ENG VS AUS, 1st T20I: Australia win toss, opt to field first

This three-match series is taking place at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, will be special because it is being played without spectators in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions.

Southampton: Australia skipper Aaron Finch opted to bowl first in the opening T20I game of the three-match series against England here at The Rose Bowl stadium.

England will look to improve their perfomance from the last series as they levelled it with Pakistan.

They are the top two teams in the T20 world rankings — Australia is No. 1 — and their fierce sporting rivalry is deep-rooted. They also have some of the most explosive batsmen and fastest bowlers in world cricket.

ENG VS AUS

This three-match series is taking place at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, will be special because it is being played without spectators in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions. Then again, that’s nothing new particularly for the English, who have managed to fit in a full international summer of cricket in all formats against the West Indies, Ireland and Pakistan despite the pandemic.

The host is missing key players in all-rounder Ben Stokes, who is unavailable for selection following his return to New Zealand to be with his father who has cancer, and opener Jason Roy, who has a left side strain. Joe Root, the Test captain, has been left out of the T20 squad but is in the ODI squad for the three-match series starting September 11.

Teams:

England (Playing XI): Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler(w), Dawid Malan, Tom Banton, Eoin Morgan(c), Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, Tom Curran, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid

Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch(c), David Warner, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey(w), Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa