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Preview: In what seems to be a dress rehearsal of their opening game in the World Cup, an unbeaten Australia take on England in the cricket tri-series final. [caption id=“attachment_2073893” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Glenn Maxwell bats during the final match of the Carlton Mid One Day International series between Australia and England. Getty [/caption] Having accumulated 15 points from four matches, the George Baily-led Australia undoubtedly start as overwhelming favourites with a fit-again Mitchell Johnson set to bolster the attack at the WACA. Despite the absence of Michael Clarke, they have appeared to be a gelled unit, with both their batting and bowling clicking during the tournament. Perhaps the biggest question mark for them is the form of Bailey. He has scored 10 and 5 in his two outings thus 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 number three in the batting chart. The rest of the batting line-up picks itself. With Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin and James Faulkner slotting in, they bat as deep as number eight. The hosts will certainly bank on their pace battery led by Johnson and Mitchell Starc on a fast and bouncy track as. Australia have been quite comfortable throughout this series, only to be run close in the chase against England at Hobart. And this marks a remarkable turnaround for the Eoin Morgan-led side in this last one month. England look 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. Their batting hit form early, with Ian Bell in particular, getting runs in the practice games. The real test remained in facing India, having lost 3-1 at home in the ODI series the past summer. But they brushed aside that challenge, winning comprehensively by nine wickets in Brisbane before the victory here in Perth to push the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side out of the tournament. It is clear that their bowling attack, led by James Anderson and Steve Finn is relishing the Australian conditions. The big question-mark for England will be their consistency. They need to sustain this upward curve in form going into the World Cup. Even if they lose to Australia in the final, they won’t mind it too much if they can continue to perform and run them close as they have done in the last two weeks, a completely different scenario from the Ashes summer twelve months ago. Their encounter at Perth was perhaps the brightest spark on that tour, with England winning by 57 runs. It gives them more confidence heading into this final, with their opening clash in the World Cup nearly visible on the horizon. Teams: Australia: Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey (vc), 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, Shaun Marsh. England: Eoin Morgan (c), 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, Chris Woakes. PTI
Tri-series final: Maxwell's all-round heroics help Australia win tri-series
In what seems to be a dress rehearsal of their opening game in the World Cup, an unbeaten Australia take on England in the cricket tri-series final.
 "Tri-series final: Maxwell's all-round heroics help Australia win tri-series")
OUT! Maxwell gets his 4th wicket. R Bopara c Bailey b Maxwell 33 (59b 1×4 0x6), After 38.2 overs, England 160/9 (Finn 5)
Flighted and full outside off from Maxwell, Bopara dances down the track and looks to loft but ends up mistiming it straight to extra cover. Australia just one wicket away from listing the trophy!
James Anderson is the new batsman.
After 35 overs, England 150/8 (Bopara 26, Finn 5)
Slow gong for England. ………..
After 32 overs, England 138/8 (Bopara 21, Finn 3)
Things have really slowed down. Bopara isn’t able to get it off the middle. He gets a lifeline too.
OUT! Broad departs. Maxwell gets another wicket. S Broad c sub (PJ Cummins) b Maxwell 24 (19m 20b 2×4 2×6) After 29 overs, England 130/8 (Bopara 17)
Broad gets down and looks to heave but ends up mistiming it to deep mid-wicket where Cummins settles under it and takes a very good catch.
Steven Finn is the new batsman.
After 28 overs, England 128/7 (Bopara 16, Broad 23)
Broad is taking the attack to the Australian bowlers. He at first smacks a pull over deep mid-wicket for a six off Maxwell, then clears his leg and slaps one through mid off off Johnson and then upper cuts the next one over third man for a six. he had a life earlier when he missed his heave and the ball flew inches past the leg stump. He then chips one just over Johnson towards mid off for a quick single. Suddenly, it’s all happening at the WACA.
OUT! 2 IN 2 for Maxwell! C Woakes c & b Maxwell 0 (1b 0x4 0x6), After 25 overs, England 105/7 (Bopara 14, Broad 5)
Loopy and full outside off, Woakes comes forward and hands it straight back into the hands of Maxwell. Maxwell on a hat-trick now.
Broad is the new batsman and he averts a hat-trick as he leaves a teasing delivery outside off alone.
OUT! You can’t keep him out of action. Maxwell gets a wicket now. JC Buttler c sub (PJ Cummins) b Maxwell 17
Buttler reverse sweeps it uppishly to short third man where Cummins pouches a good low catch. he didn’t get it off the middle and paid the price of a poor shot.
Chris Woakes is the new batsman.
After 22 overs, England 85/5 (Bopara 8, Buttler 11)
After a wicket off his first over, Faulkner bowls a maiden. England have been completely bogged down. The last 7 overs have cost just 14 runs for the loss of a wicket. Buttler, though has started off well, with a couple of boundaries. Bopara has got into a shell with 7 from 24 balls. They need to keep the scoreboard ticking as they need close to 7 an over!
OUT! Faulkner strikes in his first over. J Root lbw b Faulkner 25 (37b 2×4 0x6), After 19.1 overs, England 71/5 (Bopara 5)
A 24-ball fifty and now a wicket off his first ball. Root departs LBW. A yorker length delivery on middle and leg, Root looks to flick but is beaten by the pace. He misses and is trapped right in front.
Jos Buttler is the new batsman.
After 15 overs, England 61/4 (Root 19, Bopara 1)
Things have slowed down. Root and Bopara trying to resurrect proceedings. Australia bringing on Maxwell to get a few part-time overs again. Johnson is given a rest.
After 12 overs, England 50/4 (Root 8, Bopara 1)
Brilliant stuff from Johnson. England have lost three wickets for 18 runs from 5 overs. Bopara and Root need to build a big partnership here.
OUT! 2 IN 2 FOR JOHNSON! E Morgan b Johnson 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) , After 11 overs, England 46/4 (Root 6, Bopara 0)
He is on fire. A bouncer followed by a length ball, It’s on off and just straightens after landing. Morgan misjudges his leave and finds his stumps shattered. He is absolutely delighted and the WACA Crowd goes berserk.
Bopara is the new batsman but he denies Johnson a hat-trick as he leaves a probing delivery outside off. A wicket-maiden from Johnson.
OUT! Johnson removes Moeen with a snorter. M Ali c Finch b Johnson 26 (30b 5×4 0x6)
Short of a length delivery on off, it just snakes off the surface. Moeen can’t do much at that pace and can’t get out of the way. Looks to fend but ends up gloving it to slip cordon. What a delivery from Johnson!
Eoin Morgan is the new batsman.
The Big Show is on fire! He took a brilliant catch to dismiss Taylor #AUSvENG Match Centre http://t.co/CumelJ4Idw pic.twitter.com/6UB0Hqks6f
— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) February 1, 2015
OUT! Brilliant catch from Maxwell. J Taylor c Maxwell b Johnson 4 (18b 0x4 0x6) , After 8.1 overs, England 35/2 (Moeen 21)
Johnson gets his first wicket on comeback. Full outside off, Taylor leans forward and drives it uppishly to point. Maxwell dives to his left and pouches a good low catch. You can’t keep him out of action today! it was very close to a fornt foot no ball but Johnson got the sole of the boot just behind the crease.
Joe Root is the new batsman.
After 7 overs, England 32/1 (Moeen 21, Taylor 1)
Moeen is playing some lovely whips and follows up with a crunching drive. Taylor, on the other hand, is playing cautiously. Moeen gets a couple of fours with whips through square leg off Starc and then drives one on the up off Johnson through covers for a boundary. There is a sense of excitement among the crowd with Johnson making his comeback.
OUT! Hazlewood removes Bell! I Bell c Haddin b Hazlewood 8 (9b 2×4 0x6) , After 3.3 overs, England 18/1 (Moeen 8)
Hazlewood has Bell caught behind with a lovely outswinger. Good length delivery on off, nips away. Bell stays in his crease and looks to defend btu is squared up. he gets an outside edge and Haddin dives to his right to pouch a good low catch. Great delivery.
James Taylor is the new batsman.
After 3 overs, England 18/0 (Moeen 8, Bell 8)
England have got off to a brisk start. As usual, Bell playing some wonderful and elegant drives. Caresses a couple off Starc through covers int he first over. Hazlewood bowls a tight second over but then Moeen gets into the act and flicks Starc through square leg to open his boundary account. He flays at a couple but misses. He’s been getting starts in this tournament but not carrying on. He needs to get a big one today.
Australia post 278/8 from 50 overs. Faulkner 50*, Starc 0*
Faulkner finished it off in style, 50 off 24 balls for him and Australia post 278/8. What a comeback from the hosts! It was turning out to be a good last over with 5 runs from five balls and a wicket but Faulkner finishes it off iwth a six over deep square leg to bring up his 50 off 24 balls.
After 49 overs, Australia 267/7 (Faulkner 41, Johnson 2)
Faulkner brings up the 250 as he pulls a slower one from Woakes over mid-wicket for a six, he then looks to slash but gets an outside edge inches wide of the keeper for a boundary. Faulkner then heaves one over mid-wicket for a 6 and then swats one over long on to make it 24 runs from the over.
One of the best finishers in the worl is at it again! Faulkner thumps one through extra cover off Broad and then hits a couple of fours off Anderson. A paddle scoop and then a swat through mid-wicket. 18 runs off the last two overs.
After 46 overs, Australia 225/7 (Faulkner 3, Johnson 0)
England have pulled it back really well, 9 runs and 2 wickets off the last three overs. Australia still have the firepower to get past 260 though!
if Mitch speaks to Rohit, 275 is on. #AusvInd
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) February 1, 2015
OUT! Haddin departs now. England fighting back. B Haddin c Taylor b Broad 9 (12b 1×4 0x6), After 45 overs, Australia 224/7 (Faulkner 2)
A slower bouncer outside off, Haddin rocks back and looks to pull but mistimes it straight to mid-wicket where Taylor accepts it calmly. Australia are 7 down now. They need to bat out the rest five overs.
Mitchell Johnson is the new batsman.
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