Cricket: Three talking points for the fourth ODI

Can Ross Taylor bring up another century in tonight's ODI? Photo / Getty Images

The Black Caps take on England in game four of the ODI series tonight. Joseph Pearson looks at three main talking points ahead of the game.

1. Will we see another run fest at Trent Bridge?

New Zealand's tour of England has seen runs scored at rapid rates in both the test and ODI series. Bowlers will have nightmares watching the tapes back from this tour because both teams have attacked right from the first ball in every innings and there's no indication there'll be any let up in Nottingham.

England, often criticised for their catious approach to the 50-over game, have scored 300-plus in three consecutive one-day innings - the first time they've achieved that feat.

They also managed to score their highest ever ODI score in the first match of the series when they thrashed the Black Caps, who couldn't get near their mammoth 408-9. Skipper Eoin Morgan has said his team will continue to attack despite losing the next two matches as New Zealand have woken up following England's record-breaking total.

Match two and three of the series saw the Black Caps raise their game. Led by Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson, New Zealand have attacked with far more class than England to score runs at will with more poise and composure.

Trent Bridge's only one-day games this season have been Nottinghamshire's home gamse in the domestic T20 competition with relatively average scores ranging between 140 and 180. This might suggest runs could be a little harder to come by but don't rule out another exciting game where batsmen fill their boots from the moment they mark their crease.

2. How much pressure are England under?

Any side 2-1 down with two to play in a five-match series are naturally under pressure. England have played with far more freedom and their long-suffering followers have taken to their new attacking style as a breath of fresh air. However, the fourth ODI at Trent Bridge is a different ball game. England have received plaudits for their cricket in this series following their abysmal performance at the World Cup but they've been criticised for costly flashes of naivety and over-exuberance.

England were 288-5 with 8.2 overs remaining in the last game and it was inconceivable they would be bowled out for 302 just 14 balls later.

Since New Zealand have stepped up their game to win the last two matches, England's inexperience has been exposed and they could wilt under pressure with more at stake at Trent Bridge. The fear of losing the series could potentially hold back some of England's new breed of instinctive attacking ODI players.

Few individuals will be under more pressure than opener Alex Hales, who will be desperate to put on a show in front of his home crowd at Nottingham. Two starts of 20 and 23 came either side of a 49-ball 54 and suggestions are there is more to come from Hales who's yet to really kick start his ODI career.

3. Will Ross Taylor score another hundred?

Taylor is one century away from levelling Nathan Astle's record of 27 hundreds on New Zealand's all-time list of international century-makers. Taylor has scored 26 centuries for the Black Caps and there's little doubt that, at 31, he will break that record very soon.

Two superb hundreds in the last two games means Taylor is also on track to score three consecutive ODI hundreds for the second time in 18 months. He will never get a better opportunity with how freely runs are flowing in this extraordinary tour of England.

Another huge partnership with Kane Williamson would go a long away to assisting Taylor in making history and clinching the series for the Black Caps.