Australia will return to Lordâs on Friday for the first time since last yearâs Ashes row, with captain Mitchell Marsh confident a controversial incident involving wicketkeeper Alex Carey is firmly in the past.
Careyâs stumping of Jonny Bairstow, when the England batter walked out of his ground thinking the ball was dead, led to angry exchanges between the teams.
And there were also ugly scenes in the Lordâs pavilion too as spectators clashed with Australia players.
Careyâs form fell away in the final three Tests of what became a drawn series but the 33-year-old has been a thorn in Englandâs side during the ongoing ODI campaign, making a match-winning 74 at Headingley on Saturday and an unbeaten 77 in defeat at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday.
Victory at Lordâs would mean 50-over world champion Australia take an unassailable 3-1 lead in a five-match series, with Marsh adamant the tourist has drawn a line under last yearâs flare-up.
âWeâve really moved on from that,â the skipper told a pre-match press conference on Thursday.
âThese things happen in Ashes Test matches, thereâs not a series that goes by that doesnât have some sort of drama.
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âAlex loves playing in England, we all do. The fans are always incredible and itâs always a tough challenge playing against England. I think heâs just rapt to be back here, playing for Australia.â
Marsh, asked if last yearâs incident had given Carey additional motivation, replied: âI donât think thatâs in his character.â
Such has been Careyâs form with bat and gloves, he could well keep his place for the fourth ODI even though World Cup-winning wicketkeeper Josh Inglis is now fit again after injury.
Australia is likely to be at full strength following a tour beset by illness, which ruled out leg-spinner Adam Zampa at Durham in a match where in-form opener Travis Head was rested following soreness.
Both key players are set to return at Lordâs, with Marsh saying: âIt would be massive (to have them back). We obviously know the last couple of years theyâve both had and just what they bring to our team from an experience point of view.â
Source Agencies