ENG vs AUS: "Josh Hazelwood, Pat Cummins And Mitchell Starc Will Strike Fear In Any Batting Line-Up" - Former Australian Bowler Brett Lee Says Ahead Of Clash Against England

Hosts and defending champions Australia will take on England in a Group 1 Super 12 match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, October 28. This match is a must-win game for both teams to qualify for the semi-finals.

Both teams have not performed as expected in the World Cup so far. England lost their last match against Ireland by five runs based on the DLS method. On the other hand, Australia started its World Cup with a defeat against New Zealand. However, the Aussies beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in their previous game, chasing down the target of 158 runs in just 16.3 overs.

Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee believes that fast bowlers will be the key to the success of both teams. Lee stated that quality fast bowlers would make the difference.

Mark Wood Is The Man Of The Moment For England – Brett Lee

“I have been really impressed with the way Josh Hazelwood has grown as a white-ball bowler and the way he has got to grips with all these variations you need to succeed. We know what Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc can do – as a trio they are a bowling attack that will strike fear in any batting line-up, including England’s,” Lee wrote in his column for ICC.

“Mark Wood is the man of the moment for England. He is one of the sharpest in the world when he’s fit and firing and Australia will have to find a way to nullify his threat. Conditions in Australia obviously favor these guys – but look at last year, when Australia’s pace attack took them all the way in UAE and Oman,” he added.

Australia Will Hope To Carry That Momentum – Brett Lee

After the 89-run defeat, Australia’s net run rate (NRR) fell so low that even after a massive win against Sri Lanka in Perth on Tuesday, October 25, it could only push Australia’s NRR to -1.555, the lowest of the five teams to have won a game in their group so far.

“You can’t afford to lose twice in the Super 12s and Australia have already gone down to New Zealand, and England to Ireland in a rain-affected match. The momentum is with Australia after they pulled it out of the fire against Sri Lanka and they will hope to carry that through at the MCG,” Lee added.

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