BIRMINGHAM // Australia are hopeful that they can stop England from a 5-0 series whitewash that would create a change at the top of the world rankings.
The tourists slid to a disappointing defeat at The Oval two days ago, and must therefore beat England at Edgbaston tomorrow to keep the five-match one-day international series alive.
Should England complete a sweep, the hosts would depose Michael Clarke's men at the top of the ICC world rankings.
"I hope not", said George Bailey, who scored a career-best 65 in the first game. "If we can play as well as we believe we can, and as well as we believe we should, then I think it will be very difficult for them to win 5-0."
Bailey, who played his seventh ODI, accepts he still needs to raise his game after he and Shane Watson became bogged down against England's accurate attack in the middle overs at The Oval.
"It's as much about the confidence as anything, and me backing myself a little bit more," Bailey said. "I appreciate it probably didn't look very good. But we were really clear in the plans we had in terms of keeping wickets in hand, but we just didn't execute it as well as we could have."
Bailey echoed his coach Mickey Arthur, who said Australia may have to start imitating the methods of the opposition.
"It was difficult, weighing up the balance of trying to keep wickets in hand so that we could build a bit of a platform to go hard - which England have done really well," he said. "They've got a really set structure, and each player knows his role really well, and they don't try to go outside of that.
"There are no secrets in the way they play. It's a really obvious game plan, but they are executing it very well."
Meanwhile, Chris Woakes hopes he can play a part in England's momentum; he was called in as cover for James Anderson, who has a groin injury.
"To get No 1 status in Test match cricket was huge, and one-day cricket is the next target," he said. "It's exciting times ahead for English cricket."
Woakes has just four caps, none in England, but that includes his country's best 50-over figures of six for 45, against Australia.
"It's an opportunity," he said. "But if Jimmy's is fit tomorrow, then obviously I won't play."
Woakes expects Australia to resilient. "They're the No 1 team, so I'm sure they're obviously going to come back strong, and we're ready for that."
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