Ricky Ponting comes back to take the reins of a confident Australian team. But England have crazier plans.
England may be doing the right thing giving James Anderson and Paul Collingwood short rest periods, but it is arguable if they should be doing it before the fourth ODI that England must win to stay alive in the seven match series,of which three were won by the visitors led by Michael Clarke.
England must be feeling confident of their squad to let go of Anderson and Collingwood in what could turn out to be major embarrassment after winning the Ashes.
But eyes will also be on Ponting who returns after the ignominy of loss and the break will have reduced the sting a little, not to mention taking over a team that is clearly in the ascendancy.
Teams are taking turns in making peculiar choices. But this has been a rather topsy turvy tour thus far. For the sake of keeping the game alive, especially with fans in England, the hosts will really need to get their game right. An Australian slip would be a welcome sight, but a good match would top it all.
