Hopes sets sights on whitewash

James Hopes is anxious that Australia should go into the ICC Champions Trophy on the back of another victory tomorrow

Australia all-rounder James Hopes admits the chance to become the first team to win a series 7-0 will be a major motivating factor in the final one-day international against England at Chester-le-Street tomorrow.

The tourists continued their winning ways at Trent Bridge on Thursday night when a century from rookie wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine helped them to a crushing 111-run victory.

While piling further misery on England’s one-day troops, Australia’s success lifted them back to the top of the ICC’s one-day international rankings.

Ricky Ponting’s side must win again in the north-east if they are to retain that status into next week’s ICC Champions Trophy and Hopes admits completing a whitewash is a scenario they would relish.

“We heard after the game that 7-0 has never been done before so that’s a bit more of a motivation,” Hopes said. “We don’t want to go to the Champions Trophy losing the last game before that.

“We are in quite a tough pool against Pakistan, India and the West Indies so we have to go there winning and 7-0 against England - there’s nothing better than that.”