It’s same old Aussies
JOS BUTTLER expects to face the same old Aussies when they take on England in the one-day series, which starts next Wednesday.
The Australians have had to overhaul their players, coaches and team culture since they were exposed as cheats in South Africa earlier this year.
It means England will not face disgraced ex-captain Steve Smith or deputy David Warner after they were both given one-year bans for ball-tampering.
Justin Langer has also replaced coach Darren Lehmann, who tearfully stepped down in the wake of ‘sandpaper-gate’.
The new man said this week his side would carry on sledging but did draw a line between what he referred to as “banter” and outright abuse.
England believe Australia were guilty of the latter during last winter’s Ashes Down Under.
Despite their revamped set-up Buttler, who played with Langer at Somerset in 2009, still believes there will be needle in the five ODIs.
He said: “Justin Langer’s a really successful coach and some of the mantras he lives by I saw a little bit at Somerset – a highlyorganised, competitive team with a hard-nosed edge. They will still have that side. It’s international cricket, it’s going to be hard and competitive.
“They are coming with a bit of a point to prove. I expect a tough series.”
Buttler has been rested for England’s one-off ODI against Scotland in Edinburgh tomorrow after his successful return to the Test side against Pakistan. Injured duo Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes also miss out.
ENGLAND (from): Morgan (capt), Moeen, Bairstow, Ball, Billings, T Curran, Hales, Plunkett, Rashid, Root, Roy, Willey, Wood.
SCOTLAND (from): Coetzer, Berrington, Budge, Cross, Evans, Jones, Leask, MacLeod, Mommsen, Munsey, Sharif, Sole, Watt, Wheal, Whittingham.
UMPIRES: Mo Erasmus (S Africa) and Dharmasena (Sri Lanka).
TV: 11am, Sky Sports Cricket.