The T20 World Cup is now just a week away and Australia and England continue their preparation for the tournament when they meet in the first of three T20 internationals between the two over the next few days.
The two sides head to Perth looking to make sure they have their combinations right for the tournament, however whenever these two rival nations meet there is always a competitive intensity regardless of the occasion. They will meet in the group stage of the T20 World Cup so each could lay a marker down here.
Australia
The reigning T20 world champions head into this series off the back of a few matches in recent times. They were in India a couple of weeks ago where they went down to a 2-1 series defeat and them over the last few days they have been playing against West Indies in a couple of encounters which were much more competitive than many expected they would be at the outset. You get the feeling Australia are searching for a convincing showing ahead of beginning their title defence still.
Australia will head into this match knowing that their bowling looks in a decent condition. They are expected to give their fringe bowlers a showing in this match and ensure that they have had a relatively competitive rep ahead of the tournament. They are still searching for the ideal combination with the bat though and a convincing performance in that department on home soil as we haven’t really seen one so far this summer.
England
England went into the previous T20 World Cup as favourites to win the tournament but couldn’t get over the line in the semi-final. Expectation probably isn’t quite as high on them this time around after an indifferent home summer where they lost series to India and South Africa, however they do head to Australia off the back of a 4-3 win over Pakistan over the last couple of weeks or so in a series which they would have got a lot out of.
One issue that series will have thrown up is the need to adjust quickly to different conditions but having faced a high quality attack over the last three weeks and prospered more often than not they have had the ideal preparation for the test ahead of them. England bowled well in Pakistan but there was a sense that they were bowling to two men in that series. Australia can hurt England for longer in the innings so this is a bigger test.
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Team News
Australia will bring Mitchell Marsh back after he missed the second T20 against West Indies but Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood are all being rested for this game. Kane Richardson, Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Ellis are expected to come in.
Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes missed the whole Pakistan series recently but both are ready to play here. The match is expected to come too soon for Liam Livingstone and Chris Jordan but Mark Wood is ready to be unleashed.
Betting
I like England to win this opening match. I would have liked them even if Australia were bringing their strongest side to Perth but the fact that they have chosen to give their entire first-choice bowling attack the night off means England have to be the selection here. Australia have had trouble putting a decent innings together with the bat and in this match they have Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis playing and they’ve barely featured in the last couple of months or so.
England come here off the back of a win over Pakistan last weekend and now they get Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes back as well. Mark Wood is also available for this one so there is a lot more to like about the England side going into this game. I think these matches are bigger for England than the home side as well because England need to adjust to the conditions whereas you sense they are just about ticking over for Australia. England can open what they hope will be a big five weeks with a win.
Tips
Back England to beat Australia for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with William Hill
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