson still under an injury cloud, it is expected that the team management might give Bailey another go at No. 3 in the batting chart.

England looks a completely different side to the one that played in Sri Lanka, losing 5-2. It meant the end of the road for then-skipper Alastair Cook with Morgan taking over the reins. Since then it has been an upward curve for England, especially after landing here.

It is clear that the bowling attack, led by James Anderson and Steve Finn is relishing the Australian conditions.

The big question mark for England will be consistency. It needs to sustain this upward curve in form going into the World Cup.

The teams:

Australia: George Bailey (capt.), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson, Gurinder Sandhu, Moises Henriques and Shaun Marsh.

England: Eoin Morgan (capt.), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell and Chris Woakes.

Match starts at 8.50 a.m. IST.

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