Australia vs. England ODI Tri-Series Final: Date, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

Australia and England will meet in the final of the Carlton Mid One-Day International Tri-Series on Sunday, after England defeated India by three wickets on Friday to secure progression into the series decider. 

Venue: Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth

Date: Sunday, Feb. 1

Start Time: 3:20 a.m. GMT/11:20 a.m. local

Live On: Nine Network (Australia), STAR Sports (India), Orbit Show Network (Middle East), PTV Sports (Pakistan), SuperSport (South Africa), Sky Sports (United Kingdom), Sky Sport (New Zealand)

Live Stream: Sky Go (United Kingdom)

Weather: The Weather Channel is forecasting a hot and sunny day in Perth, with the temperature set to reach 32 degrees Celsius during the afternoon. 

Overview

A triangular series final. In years gone by, there were often three—and sometimes even five—such games to determine the victor of the three-team one-day competition that was made famous in Australia in the 1980s and '90s.

Now, however, we have just one. And it's more of a World Cup warm-up than it is a pivotal clash between two teams at the back end of the Australian summer. 

But with the triangular series dying a slow death Down Under, it'll have to do. 

Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

For Australia, Sunday's match represents an opportunity to do two things: to close in on what constitutes the nation's best XI and to maintain a hold over another of their World Cup rivals. 

Having cruised through this series without a hiccup, the hosts can enter the World Cup in imposing form with a third straight victory over England (it would be a seventh straight win overall) and the capture of the tri-series trophy. 

Aiding Australia's push toward that goal will be the return of Mitchell Johnson, as reported by ESPN Cricinfo, who will make his first appearance in this one-day competition on Sunday after being rested following the conclusion of the Boxing Day Test against India in Melbourne back in December. 

Johnson's presence could see the hosts utilise a pace attack comprising three left-armers, with both Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner also expected to play in Perth as the selectors look to finalise the XI ahead of the World Cup opener against England on February 14. 

Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The visitors, meanwhile, come into Sunday's final still looking to put together a complete performance against the Australians. While victories over an out-of-sorts Indian outfit have been encouraging for Eoin Morgan's men in this series, their form against the hosts has continued to reinforce the sense that England are still off the pace in this format as the World Cup approaches.  

In the series opener, England's top order was blown away and the team never recovered, while their inability to capitalise on a superb opening partnership from Ian Bell and Moeen Ali in Hobart allowed Australia back into a game that initially looked to be getting away from the home side. 

Sunday's final in Perth is one of England's last opportunities (they play the West Indies and Pakistan in warm-up games in just over a week) to sustain a high level across the game's 100 overs prior to the World Cup. 

Squads

Australia

Squad for the final is yet to be named. The squad that began the tournament is as follows:

Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey (vc), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson

England

Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes

Form Lines (most recent first)

Australia - WWWWWW

England - WLWLLL

Players to Watch

Australia

Paul Kane/Getty Images

Last time Morgan's men saw Johnson, he was tearing the heart out of an entire England regime to propel Australia to an emphatic and triumphant summer against the nation's oldest rival.

Now, the left-armer returns to face the side he tormented a year ago with a different goal: to recapture the pace he lost in the final months of 2014. 

Indeed, lifeless wickets in the UAE took a toll on Johnson, before a series of surprisingly similar surfaces in the Test series against India did the same. 

But Sunday's final is brewing a perfect recipe for Australia's spearhead: short spells, a fast wicket and a fresh body. 

Can he rediscover the magic of the 2013-14 Ashes series?

England

Paul Kane/Getty Images

James Taylor's 82 against India in Perth on Friday was critical in England's victory over MS Dhoni's side that has given Morgan's team a berth in the competition's final.

But though the innings was extremely valuable, it still didn't suggest Taylor is the ideal No. 3 for England heading into a World Cup. For the situation was set up perfectly for his game: the pitch was difficult, the openers had been dismissed early and the required total was relatively small. 

It meant Taylor could play in his plucky, patient style without being rushed or forced to accelerate quickly (he faced 122 balls for his 82).

However, such a set of circumstances are unlikely to repeat themselves regularly over the coming weeks, and England need Taylor to show that his game is multidimensional and that he can flourish when the team needs a fast start.

Another clash with the Australians on Sunday is his chance to demonstrate that ahead of the World Cup.

Follow @TimDCollins