The first match of the limited overs leg of Australia’s tour of England begins today with the first of two Twenty20 fixtures. at the Rose Bowl in Southampton tonight. Join us from 3.00am AEST for live updates.
From a format that purists crave for to one that they detest.
While T20Is has definitely increased the fans’ interest in the game, it will be a tough act to follow to the Ashes series that’s just gone by.
Both teams will have a clutch of new players and there will be a couple of different captains leading them. Interestingly both skippers have a task on their hand in terms of pulling their teams out of their current, rather low ICC T20I rankings.
George Bailey will skipper the Aussies as he has done since the 2011-12 series against India. He has a task on his hand, given Australia’s poor T20I record in recent times.
Much like their Test match numbers, Australia’s performance in T20I cricket hasn’t the best and they will enter this game on the back of five successive defeats to three different countries.
The last time they won a T20I was in the 2012 World T20 and that was a part of a five-match winning streak, thanks mainly due to Shane Watson’s fine batting.
Watson will hold the key once again given his superb T20I record. He is nearing the 1000-run mark in the format which places his 12th in the all-time list and his strike-rate of 148 is the highest among those in the top-20 run-getters.
Interestingly Australia also have Dave Warner in their ranks who has 1206 runs to his name in T20I cricket, making him the third-best batsman all-time.
Aaron Finch had a mixed bag on his recent tour of South Africa with the A team but his batting in this format of the game has been eye-catching.
He was responsible for Melbourne Renegades’ fine showing in the previous Big Bash League t20.
James Faulkner’s fine Test debut aside, he is a wily T20 bowler and should make it to the line-up along side likes of Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Clint McKay.
It will be interesting to see whether Australia hand an international debut to Fawad Ahmed or carry on with a combination of Glenn Maxwell and Adam Voges as part-time spin bowlers.
Bailey’s opposite number will be abrasive form of Stuart Broad, whose leadup to this game has been rather interesting.
First he was involved in the The Oval urinating controversy, followed by getting into a war of words with former skipper and TV pundit Michael Vaughan.
Come the match-evening, his side would hope that Broad’s locked away all those off-field distractions and fully focussing on the match in hand.
He has a decent set of players under his watch – a fine mix of those who have established their credentials as T20 cricketers and some who are looking to impress.
Luke Wright’s fine recent form will mean he should make it to the top-order along with Alex Hales and Michael Lumb although Michael Carberry will push hard for a place in the side.
Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara will prop up the English middle-order with Joe Root expected to be slotted somewhere in the top seven.
Steve Finn has a lot to prove after a poor Ashes opener and should partner captain Broad with the ball. James Tredwell will take over the spin bowling attack.
Follow the live score and blog of this T20I from 3.30 am AEST. You can join me for this live blog and post your comments below.
V44
Roar Rookie
Watched highlights of this game on Fox, simply confirmed to me what a wasted space Maxwell, the big show, is. His "batting" was woeful. Did not bowl, took a catch. As a batter he's got nothing and shows no smarts at all. Hopefully Aussies wake up and send him to the benches, like they did in the IPL. $1m to be a spectator, a joke.
ChrisUK
Guest
I think he was being ironic.
Da spoon
Guest
One win in a side show contest an you're suddenly the better side! Wot u on mate?
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yep, thanks for being around! Thankfully the second T20I is a touch earlier...
ChrisUK
Guest
Cheers Suneer! At least you had a few people to keep you company.
ChrisUK
Guest
He he, good shout.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
England were never in hunt despite getting to 209/6 in their 20 overs. As the scores show, this was a flat batting track. Too flat for my comfort, drastically increased the difference between the bat and the ball. Aaron Finch will be the obvious man-of-the-match and his 156 compared with Root's 90. That was the difference between the two sides. That's it from me then, will be back for the second T20I from Chester-le-Street day after.
Fry
Guest
Australia showing they are the better side
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Edged and dropped! Gets an under-edge on it through to the keeper, Wade, who does not get it in the middle of the gloves. That's also the end of the game, Root ends 90 not-out while England end 39 short of the target.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
On the up and Broad's smacked it over the bowler's head for a four! Hit it straight enough to beat anyone patrolling at the fence... ...and gets a bye off the penultimate delivery to get Root back on strike.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Six for Buttler! Was a length ball and a slower one too... ...he was looking to slap it over the leg-side but waited for it to come on and smashes it over the off side for a six. Next ball though, Faulkner gets the yorker in and Buttler's bowled. 6/203 in 19.3
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Full-toss from Watson and Root's flicked away to the leg-side for a four! Moves on to 87 here with that boundary and seven balls to go...a century beckons! Two off the last ball takes him to 89.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Dropped! Fawad Ahmed's dropped a fairly straightforward chance at short third-man...which had become a short fine-leg following his reverse ramp shot... ...gets to the fielder there and he has palmed it over to the fence. 5/189 in the 19th.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
This is already the most runs scored in a T20I. Already 428 runs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Going through the motions as far as the chase is concerned. 68 needed off 12. It's now to be seen whether Root, 77, can get to his 100.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A close no-ball from Johnson follows up with a dot ball on the Free-Hit. 5/174 in the 17th
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And another four. The deep square-leg had come into the circle and Johnson bowls one short... ...pulled away to the leg side for a four. 5/173 in 16.4
ChrisUK
Guest
Agree with the commentators, England have actually batted really well. They've just been Finched.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Root continues his onslaught! That was on a length and angled away, he slashes Johnson and through the off-side... ...flat-bats a six! Follows it up with a four through wide mid-off for another four! 5/169 in 16.3
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
What a shot! Buttler's teed off and that's it's not even full! That was a length ball from him and he went with the stroke... 5/158 in 16. 91 needed from 4.