Australia will face their toughest test of the T20 World Cup so far when they square off against England on Sunday morning from 1.00am (AEDT). Mr.Cricket has a full preview and betting tips for the blockbuster clash below.
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Australia vs England Betting Tips
Dubai International Stadium, Sunday 31st October, 1.00am (AEDT)
Australia
Aaron Finch (C), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (VC), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
The Aussies might have looked a little unconvincing in their opening game against South Africa, but they were anything but that in their 2nd game against Sri Lanka on Friday morning. Bowling first, the Aussies kept the Sri Lankans to a respectable total of 154, led by a solid perforamnce with the ball from Adam Zampa (2/12).
My reservations about the Australian opening pair were put to bed in that game, as Aaron Finch and David Warner put on 70 for the first wicket and Warner went on to top score for the Aussies with 65 off just 42 balls. Australia chased down the total with three overs to spare, which will do wonders for their net run rate.
After such a solid win, it's hard to see the Aussies making any changes to their line-up for the clash against England. I expect them to go with the same XI as they have for their opening two games.
Can't get enough of Steve Smith in this tournament. He has tourmented the Poms over the past few years and has looked really solid in the T20 World Cup to date. He scored 35 in the win over the South Africans before hitting 28* in cruisey fashion against Sri Lanka.
Steve Smith 20+ Runs
$1.83
England
Eoin Morgan (C), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
England are tied the Aussies at the top of Group 1 with a 2-0 reocrd, making this game important for both sides as a win would almost certainly lock up a place in the semi-finals.
England have been absolutely dominant in their two games two date. They bowled out the West Indies for just 55 in their opening game, taking 8.2 overs to chase down the total. The Poms followed up that win by bowling out Bangladesh for just 124, a total that took just 14.1 overs to chase down.
England's bowling has no doubt been the catalyst of their two wins, taking 19 wickets in their two games, it's unlikely that they will make a change to their winning formula either.
Jason Roy has been the absolute bunny of the Australian bowling attack over the past few years. He was deplorable in the last Ashes series, averaging just 13.75 against the Aussies in four games and in another four T20 games against them, he averages just 18.0.
Roy Under 25.5 Runs
$1.85
Prediction
I like the value of the Aussies as underdogs here. England are the top T20 team in the world at the moment and have won three of their last four T20 games against the Aussies. However, Josh Hazlewood didn't play in any of those games, and Mitch Starc and Pat Cummins were also rarely prevelant in them either.
With their full bowling attack good form, I think the Aussies are much more competitive, and a lot of the English top order in the likes of Jason Roy, Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan have demons against this Australian pace attack. Back Australia as underdogs.
