The England cricket team will take on Australia in the first match of the 2-match T20 series at Ageas Bowl on Thursday.
This is only the second time that England is going to face the Kangaroos in the shortest format of the game on home soil.
Stuart Broad is back to captain the England T20 side after not featuring in the home series against New Zealand before the Champions Trophy, and is being touted by bet australia as the main England hope.
Michael Carberry is a new face in the England T20 squad, but, he is not expected to be included in the final XI. The team management would like to go with the regular openers, Michael Lumb and Alex Hales, at least in the first game.
Luke Wright will bat at no. 3 and he will be followed by Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara.
As far as bowling is concerned, England is likely to go with 3 quickies and 1 spinner. The 5th bowler’s quota will be shared between Joe Root and Ravi Bopara.
On the other hand, Australia is a very dangerous batting unit in this format of the game. Warner and Watson at the top of the order can take any attack to the cleaners on their day.
There is a competition between Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh for the no. 3 spot and Finch might be preferred because of his recent form in South Africa.
The experienced duo of Adam Voges and George Bailey will take care of the middle order and then, to put the foot on the accelerator towards the end, there are a couple of big hitters in the lower middle order i.e. Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell.
Australia might go into this match with a 4-man pace attack and rely on the part timers like Glenn Maxwell and Adam Voges for slow bowling.
The Ageas bowl generally produces batting wickets. So, this can be a high scoring encounter.