Teams aim to finish strongly

Match facts

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Australia ensured there would be no first one-day whitewash for them with a much improved performance at The Oval as England slipped back into a few bad habits with the series safely in the bag. Both Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower have called for a big effort in the final match to ensure the scoreline finishes in emphatic style: 4-1 looks at lot better than 3-2.

However, the visitors are starting to move through the gears having taken two weeks to shake off the rust from their recent break. With Shaun Tait back in the attack the bowling line-up has a much more threatening look with both Tait and Ryan Harris operating above 90mph, while Doug Bollinger has continued his consistent form. The batting, which let the side down in the first three matches, was anchored by 90s from Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke at The Oval as the two leaders led from the front.

This final outing of the series will be a good test for England to see how deep they can dig now that a whitewash is no longer on the cards. It hasn't often happened that the team has won a series with two games to spare, but they won't want laziness to creep into performances. The batting has been led by Strauss and Eoin Morgan, but it's about time Kevin Pietersen built a substantial innings and Craig Kieswetter needs a score.

And, of course, this is the last meeting between these two sides before a certain encounter in Brisbane on November 25. Both teams will have gained some useful knowledge over the last two weeks, but a lot can change over the next five months.

Form guide (last five completed matches)

England LWWWW
Australia WLLLW

Watch out for...

For Steven Smith this is becoming a tour of great significance. The 21-year-old legspinning allrounder is now the team's No. 1 slow bowler after Nathan Hauritz's injury and is primed for his Test debut against Pakistan. He has shown his skills in all three disciplines during this series with useful contributions lower down the order, the ability to pick up important wickets and his speed in the outfield. England will be watching him closely over the next few months.

Craig Kieswetter came into this series with great things expected of him after a successful World Twenty20 campaign. He was meant to provide the top-order power that has long been lacking in England's 50-over cricket. However, it hasn't quite work out that way and Kieswetter has been troubled by Australia's quick bowlers. A player of his style will always collect a fair few failures, but in a series of five games at least one good score is required. A flat pitch and quick outfield at Lord's provides him the chance to show what he can do.

Team news

As usual, Strauss gave little away about possible changes to the team. "We've got the series against Bangladesh coming up as well so maybe we can look to chop and change a little bit, but on the one hand the 11 players we've played so far have done a very good job and we're 3-1 up in the series," he said. Ian Bell and Ajmal Shahzad again played for the Lions yesterday to keep them active, while Ryan Sidebottom is still waiting for a chance. The form of Tim Bresnan with the ball and Luke Wright with the bat has dipped in recent matches, but Flower has faith in his group after their recent successes.

England (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Craig Kieswetter (wk), 3 Kevin Pietersen, 4 Paul Collingwood, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Michael Yardy, 7 Luke Wright, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson.

Now that Australia are finding some form it seems unlikely they will alter a winning line-up unless they want to give Josh Hazlewood another outing. The three-pronged fast attack has been impressive, while Steven Smith is a confident cricketer. Tim Paine has had a lean series and with his Test debut looming would like some runs to settle his nerves.

Australia (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Tim Paine (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Cameron White, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 James Hopes, 8 Steven Smith, 9 Shaun Tait, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Doug Bollinger.

Pitch and conditions

Lord's in midsummer for a one-day international should mean just one thing - runs, and plenty of them. Expect a surface with decent pace and carry, but there shouldn't be much help for quicks if the sun stays out.

Stats and Trivia

• The two teams have met 11 times in ODIs at Lord's and it's Australia who hold the edge with six wins to four. There was also a tie in the NatWest Series final of 2005.

• Despite the ground's reputation for high-scoring, in the 11 matches only three 250-plus totals have been scored with England's 278 for 7 (off 55 overs) in 1989 the highest.

Quotes

"We don't want to finish this series 3-2 having been 3-0 up. To win a series against the number one team in the world 4-1 would be an outstanding achievement."
Andrew Strauss is keen to make sure there is plenty of daylight between the two teams