Although Australia head into this series as the lowest ranked T20 side out of the three teams competing they got off to a great start with a dominate win over New Zealand on Saturday night in Sydney.
The weather was the only real threat to an Australian win after the bowling attack, as a unit, took the game away from New Zealand.
The English will head into this series with an air of confidence about them after a very good ODI series against the Australians.
They have a well rounded side with some big hitters and will look to apply pressure to this second grade Australian side that is missing plenty of their stars.
Head To Head Betting
It is a whole new look team than what we are used to in other formats for the Aussies but this seemed to pay off in the first T20.
The selectors have put their faith in the players that have been in form in the domestic Big Bash competition and players like Billy Stanlake (Australia’s tallest ever cricketer at 203cm), Ashton Agar and Glen Maxwell proved this a good move.
New Zealand got off to dreadful start when batting first and never recovered and the short downpour of rain was their only hope of a favourable result.
This new look Australian side was not put under any real pressure in Sydney and things may be different against England.
Joe Root will not take part in this T20 series so the likes of in-form batsmen Alex Hales, Jason Roy and Eoin Morgan will need to continue to make runs.
The return of Ben Stokes into the England squad will be of interest to everyone and he will look to bolster the English team with the bat and ball.
He will not play in the first T20 here and his form in the New Zealand domestic T20 league for Canterbury has not reached great heights anyway.
The market has Australia as clear favourites in this match after an impressive win against New Zealand but I think this is an overreaction.
The Aussies were comprehensively beaten in the ODIs by England and although this is a different format of the game, it is not one that the Australians have played consistently well.
Back England To Win @ $2.10
Top Australia Runscorer
David Warner ($4.33) is currently equal favourite in Top Australia Runscorer betting with Aaron Finch ($4.33) from D’arcy Short ($4.50) and Chris Lynn ($5.00).
Aaron finch is still in some doubt to take on the English but his form has spoken for itself of late. He is a big chance of hammering the English early on.
Chris Lynn was asked to play a different role in the win in Sydney when chasing a small total and he completed the task perfectly, top scoring for his side.
David Warner keeps finding a way to get out but he will be looking to turn his form around here. I’m tipping him to set the tone with a big innings at the top of the order.
Back David Warner To Top Score For Australia @ $4.33
Top England Runscorer
Jason Roy ($4.00) is the favourite in Top England Runscorer betting from Alex Hales ($4.33), James Vince ($4.50), Dawid Milan ($5.00) and Jos Butler ($6.00).
Alex Hales is in some doubt for England’s T20 game but if he lines up will be a handful for the Aussie bowlers.
The skipper Eoin Morgan is used to Australian conditions by now and is always a chance at top scoring.
James Vince has had a very successful tour of Australia and he has the technique to not only handle all formats of the game of cricket but also have a very long career playing for his country
Back James Vince To Top Score For England @ $4.50