The limited overs leg of the England Ashes tour for the Australians will kick-off with a one-off Twenty20 game at Cardiff on Monday August 31st.
The teams have contested 12 T20s against each other with the Aussies having a 7-4 advantage. With the 2016 T20 World Cup in India looming on the horizon, both sides would like to consider these matches as preparation for that extravaganza.
The hosts are buoyed by their comprehensive regaining of the Ashes urn. Although the limited overs side is a completely different outfit, England will want to continue their supremacy over the Aussies.
Eoin Morgan transformed the fortunes of the England limited overs side with an aggressive style that has surprised their own supporters. The likes of Alex Hales, Jason Roy and Ben Stokes provide some rarely-seen vibrancy to the Poms.
Players like James Vince, Reece Topley and David Willey will have the added advantage of playing in the Natwest T20 Blast Finals Day. Most of the squad members will be eager to cement their place for the T20 World Cup.
The Aussies will look to bury the ghosts of their Ashes loss and start a new chapter of the tour under Steve Smith. The limited overs outfit bears little resemblance to the team that won the ODI World Cup at home with many exciting new players making their way into the squad.
Glenn Maxwell, Shane Watson, David Warner will have the experience of playing in multiple IPLs, so slotting into T20 mode will not be beyond them. George Bailey should provide a calming influence to the stroke makers in the line-up.
David Warner appears set to take out his Ashes frustrations in the format which he made a name for himself. Expect Warner to kick off the Australian innings with some fireworks and at odds of $4.00 at Sportsbet, he's our pick to be Australia’s top batsman.
David Willey had a wonderful end to the Natwest T20 blast and should be eager to prove his worth with the ball for England with odds of $5.00 at Sportsbet looking attractive as England’s leading wicket taker.
T20 format is very unpredictable and both sides are equally good of putting it across the other. England are offered at odds of $2.23 at Sportsbet which looks a solid betting play considering the dynamism within the squad, with Australia offering little value at $1.66 at Sportsbet.
Whatever is the outcome, fans should be well-served with a buffet of extreme skills.
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Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
