Australia vs England Group B Betting Tips – New-Look Australia Expected To Trump England’s Bazball

• Australia vs England Group B Preview
• Australia Form
• Australia Team News
• England Form
• England Team News

Australia and England will begin their respective campaigns with a blockbuster clash in Group B from Lahore. Both teams are coming into this tournament on the back of some unusually lackluster form. England were blanked 3-0 in the ODIs that preceded this tournament while Australia had no answers to Sri Lanka in their 2-0 defeat before heading to Pakistan.

That will leave one of these teams with a way out of their poor form on Saturday in what could be a crucial game in a tight group that includes Afghanistan, who are well-positioned to capitalise on these conditions.

Australia will not have three big names in their bowling: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to injuries. Their batting needs some immediate help after looking all at sea against some disciplined bowling from Sri Lanka in the recent series.

England, on the other hand, will look at these conditions as an opportunity to play the brand of cricket they enjoy. Bazball certainly didn’t work in Indian conditions but there is a chance that it may work on flatter pitches in Pakistan.

Australia Form

Here is a stunning stat for you: Australia have not won a match in the Champions Trophy since 2009. In the 2013 Champions Trophy, Australia lost to England and Sri Lanka with one washed out match against New Zealand. In the 2017 Champions Trophy, there were two rained out games before a loss to England.

Australia’s form has been poor in ODI cricket recently too, with series losses against Pakistan at home followed by a 2-0 defeat to Sri Lanka. There are, however, plenty of quality players in that team across the board. Glenn Maxwell will be a key figure in this Australian team in these conditions considering his ability to chip in with the ball too.

It must be remembered, despite this lack of form and history on their side, that Australia are defending champions of the ICC ODI World Cup, and are always a team that performs on the biggest stages of world cricket.

Australia Team News

Australia may need another spin-bowling option to partner Adam Zampa with Maxwell delivering part-time bowling. Spencer Johnson and Sean Abbott should be Australia’s preferred pacers.

England Form

Their middle order is stacked with players of substance across the board, including Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone and Harry Brook. One aspect of their game that needs to change is shot selection and adapting to the situation of the match. That respect will have to start against a team like Australia.

England Team News

Jamie Smith will bat at No. 3 against Australia, a move up to bring in some stability to the top order for England. England announced their XI for the match against Australia.

England vs Australia: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jamie Smith (wk), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jos Buttler, 7 Liam Livingstone, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark Wood.