Cricket News

England vs Australia 3rd T20I: Match Preview and Predictions

Series tied up 1-1 heading into the decider

Hosts England fought back in style in the second T20I as Liam Livingstone’s power-hitting propelled England to a crucial win to keep the hosts alive in the series. The teams head back to Manchester for the series decider with both teams having their tasks cut out and here’s our match preview and prediction for the third T20I between England and Australia.

England vs Australia 3rd T20I | Australia tour of England 2024 | 19:00 IST, 15 September 2024

With their captain Mitchell Marsh not playing, the young Jake Fraser-McGurk made it into the XI as Australia were setting a target once again. Stand-in captain Travis Head once again gave Australia a flying start and the hyped Fraser-McGurk lived up to all expectations with a crucial 50. The English spinners, Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone once again brought the hosts back into the game and it was thanks to Josh Inglis’ crucial 42 and Aaron Hardie’s final over flourish that pushed Australia to 193/6.

Sean Abbott’s double strike pegged back the hosts after a flying start from Salt and Will Jacks and at 79-3 in the ninth over, England looked in a spot of bother. Liam Livingstone with the young Jacob Bethell had other plans though as they launched into the Australian attack to see England take a 3-wicket win with one over to go. 

The hosts, although they conceded more than they had in the opening T20I, showed more discipline with the ball and the young Brydon Carse showed promise when Reece Topley and Saqib Mahmood took some stick. England will hope that Jofra Archer is up and running and provides some stability to their pace unit. On the batting front, it was just Livingstone and Bethell who turned up while captain Phil Salt had given a flyer. England will be hoping that the likes of Will Jacks, Jordan Cox also come good with the bat. 

For the visitors, it’s been the same story with the bat, a flyer up top and then the middle order struggles with a late flourish getting them to a respectable score. Fraser-McGurk’s half-century will definitely put a good worry for the selectors, who now will have to decide who to replace if Mitchell Marsh is fit for the final T20I. Matthew Short would be first name to come up but Short showcased his capabilities with the ball as well in the second T20I, picking up five wickets in a losing cause. While the sample size may be just two games, Marcus Stoinis, one of Australia’s top all-rounders, has had a poor series so far with the ball and bat and Australia will be expecting him to step up in the final game as will they from their big-hitting middle order batter Tim David. 

Australia’s bowling looked a bit under-par with Josh Hazelwood being rested and Xavier Bartlett missing out as well due to a niggle. The visitors will hope that both are back in the XI for Sunday’s game.

Should Australia have their main XI back for the final T20I, the visitors will be the favourites to take the series home. Taking place in Manchester, we should be expecting the spinners do to well once again.

Fantasy XI

Phil Salt, Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Will Jacks, Mitchell Marsh, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa

Venue: Manchester
Winners Prediction:
Australia

Aditya Chaudhuri

Hailing from the City of Joy, the things that bring me joy are cricket, a good non-tilt CS:GO session, F1 and movies.

Share
Published by
Aditya Chaudhuri

Recent Posts

One Position Every PL Club Need To Address This Transfer Window: Part-1

With less than two months remaining until the 2025 Winter Transfer Window, most Premier League…

6 hours ago

South Africa vs India 1st T20I: Preview and Predictions

Can Suryakumar Yadav and co. take a series win in South Africa? While the Indian…

8 hours ago

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Sponsors 2024-25

Following are the companies and organisations that serve as sponsors and brand partners to Bundesliga…

11 hours ago

Australia vs Pakistan 2nd ODI: Preview and Predictions

Australia vs Pakistan 2nd ODI: Preview and Predictions The Australian summer kicked off with a…

1 day ago

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber reveal Gabriel Bortoleto as second driver for 2025

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber have announced that Gabriel Bortoleto will be taking the second seat for them…

1 day ago

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber to part ways with both Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu after this season

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber have announced that Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will leave at the end…

1 day ago