The English summer of cricket during the pandemic will conclude with two old foes Australia and England playing 3 matches each T20 and ODI series. The first T20 takes off today at Ageas Bowl Southampton today. England over the last two months played test series against West Indies and Pakistan, ODI series against Ireland and T20 series against Pakistan. England was one of the most adversely affected countries of COVID19 at the initial stage of the outbreak. But managed to confront with difficulties and brought situation under reasonable control. All admires the manner in which ECB making two stadiums at Southampton and Old Trafford bio secured successfully organised four series without any fuss. All expects the season will end well. Cricket world will enjoy the very exciting contests of the two evenly matched sides. Australia is ICC T20 top ranked country, England is the second best. England is the ICC World Champion and top ODI ranked team. Australia ranks fifth. 

Following the probable squad of today’s match. 

England:  Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Banton / Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Sam Billings, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood / Tom Curran

Australia:  Aaron Finch (capt), David Warner, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson

ICC T20 Ranking: (2 September 2020) 

Teams              Matches     Ratings    Ranking 
Australia              19            278           1st
England               19            268           2nd 
India                     35            266          3rd 
Pakistan               23            261           4th 
South Africa         17            258           5th 
New Zealand        23           242           6th 
Sri Lanka              23           230           7th 
Bangladesh          20           229           8th 
West Indies          24           229           9th 
Afghanistan          17           228          10th 
Zimbabwe            18           191          11th 
Ireland                  29           190          12th  

Match Preview: England will miss the services of their star all-rounder Ben Stokes the x-factor of the English team. On the other hand, Australian mission is boosted by the return of their X-factor Glen Maxwell. England batting is also depleted for injury to experienced opener Jason Roy for injury. The other English opener Jonny Bairstow is also in uncertain form. However, return of inform Josh Buttler back in T20 team would give them a shot in the arm. Australia will have two impact openers David Mark Wood, Chris Warner and Aaron Flinch advancing the Australian cause fair. English top and middle order comprising of David Malan, Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Sam Billings and Sam Curran would match well with Steve Smith, Glen Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey. It depends a little bit how Australians settles shrugging of the rusts. Otherwise Australian batting will have some edge over their counterpart. 

Bowling will have little to choose between Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson and Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan in matter of pace attack.  There will be little to choose also between Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Adam Zampa, Aston Agar. Superior Australian fielding may tilt the balance.

But cricket is a funny game. T20 is a gamble.  Any impact player or X-factor can win the game for his team single handedly on a given day. 

Would say Australia will start favorite but England is not far behind. England has home advantage. But we are not sure how playing behind close door assists home team. Playing over two months of very competitive cricket will give England some advantage 

BDST: 1357 HRS, SEP 04, 2020
AP