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Tri-Series: Australia vs England Preview

Batsman faces bowler in front of packed cordon

We preview the Tri-Series match between Australia and England set to get underway on Wednesday 7 February. 

Australia were buoyed by victory over New Zealand in the opening fixture of the trans-Tasman T20 tri-series – and will be eager to see more big runs from Glenn Maxwell and Chris Lynn, in particular.

England, of course, beat the Aussies in the preceding ODI series – and that momentum requires a continuation in the shortest format of the international game this week.

Australia v England | Wednesday, 7 February | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 10:40

To Win Match
Australia 67/100
Tie 35/1
England 5/4

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Australia
Billy Stanlake was superb in the first match, where his height and extra bounce saw the Black Caps’ top-order flop. His dynamism, alongside the leg-spin of Adam Zampa, ‘knuckle’ balls of Andrew Tye left-arm spin of Ashton Agar – and other seamers – makes for a big threat.

There’s nothing over-complicated about Australia’s middle-order at the moment, with Maxwell and Lynn there to lead the charge, but they wouldn’t mind David Warner and D’Arcy Short stocking up on some runs before them.

Warner and Short could be a bit more calculated in their individual and collective approach, as England will be keen to follow New Zealand’s example, which saw Trent Boult and Tim Southee succeed in the opening powerplay.

Australia would do well to target England’s seamers, whose medium pace can be quite innocuous if conditions are not suitable. The Aussies have never lost a T20I at Wednesday’s venue – and understand its variables well.

They won’t likely change their XI, unless Aaron Finch returns from injury. A debut for left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis could be in order, too, perhaps at the expense of Kane Richardson – in the name of player rotation.

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England
England’s limited-overs prowess has improved significantly over the past 12 months and, while there is little questioning their ODI approach, there remain doubts over their ability in T20I competition.

David Willey rocketed to the fore of England’s combative nature by striking 34 runs in an over from Nathan Lyon during a recent tour match – and could find himself pushed up the order on Wednesday.

He’ll be key with the ball as well, given the uncertainty over Liam Plunkett and Chris Jordan’s participation. Both are battling hurt hamstrings, but Jake Ball has been retained as injury cover.

Sam Billing and Jos Buttler will head into the series on the back of some solid game time in the Big Bash League, where they encountered top-class T20 cricket against some of the same opposition they’ll face this time.

The tourists’ last visit to the Bellerive Oval for a T20I resulted in defeat, in 2014, when names like Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright lined the XI. Four years later, Hales, Buttler and Eoin Morgan are the lone survivors.

Verdict: England 5/4
Australia, despite their recent triumph over New Zealand, probably won’t be able to successfully negotiate the wiles of England, who’ll continue their head-to-head dominance gathered in the ODI series.


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Written by Jonhenry Wilson for Hollywoodbets


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