England vs Australia Prediction: Australia thrashed Scotland in last series

England go up against Australia in the Match 1 of T20 Series at The Rose Bowl, United Kingdom on 11 September, 2024. Australia thrashed Scotland in the last series. Who will win this game of cricket?

England have named their squad to face Australia in the first T20I at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, with two new batters making their debuts. Captain Jos Buttler, who has been out since a hamstring injury sustained for a while, will not feature, and it also signals the start of a new era with Matthew Mott ending his tenure as England's white-ball coach following the T20 World Cup.

That means Phil Salt, ultra-attacking style and all, takes over captaincy duties. He will probably open with Will Jacks of Surrey. Jordan Cox's expected appearance in the match would be his international debut; Dan Mousley and Jacob Bethell, standout performers for this year's T20 Blast and The Hundred, could make theirs as well.

The bowling attack will have familiar faces and pace with Jofra Archer against the Aussie batters. Saqib Mahmood and Reece Topley, who boast of a strong record in the shortest format, will have major roles in the game.

Phil Salt (c) (wk), Will Jacks, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dan Mousley, Jacob Bethell, Saqib Mahmood, Jofra Archer, Reece Topley, Adil Rashid

After some wonderful Scottish hospitality during the three-match series in Edinburgh, Australia prepares for a sterner challenge south of the border in this T20I series. Australian sports professionals love nothing more than being set tough tests, and those stars who shone in Scotland will be keen to take that form into the first match.

There's little Travis Head hasn't achieved in white-ball cricket in the last year-and-a-half or so, and he will fire at the top of the order as should his opening partner Jake Fraser-McGurk, who hits more sixes than fours. Among the bowlers, Sean Abbott has an outstanding T20 record in the country, having done pretty well this year with Surrey in the T20 Blast. Other bowlers like Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, Aaron Hardie, and Marcus Stoinis will be similarly able to use both swing and seam movement that they can exploit well in Southampton.

Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mitchell Marsh (c), Cameron Green, Tim David, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis (wk), Cooper Connelly, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa

Neither England nor Australia will field their full-strength squad for the T20I series but back on familiar home ground we expect the England side to show the most skill and consistency. Australia are always a tough opponent in any format, but we think the hosts will take a 1-0 lead in Southampton. England to win our prediction.