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Aussies, England ready for new rules

Southampton match will offer Australia and England a chance to adjust to new one-day regulations

Eoin Morgan’s new-look England outfit is not the only change Australia will be faced with in their one-day international at Southampton on Thursday.

Both teams will also be adjusting to life under the International Cricket Council’s new rules for the ODI format, which are aimed at reducing the dominance of bat over ball in the 50-over game.

The new regulations came into effect on July 5 and were in place for Australia’s ODI against Ireland last week, but the rain-affected match in Belfast, which saw Australia score 6-222 in 40.2 overs before bowling the hosts out for 157 in 24, did not offer the Australians a chance to properly experience the changes.

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Following a World Cup which saw an explosion in high scores and rapid increases in run rates during the closing stages of innings, the ICC has removed the batting power-play and now allows five fielders outside the 30-yard circle between the 41st and 50th overs.

The requirement of two fielders in catching positions in the first 10 overs has also been removed.

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Since July 5, there have been 17 ODIs played, with only three scores above 300 produced by teams batting first.

During the World Cup, 23 of 48 completed matches produced first-innings scores in excess of 300.

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Glenn Maxwell helped power Australia to 342 against England in February // Getty Images

“I think they [totals] might come down a little bit,” Australia captain Steve Smith said ahead of Thursday’s match.

“But I think you see these days, in T20 cricket for ­instance, guys can go over 10 an over for the last 10 overs.

“If you have got wickets in the shed anything is possible. That’s our plan anyway, to make sure we’ve got wickets in the shed, to make sure we can go quite hard at the back end. The guys are so strong these days they can clear the rope with five out.”

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During the World Cup in the Antipodes earlier this year, West Indies scored 152 without losing a wicket off their final 10 overs against Zimbabwe and Proteas skipper AB de Villiers personally scored 109 from the last 10 overs off against West Indies.

Morgan said he felt the new rules would place more emphasis on death bowling.

“I think you’ll have to be more spot-on. A lot of guys look at it the other way – another man out, you have an extra [type of] ball to bowl, work a line and bowl three different lengths as opposed to just two,” he said.