Rain arrives five balls too late to save England from series defeat by Australia

How England willed the rain to come. With dark clouds hovering, there was a drawn-out drinks break, and then the farce of Matthew Potts retying his shoelaces, then changing his shoe altogether. But when the rain did arrive, it was five balls too late: Australia had batted for 20.4 overs in their run chase, enough to constitute a full game. Their 49-run victory on DLS, sealing the series 3-2, was utterly deserved.

The result confirmed the abiding sense of the series: of world champions against a work-in-progress. For all the positive steps taken by England since falling 2-0 down after the second one-day international, they were not able to match Australia’s ruthlessness and command of the 50-over format’s peculiar rhythms. At 204 for two in the 25th over at Bristol, with Harry Brook and Ben Duckett marmalising the attack, England had an opportunity to move into an impregnable position. Australia, you suspect, would not have frittered away such a commanding start, losing six wickets for 58 runs in 14.4 overs against spin, and then needing Adil Rashid to steer them to 309 all out.

And so Harry Brook’s side came short of making history: becoming the first ever England side to beat Australia after trailing 2-0, in any format. Yet this disappointment will be tempered by the sense that England have a much better sense of how they are building their ODI side than a fortnight ago.

“We’ve got a hell of a lot of positives to take from the series,” Brook said. “We’ve got a mantra that we’re trying to stick to and play with – that’s held us in good stead going forward.”

Above all, the games crystallised the notion that Duckett and Brook will be the nucleus of England’s batting in the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup.

A fortnight ago, Duckett had played just 11 ODIs over eight years. His century at Bristol extended his series tally to 305 runs, the most by any England opener in a bilateral series against Australia. As Duckett showcased his qualities against short bowling – playing a particularly sumptuous pull off Josh Hazlewood through mid-on – and illustrated his relish for lofting spinners straight, the only slight uncertainty is who will partner him in next year’s Champions Trophy. Phil Salt driving the first ball of the match, from Mitchell Starc, showed the adventurous spirit for which he is valued, but his rapid 45 still left his series average below 20.

Brook arrived in the series with barely more ODI experience than Duckett – just 15 games – during which he had only reached 50 three times. Appointed as stand-in captain in the absence of Jos Buttler, and elevated to No 4, Brook has produced the most scintillating batting of any Englishman this summer, ending with a sequence of 110 not out, 87 and this 72. In Bristol, Brook crunched seven sixes, using his feet and the full depth of his crease to thrash Adam Zampa to all parts.

Some of the crowd might just have turned their minds back to one of the finest ODI innings on this ground: Kevin Pietersen’s 91 not out against Australia in 2005. This series, Brook has played with a similar swagger and no less quality. “I think I’ve figured out a tempo in ODI cricket,” he declared.

Given how he had played, Brook could scarcely be faulted for his dismissal, attempting to launch Zampa out of the ground; he had smashed 42 off 16 balls from the leg spinner. Yet, after his dismissal, England struggled to find the right tempo: from 31 boundaries in the first 25 overs of the innings, they mustered just six from the next 25, four from Rashid.

For all their fears about Starc and Hazlewood, England’s batsmen succumbed to a less feared opponent: Travis Head. While he was the eighth bowler that Australia used in Bristol, Head’s off-spin deserves better than to be described as merely part-time. Compared to the faster and flatter spin that has become the norm in the white-ball game, Head is a throwback to more classical spinners, bowling slower and turning the ball more. Indeed, on average he has spun the ball more than anyone else on either side. The delivery that curved away from Jacob Bethell, who overbalanced and was stumped, was a consummate off spinner’s dismissal of a left-hander.

After taking four for 28, Head then batted with his customary panache. Off-spinner Will Jacks, who was unsuccessfully used against Head in the T20 World Cup, was deployed again – in the fifth over again – and haemorrhaged 20 from his first six deliveries. With Matthew Short ruthless against anything short, Australia were swiftly well clear of the required rate, giving them a vital buffer as rain loomed. And so, unable to win, England were reduced to trying to stop Australia from facing the 20 overs necessary to amount to a full game.

If Australia did not deserve a no-result in Bristol, neither did the series. Despite the unsatisfactory schedule, the games have shown the scope of the 50-over format and the range of skills that the format demands. Indeed, after years in which the format has seemed to be moving closer to the 20-over game, there has been a detectable shift since the start of the World Cup. Players with Test match pedigree have found themselves most able to adapt to the contrasting demands of the 50-over game. With a side that, at full strength, can feature nine regular Test players, Australia have now won 15 of their past 17 ODIs, including lifting last year’s World Cup.

No matter the denouement, Gloucestershire had reason to be relieved. The game – though only just – ended a sequence of four consecutive ODIs at Bristol that have either been abandoned before a ball was bowled or called a no-result, a run that has led to the club’s financial crisis.

For all the county’s other concerns, the ground could do more to encourage travelling fans. “The organisation here is atrocious,” grumbled one spectator at Bristol Temple Meads in the morning, where many were left waiting half an hour for a taxi. The Utilita Bowl in Hampshire runs a shuttle bus from the local train station on international matchdays, thereby encouraging fans to take public transport. To encourage fans to return, Gloucestershire would be wise to do the same.

Happily, after hosting England’s last home game for the second consecutive summer, next summer the ground’s men’s international will be in the prime of summer – a Twenty20 clash with West Indies on June 8.

Tourists claim series win with DLS victory in Bristol – as it happened

06:26 PM BST

Mitch Marsh speaks to Sky Sports - ‘It’s been a great few weeks’

On today’s win...

On the challenging nature of the series with injuries etc...

On what’s left to come from this Australia side...

06:23 PM BST

Harry Brook speaks to Sky Sports - ‘We are looking long term’

On his fine series with the bat...

On how the side performed during the series...

On the players that impressed him...

On being captain...

06:18 PM BST

Travis Head speaks to Sky Sports - ‘It’s been a great achievement’

On taking four wickets today...

On his batting throughout the series...

On what’s behind his fine form...

On what’s next for the side ahead of the Champions Trophy...

05:56 PM BST

Match abandoned

And so Australia have won the match by 49 runs on DLS, and earned a 3-2 series win in the process.

05:41 PM BST

Still bleak in Bristol

I am going to stick my neck out and suggest that there will be no more play, meaning Australia have won the match and the series.

05:17 PM BST

Looks as though a restart is highly unlikely

05:01 PM BST

Sorry...

No sooner had I sent that previous post than the groundstaff in Bristol rushed back to the boundary’s edge to collect the sheet they had just deposited...looks as though the rain has returned. Bah humbug...

04:58 PM BST

More good news...

04:55 PM BST

Some good news

The covers are being peeled back. No news on a possible restart time...

04:45 PM BST

It looks bleak at the moment

Not exactly promising,

A reminder that if another ball isn’t bowled (which looks the most-likely scenario) Australia will win the match and, with it, the series.

04:38 PM BST

The entire square is covered

To state the obvious, that’s not a great sign.

04:31 PM BST

Rain stops play

The forecast rain has arrived and if Michael Fish and Co (well, not exactly him, but you know what I mean...) are to be believed then it is likely to stay wet for a while.

04:30 PM BST

OVER 21: AUS 165/2 (Smith 36 Inglis 28) TARGET: 310

Rashid returns with England in dire need to wickets, we’re still waiting for the rain which, right now, is acting all coy...

The leggie drops one shot and Smith pulls for four with little fuss.

Having said the rain was being shy, it has now come out of its shell and the players are rushing off the ground...

04:27 PM BST

OVER 20: AUS 158/2 (Smith 31 Inglis 27) TARGET: 310

Australian are motoring again as Inglis latches onto a short one from Carse that he dispatches for six to cow corner. The very next ball Carse again goes short, this time Inglis top edges but he gets enough of it as it carries over fine-leg for another maximum.

So 20 overs are up and there will be a winner.

At the moment par DLS score is 114, so Australia are well and truly in the box seat.

04:22 PM BST

OVER 19: AUS 144/2 (Smith 30 Inglis 14) TARGET: 310

Stone to Inglis and the fast bowler nearly induces the edge, before the Australian carves one for four backward of point. England need wickets with nine balls needed to constitute a game. A two follows before a wide ball gifts Inglis another four, the Australian cutting with ease.

04:17 PM BST

OVER 18: AUS 133/2 (Smith 29 Inglis 4) TARGET: 310

England are not rushing back into position here, if anything they are doing a rain dance knowing that, as it stands, Asutralia win on Duckworth Lewis...

They go back to pace (to extend the time an over takes to bowl?) Potts to Smith and he’s targeting his pads. The England bowler then needs to change his boot, apparently...still no sign of rain though, if this is a bit of s--------y.

04:10 PM BST

OVER 17: AUS 132/2 (Smith 28 Inglis 4) TARGET: 310

The wind is picking up, the groundstaff are moving and we are scheduled for a drinks break...surely they push that back until after 20 overs when a result can be called? That would be the obvious thing to do, no?!

Two dot balls from Carse are followed up with a clipped six from Smith, he played that on line rather than length.

And there is indeed a drinks break when there is rain in the air and three more overs are needed to constitute a game...I am calling that Example #73498234659432 of cricket shooting itself in both feet with two very large guns...

Oh dear...

04:06 PM BST

OVER 16: AUS 125/2 (Smith 21 Inglis 4) TARGET: 310

Another lovely over from Rashid in which he shows off all his variations. He’s only gone for eight off his three overs so far. Such was the fast start from Australia that they don’t have to go after the leggie...

04:04 PM BST

OVER 15: AUS 123/2 (Smith 20 Inglis 3) TARGET: 310

Inglis tires to push off the back foot and edges behind to Smith...thing is, though, no one appeals and snicko confirms the merest, faintest of nicks...could that prove costly? It looks as though Jamie Smith was adamant there was no nick...strange.

04:00 PM BST

OVER 14: AUS 122/2 (Smith 20 Inglis 2) TARGET: 310

More parsimonious stuff from Rashid, just four runs from it.

03:57 PM BST

OVER 13: AUS 118/2 (Smith 18 Inglis 0) TARGET: 310

Short was brilliant and has given the tourists the upper hand here. Still not sure when this rain is going to arrive, a lot of Duckworth Lewis permutations to mull over for England who, need to take another wicket or two here.

03:55 PM BST

WICKET!

Short c Smith b Potts 58

Short has played several brutal pulls, but he displays fine footwork and elegance with a cover drive for four. But next up he tries to hit another drive, this one on the up, and he only succeeds in edging behind. England definitely needed that wicket.

FOW - 118/2

03:52 PM BST

OVER 12: AUS 113/1 (Smith 17 Short 54) TARGET: 310

Australia had success with spin and on comes Adil Rashid. Big few overs coming up, I reckon.

The first ball, to Smith, is a peach of a leg-break that beats the former skipper all ends up.

Just two runs from the over, good start thanks to beautiful pace, flight and drift. Just what England needed.

03:49 PM BST

OVER 11: AUS 111/1 (Smith 16 Short 53) TARGET: 310

Carse returns and is greeted with yet another huge pulled six from Short - that’s his 50 and it’s come off just 23 balls. They are feeding his favourite shot, he’s given his side a flier in Bristol. That’s the fastest ODI half-ton for an Australian against England and for all the hosts poor, short bowling he has been great.

03:43 PM BST

OVER 10: AUS 103/1 (Smith 15 Short 46) TARGET: 310

For some reason Carse, having taken the wicket of Head in his first over, is replaced by Potts AND it’s an inspired change as the Durham man bowls full and wraps the Smith on the pads. It’s given out and looks good BUT the Australian reviews and HawkEye reveals it was too straight and would have missed leg stump. It looked like an inspired change...

Smith then drives Potts in the air, but through the gap, for four. The over ends with a wide and a leg glance off the seventh delivery from Short.

At the end of the powerplay Australia are 103 for one, and that’s England’s most expensive powerplay since waaaaaaay back in 2006.

03:37 PM BST

OVER 9: AUS 93/1 (Smith 10 Short 42) TARGET: 310

Stone returns to the attack and opens up with a poor ball - it’s short and wide, the dictionary definition of a buffet ball (help yourself) and Smith doesn’t look this gift horse in the mouth cutting imperiously for four. The England man responds well but goes for another boundary the last ball of the over, Short hitting on the up over the retreating Brooks at mid-off.

03:32 PM BST

OVER 8: AUS 84/1 (Smith 5 Short 38) TARGET: 310

It’s nearly two in two for England as Smith nearly drags a nip-backer onto his stumps. The ball is moving out there, and the scoreline possibly indicates that the hosts have been guilty of bowling too short. Carse then pitches another one up, Smith edges, but it’s low and wide of first slip for four. Good over from Carse and just what England needed.

03:28 PM BST

WICKET!!

Head c Salt b Carse 31 

On comes Carse and the change works immediately as Head pushes off the back foot first ball, he doesn’t connect with it and it’s an easy catch for Salt at shortish extra-cover. England needed that wicket.

FOW - 78/1

03:26 PM BST

OVER 7: AUS 78/0 (Head 31 Short 38) TARGET: 310

Potts to Short who tries to smack him for another maximum, it goes high, as in nearer to the moon than terra firma, it’s swirling in the air, Rashid is under it and...he drops it...it wasn’t the easiest of chances but should have been taken. Ouch..A few balls later insult is added to injury as Short slashes hard and through the vacant slip cordon for four. Potts goes short to Short (again) and the Australian hits a flat six to the mid-wicket boundary.

It’s not yet raining but it’s raining boundaries in Bristol.

03:22 PM BST

OVER 6: AUS 66/0 (Head 31 Short 27) TARGET: 310

Time for spin in the form of Will Jacks. The first is cut for four, the second is lofted down the ground for six - all those runs from the bat of the ever-impressive Travis Head. Jacks persists round the wicket but goes short and Head hits him for another six to cow corner. To say Australia are motoring is an understatement...as I type that Head then cuts for four, 20 off the over with a ball to spare...A dot ball, phew, ends the over but the tourists are well on top here.

After six overs England were 40 without loss...

03:17 PM BST

OVER 5: AUS 46/0 (Head 11 Short 27) TARGET: 310

Potts goes short and Short goes very, very long, as in the Australian pulls for a mammoth six that goes out of the ground. That should be worth 10...The Durham bowler then is hit to the same mid-wicket boundary for four and he’s under a lot of pressure. A dot ball follows but then Short plays a nurdle/lateish cut for another boundary. Fourteen from the over and the tourists are motoring.

03:14 PM BST

OVER 4: AUS 32/0 (Head 11 Short 13) TARGET: 310

Stone gets punished with two fours from his first three balls. The first is flicked off Head’s pads down to fine leg. A single brings Stone on strike who then slashes one through the covers for four more. It gets worse: Stone picks up a ball that is just back of a length and pulls it over deep midwicket for six.

Handing over to Greg Wilcox who will likely take you through until the rain comes...

03:10 PM BST

OVER 3: AUS 16/0 (Head 7 Short 2) TARGET: 310

Potts gets one to nip back at Travis Head, who hops back on his crease and is hit above the pad. Head tries to steer another one around the corner. It’s off the hips, doesn’t get any bat on it but it tumbles down to the boundary for four leg byes in any case. Runs are runs. A one-handed cut shot from a wide one gets four for the team and for his total. A profitable over for Australia, with nine from it.

03:06 PM BST

OVER 2: AUS 7/0 (Head 2 Short 2) TARGET: 310

Olly Stone opens the bowling from the other end. Head tries to flick one around the corner but finds the fielder. “Oh, you bar steward,” or something similar, he says, picked up very clearly on the stump microphone. Just three off Stone’s first over which was pretty tidy.

03:01 PM BST

OVER 1: AUS 4/0 (Head 1 Short 2) TARGET: 310

As I say the target of 310 is nominal given we know that a lot of heavy rain is on the way and will not depart before the end of the day, let alone the end of play. Potts begins his first over reasonably well, with both Australian batsmen getting off the mark first ball with singles.

02:59 PM BST

Right, the covers are off...

...and we are fine to get started.

02:32 PM BST

‘A tense final innings ahead... if we get it’

02:27 PM BST

Covers just on the pitch and square at the moment...

And the skies in one direction are not terribly dark. Fingers crossed we can get a game out of it.

02:24 PM BST

END OF INNS: ENG 309ao

The covers come on as the innings break begins. Will we resume? Australia’s target at the moment is 310 in 50 overs to win the series but it is highly doubtful that will be what they require in the final reckoning because of the expected rain. Whether they can get the 20 overs in before the heavens open to their fullest remains to be seen. The issue now is that they are happy to continue in drizzle but I doubt they will begin Australia’s innings in it.

In any case, England went from 202/2 to 309 all out. 400 should have been the minimum when Brook and Duckett were in.

02:21 PM BST

WICKET! Rashid c Labuschagne b Head 36

A single from Stone gets Rashid on strike. He goes after head but gets beaten in the flight and Marnus Labuschagne is there 10 yards in from the boundary rope to take a simple catch and end England’s innings. England do not bat out their 50 overs, but do get over 300. Rashid crucial in getting them there with his highest ODI score for some seven years.

FOW 309 all out

02:19 PM BST

OVER 49: ENG 308/9 (Rashid 36 Stone 8)

Two fours in a row for Adil Rashid off Connolly! They were both there to be hit and England are running out of overs. Why not chance their arm. The 300 is up. 25 overs ago they would have been targeting at least 400 by this point. Stone sweeps for a single. Things get gloomier as the drizzle in Brizzle continues.

02:17 PM BST

OVER 48: ENG 298/9 (Rashid 27 Stone 7)

The plus side to this trial by spin is that the over rate is pretty good, which makes getting a game in more likely. Head’s sixth over goes for just five singles and a leg bye.

02:16 PM BST

OVER 47: ENG 292/9 (Rashid 25 Stone 4)

Plenty of overs left from the pacemen but with the ball turning and gripping so much it is no surprise that Smith wants to continue with the twirlymen. Surprised he hasn’t brought himself on, actually. Only him, Marnus Labuschagne (who can also be a decent bowler) and keeper Inglis have not bowled this innings. Connolly completes his third over but remains wicketless.

02:12 PM BST

OVER 46: ENG 289/9 (Rashid 24 Stone 3)

Rashid with a useful innings for England here. How useful we are yet to fully know but it is a much-needed knock after collapsing at exactly the wrong time. Mind you, could have been worse, could have collapsed at the very start.

02:09 PM BST

OVER 45: ENG 284/9 (Rashid 22 Stone 1)

Rashid reaches for a wide one and slices it out down to third man for four, wide of Hazlewood who cannot get there in time.

England might limp over the line to 300 here? Stone gets off the mark with a single through the covers. Maxwell misfields but they turn down a second run. Rashid flicks one off his pads but only gets a single for it, with Hardie fielding in the deep. The rain does not appear to be getting any heavier. There were only forecast for light showers early in the afternoon before the deluge later on...

02:04 PM BST

OVER 44: ENG 276/9 (Rashid 14 Stone 0)

The rain is starting to get a little heavier and the ground-staff are gathered around the covers on the outfield. The innings break might come at handy time.

02:02 PM BST

WICKET! Potts c Inglis b Maxwell 6

England are on the brink. Potts attempts a reverse sweep and he can only glove it behind to Inglis, who takes a sharp catch behind the stumps. He walks and goes for six.

FOW 276/9

01:59 PM BST

OVER 43: ENG 273/8 (Rashid 12 Potts 5)

England score their first boundary since Duckett’s six off Head, the ball before he got out. Rashid swipes across the line and gets four to midwicket. The fielder tries to keep it in play but it rolls into the ropes before he can return to the field of play.

England, I guess, should not think about what could have been but what can be. Bat out your overs and they will get a total that will be defendable, even if it will be 100 or so, at least, short of what they will have wanted.

01:57 PM BST

OVER 42: ENG 266/8 (Rashid 6 Potts 4)

Head continues his fine performance with another tight over, giving away just two runs.

01:55 PM BST

OVER 41: ENG 264/8 (Rashid 5 Potts 3)

Three singles off Zampa’s ninth over. He, like his team, has come back well after a very rocky start. 2-67 so far.

01:51 PM BST

OVER 40: ENG 261/8 (Rashid 4 Potts 1)

Can England manage to bat out the final 10 overs? 320 or so perhaps possible if they do. Can’t think they will get there, though. The ball is turning and Australia have England under the cosh, well and truly.

01:48 PM BST

WICKET! Carse b LBW Head 7

Head has three. The collapse continues. Carse is trapped in front and is given out on field. Umpire says out, Carse walks off but is tempted to stay back and review by Rashid, it seems. Looking at the replay I am not entirely sure why...

FOW 260/8

01:47 PM BST

Speaking of rain...

01:46 PM BST

OVER 39: ENG 255/7 (Carse 6 Rashid 3)

Is this going to be a series-deciding collapse from England? Could be. Depends how well they can bowl and indeed when the weather arrives.

01:42 PM BST

OVER 38: ENG 252/7 (Carse 5 Rashid 1)

Superb performance from Australia to bring this back after England looked on for a huge total... and it all started with the wicket of Harry Brook.

01:41 PM BST

WICKET! Bethell st Inglis b Head 13

The collapse continues. Head tempts Bethell out of his crease and then beats the outside edge with a slower, wider one. He misses, Inglis has the bails off and the third umpire and replays confirm that he is clearly out of his ground. England have now lost five wickets for 48 runs in fewer than 13 overs. Head has 2-11.

FOW 250/7

01:37 PM BST

OVER 37: ENG 245/6 (Bethell 12 Carse 2)

Zampa continues. A decent-sized shout for LBW from Australia to Bethell but replays shows it was clearly bat first. In any case they, wisely, do not decide to review it.

What is England’s approach from here? Probably sensibly it will just be to bat out the 50 overs and try to put away the bad balls. Not a great deal of those at the moment, unfortunately for the hosts.

01:34 PM BST

OVER 36: ENG 245/6 (Bethell 12 Carse 2)

Head is doing a fine job for Australia here. Just two runs off his second over and 1-9 off his two so far.

01:33 PM BST

Superb Duckett

01:32 PM BST

OVER 35: ENG 243/6 (Bethell 11 Carse 1)

Zampa keeps it tight with just five from his latest.

01:27 PM BST

OVER 34: ENG 238/6 (Bethell 7 Carse 0)

Well, 400 looks a long way off now as England are fast running out of recognised batsmen. Brydon Carse can hold a bat, sure, but with 16 overs to go you wonder if England will make it to 50... still, a fine innings by Duckett again.

01:26 PM BST

WICKET! Duckett c Hazlewood b Head 107

Travis Head on to bowl, the eighth Australia bowler to have a go with the ball. As England have done with almost every new bowler, they try to smash them. It works first of all as Duckett launches Head down the ground for six but he tries to do it again and doesn’t get all of it, slicing it to Josh Hazlewood. Hmmmm.

FOW 238/6

01:20 PM BST

OVER 33: ENG 231/5 (Duckett 101 Bethell 6)

Mathew Short returns for his second over and he keeps it pretty tight. Boundaries have dried up a bit but England are not playing the shots they were 30 minutes ago.

01:16 PM BST

OVER 32: ENG 229/5 (Duckett 100 Bethell 5)

It’s a hundred for Ben Duckett off 86 balls! He gets there with a single off Maxwell. His first ODI hundred was at this very ground, too. A fine series he is having.

He will end it with at least 292 runs and needs another 21 to go past Brook as the top run-scorer for England, assuming nobody below them does anything silly. England’s run rate has crashed a little here, back to 7.23 when it had peaked above eight not too long ago. Maxwell still finding some grip from the pitch. That single is the only run from his eighth over.

01:13 PM BST

OVER 31: ENG 228/5 (Duckett 99 Bethell 5)

England just in a rebuilding phase here. Duckett gets one off the final ball and looks for a second to take him to his hundred. A misfield presents that opportunity but they do not take it so he moves to 99 and will keep the strike.

01:10 PM BST

OVER 30: ENG 224/5 (Duckett 97 Bethell 3)

Zampa has two for 54 but has gone for 10.8 runs per over from those five overs. Duckett is approaching his century, which would be his second.

01:07 PM BST

OVER 29: ENG 218/5 (Duckett 93 Bethell 1)

Australia have pulled this back with three wickets for 30 runs in the last five overs. Wonder if England now might rein it in and think about something closer to 400 rather than 450. Hard to say, really, they might end up being bowled out.

01:05 PM BST

WICKET! Livingstone c Inglis b Zampa 0

Three quick wickets for Australia now as Liam Livingstone joins Will Jacks in departing without scoring... a big-turning legbreak sees Livingstone nick behind into the gloves of Josh Inglis.

FOW 216/5

01:01 PM BST

OVER 28: ENG 215/4 (Duckett 91 Livingstone 0)

Liam Livingstone the next man in. What damage can he do with the short boundaries?

12:59 PM BST

WICKET! Smith b Maxwell 6

Maxwell has been finding a bit of grip in his spell so far. That is enough to do for Jamie Smith as it turns enough to beat the inside edge and sneaks between bat and pad and into the stumps. He went back just to prod it down the ground but missed. England lose another wicket.

FOW 215/4

12:56 PM BST

OVER 26: ENG 211/3 (Duckett 90 Smith 3)

Eight runs off Zampa’s latest over which is probably tight given his previous three overs. Duckett into the 90s.

12:53 PM BST

OVER 26: ENG 204/3 (Duckett 84 Smith 1)

Just two singles off Maxwell’s fifth over. Jamie Smith gets off the mark with one of them.

12:51 PM BST

Brook: Shades of Pietersen in 2005 here

12:50 PM BST

OVER 25: ENG 202/3 (Duckett 83 Smith 0)

Before that Brook wicket I had posited that 450 should be the target for England now but that 500 might be out of reach. We are at the half-way point, and I don’t think that Brook wicket will have changed the equation a great deal, though you would much rather have him still in. Sadly he has had to march off to the pavilion.

12:49 PM BST

WICKET! Brook c Maxwell b Zampa 72

Zampa had already taken a battering before this over but Brook begins with two sixes off the first two balls to bring up the 200. If all goes well England will be targeting a score of 450+ here today. Unfortunately Brook holes out to Glenn Maxwell taking on Zampa again. A slightly slower ball, a big heave and Brook does not get all of it and is caught at long-off. Australia really needed that. 72 off 52 for Brook.

FOW 202/3

12:45 PM BST

OVER 24: ENG 178/2 (Duckett 83 Brook 59)

Maxwell’s turn to get a bit of tap as Duckett launches him back wide of mid on for six to take himself into the 80s. His first six of the innings actually. On Friday Duckett got out for a quick-ish but steady 63. He will be looking to go big today and he has made a fine start to that attempt. 10 in total off Maxwell’s fourth over.

12:42 PM BST

OVER 23: ENG 178/2 (Duckett 74 Brook 58)

Connolly continues and Duckett continues too, this time with his 12th boundary of the innings, all of them fours. this one through square leg. England setting themselves up nicely for a big total here.

12:38 PM BST

OVER 22: ENG 171/2 (Duckett 68 Brook 57)

Maxwell finding a but of turn out there. England fail to beat the field until Brook reverse sweeps over the fielders for four off the final ball.

12:36 PM BST

OVER 21: ENG 163/2 (Duckett 66 Brook 45)

Duckett’s assault continues, this time on the returning Aaaron Hardie. A single brings Brook on strike who brings up a fifty of his own with a pull off a short one over deep midwicket for six, his fifth of the innings. 50 off 39 balls for the captain.

12:31 PM BST

OVER 20: ENG 151/2 (Duckett 61 Brook 44)

Four more for Duckett, this time with a drive wide of mid-off. After a lull once Brook got to the crease, England are racking up the runs nicely here. A depleted Australia attack to a certain degree, yes, but you can only put away what is in front of you. Brook misjudges a loopier one that turns and it pops up in the air. A few strangled cries of “caaatch” but nobody is close enough to claim it. The field is spread.

12:29 PM BST

OVER 19: ENG 144/2 (Duckett 55 Brook 43)

Cooper Connelly comes on for his first over in ODIs. Three singles before Duckett smacks him down the ground for four. He then reverse sweeps him on the full for four more. It was in the air but he got reasonably on top of it. A sweep for a single off the final ball and in all that came his third 50 of the series, this one off 45 balls. 

It is really heartening to see the international cricketer Ben Duckett has become in the last few years after his first taste of international cricket in 2016.

12:24 PM BST

OVER 18: ENG 132/2 (Duckett 45 Brook 40)

Glenn Maxwell on with his off-spin and it’s a relatively controlled over with just four from it.

12:21 PM BST

OVER 17: ENG 128/2 (Duckett 43 Brook 39)

Zampa drags one down marginally and Brook is onto it straight away, pulling it for six over deep midwicket. A superb shot. Two balls later Zampa gifts Brook six more as he sends in a full bunger. It’s pulled over the midwicket boundary again. Don’t bowl at him there. Don’t bowl at anyone there. A third six of the over comes with a straight drive down the ground. He didn’t get all of it but the straight boundaries are not big here.

Brook has motored to 39 off 29 and England are going at 7.6 runs per over.

12:17 PM BST

OVER 16: ENG 110/2 (Duckett 43 Brook 21)

Brook is surprised by a short one that leaps up at him. He tried to pull but was far too late. Gets a single out to midwicket, though.

Duckett flashes and flashes hard at one outside off, it takes the outside edge and he gets four for it. Not where he wanted it to go.

12:10 PM BST

OVER 15: ENG 102/2 (Duckett 37 Brook 19)

Adam Zampa on for his first over. After a decent start, Brook slices one out to the point boundary for four. Actually, was more of a late cut than a slice, playing it very late indeed. From finesse to brute power. Over Zampa’s head for six. 12 off Zampa’s first set as England look to up the rate.

12:06 PM BST

OVER 14: ENG 90/2 (Duckett 37 Brook 8)

After picking up two for a cover drive. Brook gets a leading edge but it is safe. This is a better over from Starc. A bit of swing out there as Australia try to peg England back. Starc’s last ball strikes him on the knee, evading the spongiest part of the pad. He eventually limps through for a leg bye but that will hurt. He keeps the strike.

12:01 PM BST

OVER 13: ENG 87/2 (Duckett 36 Brook 6)

A quieter period helped by the excellent and tight bowling of Hardie. 18 off his first over but just six off his next three. Looks like Mitchell Starc will be returning.

11:57 AM BST

OVER 12: ENG 83/2 (Duckett 33 Brook 5)

Brook is finally off the mark with a single down to gulley. He follows that up with a scoop off Hazlewood wide of the stumps and down to the deep fine leg boundary for four. England have lost a bit of the swashbuckling impetus of Phil Salt since his departure but are still picking up boundaries. They are going along at just under seven runs per over.

11:54 AM BST

OVER 11: ENG 77/2 (Duckett 32 Brook 0)

Duckett stands and delivers off the back foot with a punch for four through the covers. He’s had a good series has young Ben. Australia are pretty depleted with injuries and illness at the moment and they only have three recognised seamers so will have to rely on spin, some of it part-time, to get through their 50 overs today. Hardie pulls it back after the first-ball boundary with five dot balls. Has come back very well after being blasted for 18 in the first five balls of his first over.

11:48 AM BST

OVER 10: ENG 73/2 (Duckett 28 Brook 0)

Duckett drives well through the covers but only picks up three as the slow outfield allows the fielder to pick it up a couple of feet inside the boundary rope. Brook edges one but its’ just short of slip/gulley who stops a certain four. Matt Short there doing the business. No run for Brook off five and that is the end of the powerplay.

11:45 AM BST

OVER 9: ENG 70/2 (Duckett 25 Brook 0)

A wicket-maiden is never a bad thing, never mind in an ODI. Hardie does it.

11:42 AM BST

WICKET! Jacks b Hardie 0

Hardie’s first over was expensive but ended with a wicket. He does not concede a run to Jacks in the first four balls and then castles him with a beauty fourth ball, just nipping back and knocking down off-stump. A superb length there and a superb delivery – and a duck for Jacks.

FOW 70/2

11:38 AM BST

OVER 8: ENG 70/1 (Duckett 25 Jacks 0)

Duckett gets a little lucky with an inside edge that goes beyond the keeper, down the leg side for four. No luck with a pull over wide mid-on. Too short from Hazlewood but not enormously so. He picks up length so well and is onto this one like a flash. The fortune returns off the final ball as the outside edge flies past second slip. 12 off the over as England march on despite the loss of Salt.

11:34 AM BST

OVER 7: ENG 58/1 (Duckett 13 Jacks 0)

That wicket brings in Will Jacks at three.

11:33 AM BST

WICKET! Salt c Labuschagne b Hardie 45

After smashing 17 runs off the first five balls of Aaron Hardie’s opening over, Salt smears one out to deep point who takes a catch diving forward. He departs for 45 off 27 which is not a bad dig in this format.

FOW 58/1

11:27 AM BST

OVER 6: ENG 40/0 (Salt 28 Duckett 12)

Bang! Duckett is right onto a short-ish ball and it is pulled powerfully out to the deep midwicket boundary.

He manages to reel it in a little the next five balls with just two more. A fine start for England so far but the crowd seems fairly subdued.

11:22 AM BST

OVER 5: ENG 34/0 (Salt 27 Duckett 7)

Salt has another slash at Starc and edges it over the slips for six! He charged down the pitch and committed and was rewarded, even if it was not what he intended. The next one is similar and is a bit of a miscue but only out to deep point for two runs. That’s fine too. 10 runs off the over and 28 off Starc’s three so far...

11:17 AM BST

OVER 4: ENG 24/0 (Salt 18 Duckett 6)

Just a single to Salt off the first ball before Duckett struggles to get Hazlewood away for the next five balls.

11:14 AM BST

OVER 3: ENG 23/0 (Salt 17 Duckett 6)

Duckett gets a leading edge and just chips it up in the air, but well short of mid-on. He gets a run for it, though. Starc just strays onto Duckett’s pads and he puts it away for four out to deep backward square leg for four.

11:09 AM BST

OVER 2: ENG 17/0 (Salt 16 Duckett 1)

Josh Hazlewood on for the second over. Duckett gets off the mark first ball with a single that is worked on the leg-side. Salt plays and misses at one that just moves away from the off stump. He repeats the trick again before the over is finished. Just the one run from it and a tidy start until Salt frees his arms and launches the ball aerially over the covers for four. A little shuffle down the pitch to get on the front foot.

11:04 AM BST

OVER 1: ENG 12/0 (Salt 12 Duckett 0)

A cracking start as Salt gets four runs first ball of the innings with a cover drive. He picks up a lucky boundary on the fourth ball as he attempts to leave a back of a length ball and it cannons off his bat and down to the third-man boundary for four. No luck involved in the third boundary of the over, though, as he cracks it again through the covers for four more!

10:53 AM BST

More on the weather

The primary issue is whether we will get enough overs of the second innings in for it to constitute a game. At present the Met Office are forecasting that some rain could arrive between 3-4pm with the heaviest spell coming an hour or two later. As mentioned earlier, unfortunately it looks to be set in then.

It’s probably about three-and-a-half hours for 50 overs to be completed, so that takes us to 2.30pm. A 45-minute break or so for the interval takes us to 3.15pm. Can England get in 20 overs in the time before the rain comes? I think we are in danger of ending up with an unsatisfactory outcome.

I mean, perhaps the sensible thing now would be to agree to a reduced game of some description given the forecast but that is not really how it works.

10:37 AM BST

The line-ups

England

1. Phil Salt

2. Ben Duckett

3. Will Jacks

4. Harry Brook (c)

5. Jamie Smith (wk)

6. Liam Livingstone

7. Jacob Bethell

8. Brydon Carse

9. Matthew Potts

10. Olly Stone

11. Adil Rashid

Australia

1. Travis Head

2. Matthew Short

3. Steve Smith (c)

4. Josh Inglis (wk)

5. Marnus Labuschagne

6. Glenn Maxwell

7. Aaron Hardie

8. Cooper Connelly

9. Mitchell Starc

10. Adam Zampa

11. Josh Hazlewood

10:34 AM BST

Australia win the toss

Steve Smith is the stand-in captain today and he says Australia will bowl.

“Mitch [Marsh] is just a bit sore from the last game... looking forward to today. The must-win games are what you play for, it’s why we love it. Big game today, it’s why we love it.”

Brook says he would have bowled too and there is no Jofra Archer. “Deciding game, hopefully we can go out there and perform at our best. Jof’s out, [Olly] Stoney’s in.”

10:29 AM BST

The match results so far this series

1st ODI, Nottingham: Australia win by seven wickets, with 36 balls remaining
2nd ODI, Leeds: Australia win by 68 runs
3rd ODI, Durham: England wun by 46 runs (DLS method)
4th ODI, Lord’s: England win by 186 runs

10:25 AM BST

The outlook

Via ESPNCricnfo’s Andrew Miller...

05:29 PM BST

Good morning

Welcome to our coverage of the fifth, final and deciding One Day International between England and Australia at Bristol. Things were looking fairly bleak for Harry Brook’s men early on in the series as they tumbled to a 2-0 deficit after the first two games. Yet a fine victory in Durham and a thumping one (England’s second largest ODI win by runs over the old enemy) on Friday at Lord’s have, thankfully, taken this series down to the wire. With autumn well and truly here that and that does at least add a little heat to a game taking place on the last Sunday in September. A dead rubber in inclement conditions might have been a bit too much.

England’s white-ball teams have felt in transition for a little while now an that is especially the case with the 50-over side. It is now five years since their World Cup victory, and their performances have been inconsistent and scratchy for a little while now. Will incoming white-ball coach Brendon McCullum, who takes up the job in January, be able to change that?

Talent-wise England have the makings of a dangerous side, as the last two games have shown. Harry Brook followed up his maiden ODI century with a rapid 87 on Friday, taking his run tally in the series to 240 at 80. Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse have both taken seven wickets whilst Liam Livingstone is scoring his runs at a strike-rate of nearly 170 in the series. Before their two losses, Australia had won 13 ODIs in a row. They have not become a bad side overnight despite the 186-run mauling at Lord’s. In other words it is all set up nicely.

And what about that weather? A couple of days ago and the forecast would not have given you much hope for a game being started, let alone completed. As it stands the conditions, according to the Met Office, means there should be some kind of game on. With an earlier scheduled start time than Friday, the bulk of the rain is not expected to arrive in Bristol until the late afternoon. Unfortunately once it arrives it is unlikely to disappear again.

The question, then, will be whether the side batting first can complete their innings and then the chasing side get through enough overs to constitute a game. Given the series poised at 2-2 it would be a shame if there was a 50-over first innings and then just 15 overs before the rain came, with no further play.