Former Australia fast bowler and SportsAdda's brand ambassador, Brett Lee has predicted a 2-1 win for the Aussies ahead of their three-match T20I and ODI tour of England.
Australia, who have already played intra-squad warm-up games in England, are set to take on Eoin Morgan's team in a three-match T20I and as many ODI series starting from September 4 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. The Aussies sit on the top of the ICC T20 rankings and have won all of their last four T20I series. On the contrary, England will arrive on the back of a recent five-run defeat at hands of Pakistan.
However, for all you know, England have been playing competitive cricket for nearly two months having crossed swords against the likes of West Indies and Pakistan. Australia, on the other hand, have been plying their trade in an intra-squad mini-tournament where the likes of Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne recently scored centuries to guide Finch XI to a 32-run victory over Cummins XI.
For Lee, apart from predicting a win for Australia, he also tipped the likes of David Warner and England's Tom Banton to finish as the top-scorers of the T20I series.
David Warner
Hard-hitting batsman, David Warner has been one of Australia's best batsmen in the shortest format of the game. Opening alongside captain Aaron Finch, the 33-year-old has accumulated 2207 runs in 79 T20Is at an average of 31.52, and a strike rate of 140.48. In his last two T20Is, Warner scored 57 and an unbeaten 67 against South Africa, and it is safe to say he will be the one to keep a keen eye on.
Tom Banton
Banton, who is just six T20Is old, has attracted comparisons with former great Kevin Pietersen. Despite playing a handful of T20Is, the 21-year-old has accumulated 193 runs at an average of 32.16. Banton was particularly impressive against Pakistan scoring a 42-ball 71 in a rain-affected first T20I on 28 August. This was followed by a relatively low scored of 20 in the second game, but he made it up in the final match of the series, scoring 46 off 31 in a losing cause.
Meanwhile, in the bowling department, Lee picked spinner Adam Zampa as well as England's Tom Curran to pose a threat with the ball.
Adam Zampa
Like his captain, Aaron Finch, Zampa is one of the two Australians in the T20I bolwer's ranking. A bowler known for his unpredictability, it is safe to say the Aussies will rely heavily on his return against England in the shortest format. Recently picked by the Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier Leagu, the leg-spinner would be hoping to build on the moment against England before joining his IPL team in the UAE.
Tom Curran
Fast bowler Tom Curran didn't have the best of outings against Pakistan, picking just two wickets across as many games, but he indeed impressed with his approach, to say the least. The 25-year-old bowled a peach of a delivery to dismiss Babar Azam in the final T20I against Pakistan on Tuesday. The seamer bowled a good length delivery with a hint of swing, and as Babar tried hitting it on the off side, the ball found its way between the bat and the pads.
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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Greg Wood
