Big picture
By no means should England have won (or Australia lost) the series opener: 39 of 36 balls with nine wickets in hand and two established hitters is child’s play. Except, of course, that the T20 can throw off some extraordinary finishes. That one has created this series wonderfully: England animated by its great escape, Australia with its tail between its legs as to how it escaped.
Both parties will want to improve their intermediate orders. England failed to build on the solid platform given by Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan, although the latter managed to feed the innings up to a total that was sufficient, and Eoin Morgan later suggested that Buttler had made the pitch seem easier to score than what was it. . For Australia, you have the makings of a theme and the main area that your T20 side needs to address. David Warner, Aaron Finch and, to a lesser extent, Steven Smith filling up their boots are fine, but the order in between has to be able to finish the job when needed.
Right now it is difficult to establish who could be the best finalist in Australia. Most of the hitters in this squad have their success at the top of the order; Marcus Stoinis’ retirement at No. 5 highlighted the problem just days after Justin Langer said he was ideally a starter.
England will know they had their way on Friday night, but having the ability to pull matches out of the fire will be priceless in the T20 World Cups. It was also significant because his bowling alley had been the weak link. However, the return of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood provided an advantage, while Chris Jordan and Tom Curran showed off their killing skills to shut it down.
Forms guide
(last five completed matches)
England WLWWW
Australia LWLWW
In the spotlight
Jos Buttler he was in a brilliant touch early in England’s innings as he swept through the Powerplay and looked poised for a big score before going deep midwicket. It looks like he’ll be given an extended run opening batting in this format, and there’s a lot of logic behind giving that player as many overs to face as possible. However, as Australia highlights, those who finish a T20 entry are like gold dust. England has So many options for the higher order (Jason Roy is not even available for selection) and it may still be a consideration that Buttler’s skill in the middle, or at least as floating hitters, is far better than what others can provide.
It feels like Alex Carey It has been on the Australian side for a long time, although it is actually just over two years. In that time he played 29 T20Is and hit 17 of them, taking a variety of positions from starter to No. 7. He’s now anchored in a mid-order role, but it’s a challenge for him to learn that position. The Australian last summer didn’t hit a bat in six T20I; in four innings since he hit 27, 14, 7 and 1. On the second of those shots he was raised to No. 4, the position he now holds primarily for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL after having started previously, but in his career. T20I the most balls he’s faced in one inning is 24. That’s the amount of a mid-order player in the format, but it’s hard to master.
Team news
It seems that England chose their first-choice XI for the opening match and unless there is a desire to rotate or some inconvenience has arisen, it seems likely that they will do the same again. Sam Billings and Joe Denly are the backup hitters, while Sam Curran is the additional all-rounder.
England (likely) 1 Jos Buttler (week), 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Tom Banton, 5 Eoin Morgan (captain), 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Tom Curran, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Mark Wood / Sam Curran
Clearly Australia has work to do in their middle order, but changes after a game have a knee-jerk reaction. However, they are not short of additional players to choose from with a 21-man team on the tour. But to highlight the problem facing Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Wade and spotted Josh Philippe are more first-order than middle-hitters. Given that this is Australia’s first cricket in six months and the matches are intense and fast, rotating between the fast may now be considered.
Australia (likely) 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch (captain), 3 Steven Smith, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Alex Carey (week), 7 Ashton Agar, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Kane Richardson / Josh Hazlewood, 11 Adam Zampa
Plot and conditions
The same field will be used for Game 2 and Warner suggested it would be a bit drier as it is a day game. The forecast is for a bright, dry fall day in Southampton.
Statistics and trivia
Quotes
“With some of the games being played, there have been some great games, some great contests, why not let the whole world see it?”
Chris jordan welcomes England’s return against Australia to BBC TV live for the first time since the 1997 Oval Test
“It was the first time I was here [England] and it has not been abused. It was quite nice. “
David warner he managed well without a crowd in the first game of the series
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