England vs Pakistan, 1st ODI: Where to watch, prediction, preview, betting odds and live streaming info

England host Pakistan in the first game of the five-match One Day International (ODI) series at Rose Bowl, Southampton on 24 August (Wednesday).

Where to watch live

Match starts at 2pm BST. Live TV coverage is available on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports 2 HD. Click here for the live streaming link.

Overview

England and Pakistan put on a show in the Test series, which in the day of jam packed Twenty20 leagues sprouting up around the world, was a good show case for the five day format. The focus now shifts to the One Day Internationals, which the hosts come into as the fifth ranked team with 106 points in their kitty.

England have undergone major overhaul since their disastrous outing the ICC 2015 World Cup, with their focus being on playing aggressive cricket, which has paid dividends. Since the beginning of last season, the Three Lions have produced some impressive performances, registering a first total over 400, another total of 399, chasing down 350 with six balls to spare and a ten-wicket win chasing 255.

In fact, such has been their transformation in the one day arena that they have scored their runs faster than any other team and hit more sixes and in Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root and the skipper himself Eoin Morgan, they have players who are very destructive with the bat.

The Three Lions are expected to continue their good run of form and are the favourites to start the series on a strong note.

Pakistan, who recently have risen to the No.1 ranking in the Test format, sadly have struggled in the shorter formats of the game over the past two years, finding themselves in ninth spot in the ICC rankings with 87 points.

The Men In Green though come into this clash on back of a confident performance against Ireland whom they thrashed by a record 255 runs, registering their biggest win in their ODI history. Opener Sharjeel Khan and all-rounder Imad Wasim were the two players who impressed but there are still question marks over the players in the side.

Skipper Azhar Ali has disappointed since taking over the side, failing to provide the starts that the side needs at the top of the order while the over-dependence on old hands like Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez is unnerving which shows that the talent is just not coming through in the Pakistan ranks.

Pakistan's bid to gain automatic qualification for the ICC World Cup is dependent on how they perform this summer, meaning they will need a strong performance against an in form England side if they are to make that step up.

Prediction

England to win

Betting odds (ladbrokes)

• England to win: 8/15
• Pakistan to win: 6/4

Team news

England

Squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Johnny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler (wk), Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Pakistan

Squad: Azhar Ali (c), Sharjeel Khan, Sami Aslam, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz.