Australia will take on a rampant England in a five-match one-day series widely regarded as a teaser for next year's Ashes showdown.
England are full of confidence following their comfortable 2-0 series win over the West Indies earlier in June, and they have named an unchanged squad to face the Aussies in the series opener at Lord's on Friday.
The English have won six of their last seven matches - the non-victory being a wash-out - and continue to impress despite the shock retirement of star batsman Kevin Pietersen from one-day internationals in May.
Opening batsman Alastair Cook has been a shining light since taking over as England captain from Andrew Strauss in May 2011, leading the side to 15 wins from 24 matches and scoring four centuries - including 112 against the Windies last week - during his tenure.
That run of form has seen England climb to number four in the world ODI rankings, while Australia continues to occupy top spot.
Australia, the last touring side to win a series on English soil back in 2009, will also take momentum into the series, having lost just one of their past nine 50-over outings against England.
Following a 2-2 series draw against the Windies in the Caribbean in March, Australia will field an inexperienced line-up in England with five players who have never played international cricket in the country before.
David Warner, Matthew Wade, Patrick Cummins, James Pattinson and Peter Forrest are all expected to be given opportunities for the tourists, while the likes of skipper Michael Clarke, paceman Brett Lee and one-day stalwart David Hussey will provide valuable leadership.
Lee, with 379 one-day international wickets to his name, needs three more wickets to break Glenn McGrath's Australian record in the ODI format, while Hussey is hoping his selection could lead to a late Test debut in the 2013 Ashes.
Following the first match at Lord's, the teams will face off at the Oval, Edgbaston, Durham International Cricket Ground and Old Trafford.
First Posted 27 June, 2012 3:00PM AEDT
