England vs Australia 2020, 1st T20I - Australia's Predicted XI

Australia will square off in their first international game since March, taking on hosts England in the first of the three T20Is in Southampton. It would also be Australia’s first match since they climbed to the top of T20I rankings as they are on a five-series unbeaten streak, stretching back to November 2018 against India.

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The tourists don’t have a dearth of talent in their squad as they have opted for their full-strength team alongside some fresh faces. The likes of Daniel Sams, Josh Philippe, and Riley Meredith will have roles to play at some stages in the series. Southampton will play as hosts for the T20Is while the three ODIs would take place at the Old Trafford in Manchester.

We take a look at the predicted playing XI for Australia:

Aaron Finch (c):

Aaron Finch, the captain of Australia, is one of the most level-headed batsmen in their ranks. He took over the limited-overs captaincy full-time in November 2018 and guided Australia to the summit of the T20 rankings. A veteran of 61 ODIs, he will open the innings.

The 33-year also finds himself only 11 short of 2000 T20I runs that he should reach in the opening game. It was also at the Ageas Bowl that Aaron Finch slammed 156 off 63 deliveries against England seven years ago. Two years ago, he broke that himself by smashing 172.

David Warner:

Yet another destructive batsman, who will open the batting alongside Aaron Finch, David Warner is tailormade for T20 cricket. When he beds his eye in, the English bowlers are indeed in for a hammering. The southpaw also got to his maiden T20I hundred recently.

Warner, who is the highest run-getter for Australia in T20 internationals, performed exquisitely against South Africa this year. In three T20Is, the 33-year old made 128 runs averaging 64. He would look to replicate the same form against a potent English bowling attack.

Steve Smith:

Australia’s former captain is not a slam-bang player but proficient in finding gaps and stabilizing the innings. Steve Smith takes time to settle himself; however, entirely capable of putting the ball in the stands frequently when need be. Earlier, he clarified his role by saying that he is present in the line-up to prevent a collapse.

While Smith’s Test and ODI averages are healthy enough, he averages a shade under 30 in T20Is. As one of the reliable batsmen, the 31-year old would look to get runs under his belt to get recognized as an all-format player. He will bat at number three for the visitors.

Glenn Maxwell:

Glenn Maxwell is the bedrock of Australia’s middle-order in T20Is and is the master of offensive innovation. It could be extremely challenging to contain Glenn Maxwell once he hits the stride and he would be keen to after staying away from the national side for long.

If not for the Victorian’s elbow injury, he could have played the three T20Is in South Africa. Maxwell got the nod after declaring himself ready for a comeback following a voluntary break. The 31-year-old’s imperious form in the Big Bash League edition of 2019-20 earned him a recall to both white-ball squads.

Marcus Stoinis:

Marcus Stoinis will play his first international game following the 2019 World Cup semi-final against England. On account of Marcus Stoinis’ lacklustre World Cup campaign, he faced an axe from the limited-overs squad for India and South Africa tour. However, the Big Bash League season of 2019-20 turned his form around.

With 705 runs in the season for the Melbourne Stars, he topped the run-scoring charts, including a hundred and six fifties at 54.23. The 31-year-old will play as a seam-bowling all-rounder while he will hope that he carries form against a top-notch side. The Western Australian will bat at number five.

Alex Carey (wk):

Along with Josh Philippe, Alex Carey is the gloveman for this tour. However, Josh Philippe has to wait for his chance since Carey is Australia’s first-choice keeper-batsman. At number six, Alex Carey will provide the visitors with an extra layer of finishing prowess.

While the 28-year old enjoyed a scintillating 2019 World Cup campaign, he has not done anything of note since then. An extended break from international cricket should do a world of good as the South Australian is still a work-in-progress. Carey would also be looking forward towards improving his glovework.

Ashton Agar:

Ashton Agar would be one of the spinners in the Australian line-up, capable of not only picking wickets but dry up the runs. While Ashton Agar is not a huge spinner of the ball, it is mainly the accuracy that is his weapon.

Agar also picked up a hattrick against South Africa in Johannesburg earlier this year in a T20, becoming only the second Australian bowler after Brett Lee to do so. He is currently ranked number four in the bowlers’ rankings and a good show could take him to the top.

Mitchell Starc:

Mitchell Starc will lead the bowling attack and take the new ball. Mitchell Starc is one of the best and lethal bowlers with the new ball, capable of swinging both ways and nailing the yorkers to excellent effect.

Earlier, the left-arm seamer also revealed to have gained some muscle during the lockdown and increased his speed. With 43 wickets in T20 internationals, Mitchell Starc is only five away from eclipsing Shane Watson to become the nation’s highest wicket-taker.

Pat Cummins:

Australia’s vice-captain Pat Cummins would possibly remain the first-change bowler in their ranks. Pat Cummins not only swings the ball but hits the deck hard with his bowling action. A lot will rely on Cummins if the tourists are to remove England’s chief men.

While the 26-year old is a potent Test-match bowler, the New South Wales-born still needs to establish himself in white-ball cricket. An excellent show in England would also keep Pat Cummins in good stead ahead of an IPL stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Josh Hazlewood:

Josh Hazlewood will probably share the new ball along with Mitchell Starc. Josh Hazlewood perfectly compliments Starc’s speed along with his accuracy and probing line and lengths. Hazlewood’s nagging lines could hit English batsmen’s chances significantly as they always look to slog the ball.

The 28-year old has so far played only seven T20Is, the last of which came four years ago. However, the right-arm seamer has declared his intention to revive his T20I career and remain in contention for the next year’s T20 World Cup.

Adam Zampa:

Adam Zampa is arguably one of the best limited-overs spinners today, ranked third in T20I bowling rankings. Adam Zampa possesses the perfect pace along with bowling the flippers, wrong’uns, and top-spin to bamboozle the batsmen.

With 33 wickets in 30 games at 19.03, the leggie has the highest number of them by spinners in Australia. Zampa will fancy the dry pitches in England and hope to deceive the opposition, who also marginally struggled against Pakistan’s Shadab Khan.

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