Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
Thankfully for Australia, their awful ODI form has not transferred over into the T20I Tri Series so far. Fresh off convincing wins over New Zealand and England, Australia now have the chance to seal their passage into the Tri Series Final in Auckland next week.
From the beginning of this series, you just felt Australia’s batting had real quality about it, and it has been Glenn Maxwell who has stepped up the most. Despite having some luck in Hobart, Maxi was superb in leading Australia home, and should put all doubts about his limited overs place to bed. D’Arcy Short showed some excellent power in the last game in Hobart, after the bowlers did an excellent job to restrict England to 155.
For England, their collapse of 6/28 effectively cost them the game in Hobart, as they were set for a total of 175+ which would have challenged an Australian side that eventually had one player score over 64% of the team’s runs. In Melbourne, they would surely believe a few minor changes in their batting strategy as well as their fielding can help them get over the line.
Key to an Australia win
David Warner, Chris Lynn, Marcus Stoinis and Travis Head scored a combined 16 runs, which was just over half of D’Arcy Short’s 30, which was the second highest score. For Australia to seal their passage into the final, less reliance on Glenn Maxwell is important.
In addition, Australia’s bowling impressed, with spinners Ashton Agar and Glenn Maxwell combining for five wickets at just five per over. In Melbourne, conditions may favour some spin bowling, and will have a key role to play in conjunction with the seam attack.
Key to an England win
England really let things slip in Hobart. Sitting pretty at 109/3 after 12.1 overs, England would have been looking at 175+. Indeed, those 20 extra runs, as well as the catch taken off Glenn Maxwell when he was on 40, could have certainly seen them get over the line.
Nevertheless, England have the quality to unsettle Australia, and should have hope in the fact that if they can get into Australia’s top order again, and get Maxwell early, it could go a long way to securing victory.
Predicted teams:
Expect Australia to go in with the same lineup to seal their place in the final, and then maybe experiment in their game before the final in New Zealand.
Australia XI: 1. David Warner (c), 2. D’Arcy Short, 3. Chris Lynn, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Marcus Stoinis, 6. Travis Head, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Ashton Agar, 9. AJ Tye, 10. Kane Richardson, 11. Billy Stanlake
I also expect England to go in with the same lineup, as they weren’t too far away from delivering a win in Hobart.
England XI: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Alex Hales, 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Jos Buttler (wk), 6. Sam Billings, 7. David Willey, 8. Chris Jordan, 9. Adil Rashid, 10. Tom Curran, 11. Mark Wood
Stats & Facts:
- In this series, Glenn Maxwell has scored 143 not out from 82 balls.
- With a win, Australia will seal their place in the Tri Series Final with a game to spare. England and New Zealand would then fight it out in two games in New Zealand for a spot in the final.
- 161 is the lowest score in T20I history where a player has scored a century. Previous lowest: 162 by Scotland – century scorer: Richie Berrington
- Australia have won four of their last five T20Is against England.
Prediction:
It might seem that all things point to an Australia win, but that is not the case. Had England taken their chances against Glenn Maxwell, it could have been a different result. The rest of Australia’s batting hasn’t quite clicked, and I expect England to be better.
England to win.
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