England vs Australia, 1st T20I Dream11 predictions: Captain, vice-captain and best picks

England host Australia in a 3-match T20I series which will mark the beginning of the final leg of their historic summer. The two teams will get the series underway in the 1st T20I in Southampton on Friday.

England are heading into the series on the back of a defeat to Pakistan in their final T20I as recently as Tuesday. It will be a tough battle for Eoin Morgan’s men who will be coming up against the top-ranked Australian side.

England will be without Ben Stokes and Jason Roy, their first-choice players. However, Morgan’s men will have match practice under their belt something that Australia lack. Aaron Finch’s men played warm-up matches after completing their mandatory quarantine period but it will be their first international assignment since the enforced Covid-19 pandemic break.

Australia head coach Justin Langer is aware of England’s firepower but believes his side will be able to challenge the hosts in the upcoming series.

“England are dangerous. I watched the way Eoin Morgan plays. It’s exciting to watch, he comes out and smacks it from ball one,” Langer said.

“We came here two years ago and got smashed 5-0 and came here last year and won two of the three but didn’t win the big one in the (World Cup) semi-final. We know what to expect and we will be ready for it.”

England vs Australia, 1st T20I, Dream11 team: David Warner, Jos Buttler, Steve Smith, Eoin Morgan, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins.

Captain: David Warner

Vice-captain: Glenn Maxwell

Batsmen

How do you pick and choose from the plethora of talent available for the series? Look at the competition for the opening spots — David Warner, Aaron Finch, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow. Any 2 fro the 4 would do the job for you. Stevve Smith and Eoin Morgan are going to be automatic picks but it’s difficult to leave out Marnus Labuschagne as well.

All-rounders

Again, plenty of options. Let’s put Glenn Maxwell in first. Moeen Ali had been in poor form but the England all-rounder showed glimpses of his brilliance against Pakistan on Tuesday. How to leave out the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Sam Curran and Ashton Agar?

Wicketkeeper

While Jos Buttler gives the wicketkeeper option as well, Alex Carey can be picked in the side for his finishing skills.

Bowlers

Adam Zampa over Adil Rashid? Three pacers in Jofra Archer Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

England vs Australia, T20I squads

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

Australia: Aaron Finch(c), David Warner, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey(w), Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Sean Abbott, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Marnus Labuschagne, Riley Meredith, Daniel Sams, Josh Philippe.