Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

ENG vs AUS 3rd T20I Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs AUS 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Australia 3rd T20I Key Players | Southampton Pitch Report

And just like that, England’s white-ball dominance over the old enemy in recent years continues.

With 12 wins in their last 14 white-ball internationals against Australia, England have the measure of their opponents. After their great escape in the opening T20I, England were clinical in the second, as a great powerplay with the ball and Jos Buttler’s superb 77* saw them home. England’s star keeper-batsman won’t be available for this clash (details here), so England’s top order will have to deliver the goods without him.

All is not lost for Australia, though. A win in this game means they keep their number one ranking, which adds to the already-present incentive of avoiding a clean sweep against their greatest rivals. Their performance has largely been disappointing, particularly at the backend of both games, where poise was the need of the hour. After an almighty collapse in the first T20I, along with deciding to bowl Adam Zampa in the penultimate over in the second match, it is clear Australia need to improve their decision making in the final stages.

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Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Aaron Finch has looked Australia’s best batsman in this series. He has hit the 40’s twice before getting out, and will be motivated to carry on with his start.
• Finch’s love for Southampton is clear to see: 3 matches, 242 runs, avg. 80.66, SR 189.66. He also has the most runs in England-Australia T20Is: 511 runs, avg. 63.87, SR 176.81.
• Eyes will be on David Warner and Jonny Bairstow. Warner, despite the first-game half-century, still averages less than 20 vs England in T20Is (11 games). Bairstow has endured a quiet run of form, scoring just 17 runs in his last three T20Is.
• Dawid Malan is quickly becoming an integral part of England’s T20I setup. He is averaging 50.84 in 15 T20Is, with a strike rate of 147.87. This includes eight 50+ scores.
• Can Glenn Maxwell deliver a big performance? He threatened to go big last game (26 off 18 balls).
• Steve Smith has had a slow start to the tour. He has looked good, though, only to get himself out in double figures twice. He has plenty to offer – he struck at 152.05 in T20Is in 2019, and is going at 145.05 in 2020.
• Tom Banton is likely to open in the absence of Jos Buttler. Banton recently finished as top scorer in the England-Pakistan series, where he opened the batting (137 runs in three T20Is).
• Ashton Agar has four wickets this series (2/32 and 2/27). He is enjoying an excellent 2020, with 12 wickets in five T20Is to date.
• Jofra Archer’s pace was well up in the second T20I, and it was a sight to behold. He has three wickets for the series, and will be key again both up front and at the death.
• Can Mitchell Starc hit top form? His only wicket so far this series has been hit wicket. Also, Pat Cummins, with 12 wickets in his last 10 T20Is, is crucial.
• Chris Jordan will also be key for England at the death, and is a livewire in the field. He has eight wickets in six T20Is vs Australia, and is only two behind Stuart Broad (65) as England’s all-time T20I wicket-taker.

Stats and Facts

• England will replace Australia as the number one T20I team if they win this match.
• Eoin Morgan is now England’s second-highest run-scorer in T20Is vs Australia (259 runs, avg. 21.58). If he plays, he has the chance to overtake Jos Buttler, who now leads with 321 runs.
• Australia have won just one of their past 11 white-ball internationals against England in England.

Possible Playing 11

Eoin Morgan dislocated his finger in the second T20I, so it remains to be seen if he plays. If he misses out, Moeen Ali will then skipper the side and one of Sam Curran or Joe Denly could play. Also, Jos Buttler is out (details here), which means Tom Banton is likely to open, bringing Sam Billings into the middle order.

England: 1. Tom Banton, 2. Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Sam Billings, 5. Moeen Ali (c), 6. Sam Curran/Joe Denly, 7. Tom Curran, 8. Chris Jordan, 9. Adil Rashid, 10. Jofra Archer, 11. Mark Wood

Australia have some decisions to make. Do the likes of Riley Meredith and Josh Philippe get a chance? What about Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade? Given that Marcus Stoinis has been in the runs this series, he could get another go. Also, eyes will be on Alex Carey (if picked), who struggles vs pace in T20Is.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Steve Smith, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Marcus Stoinis, 6. Alex Carey (wk), 7. Ashton Agar, 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Kane Richardson/Josh Hazlewood, 11. Adam Zampa

Southampton Pitch and Weather Report

The same pitch will be used again in the third T20I. After movement and bounce in the early stages of the second match, the pitch then slowed down and had turn for the spinners. So, expect the spinners to have a say, particularly in the middle overs.

The weather forecast for this day/night match is dry and cool.

Dream11 Prediction

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Match Prediction

England have Australia’s measure, but the absence of Jos Buttler (and potentially Eoin Morgan) boosts Australia’s chances. Expect another closely-fought affair, with Australia’s poise at the backend of the game to prove key. England are the favourites, though, and will back themselves to continue the good form.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Do you write cricket blogs? Here are 6 tips to writing great cricket blogs!