ENG vs AUS: England playing XI for 1st T20I announced, 3 players to debut

England National Cricket Team have announced their playing XI for the first T20I against the Australia National Cricket Team. The first game of the three-match series between the teams will take place on Wednesday, 11 September, at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton.

Phil Salt, who will be captaining the team in the absence of Jos Buttler, will be opening the innings for the team in the first T20I against Australia. He will be accompanied by Will Jacks, who has been slotted as the second opener in the first game of the series.

At No.3, the England National Cricket Team will see young Jordan Cox walking out to bat. The right-hander has been one of the most talented youngsters going around in the English domestic circuit. Premier all-rounder Liam Livingstone will be playing at No.4 and he is expected to play a crucial role for the team with both bat and ball.

Jacob Bethell will also be making his debut for the national team in the first T20I against Australia. The 20-year-old is one of the consistent performers in the domestic circuit and also made a huge impact in the Hundred, because of which he has been awarded the T20I cap.

Sam Curran will be an all-rounder alongside Jamie Overton, who will also be making his debut in the shortest format of the game for the team. Adil Rashid will be handling the spin bowling duties for the team. He will be having the support of Livingstone and Bethell as well.

Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, and Reece Topley will be the three front-line pacers in the England XI for the first T20I against Australia.

England XI for the first T20I against Australia

Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jordan Cox, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Reece Topley

The T20I series against the Australia National Cricket Team will be the first game for the team in the format after the T20 World Cup 2024. The winners of the 2022 T20 World Cup didn't have a great outing in the tournament as they were thrashed by the India National Cricket Team in the semi-final.

England now is undergoing a transition phase in the white-ball cricket. They will be playing without the services of Jos Buttler in the series. The captain recently got ruled out of the series. With hosts playing three debutants in the XI, it is a clear an indication of new era in the team. Some reports suggested that proven performers of the team Chris Jordan, Moeen Ali, and Chris Woakes won't be given opportunities now. It also saw Ali calling time on his international career as well

The T20I series will be a massive opportunity for some of the youngsters to impress the selectors and bag their place in the team. With Australia also playing a dominating brand of cricket, it promises to be an exciting series between the two arch-rivals.