England vs Australia 3rd T20

[tiger76]

Final match of the series tonight, yes the series is already won, but a victory for England would ensure they leapfrog the Aussies into 1st place in the T 230 rankings, so it does matter if only for bragging rights.

No Buttler for England, so who'll open alongside Bairstow is a good I'd be tempted to promote either Banton or Malan, both have shown they are more than capable of building an innings at the top of the order.

[Local cricketer]

Don't thing Morgan will risk himself either after his blow to the finger the other day

[tiger76]

Don't thing Morgan will risk himself either after his blow to the finger the other day

Possibly not, there's no point in taking unnecessary risks now the series is wrapped up, and the ODI'S start on Friday, so I'm sure Morgan will want to be fit for those. I wonder if Livingstone will get a call up, with Buttler and Morgan missing the batting is looking somewhat fragile. I suspect not, and they'll probably go for Denly as the safe option.

And this England side is missing Root, Roy and Stokes, that's a formidable trio to call upon if needed, and shows the strength in depth England possess batting wise right now.

[ClaretTony]

Possibly not, there's no point in taking unnecessary risks now the series is wrapped up, and the ODI'S start on Friday, so I'm sure Morgan will want to be fit for those. I wonder if Livingstone will get a call up, with Buttler and Morgan missing the batting is looking somewhat fragile. I suspect not, and they'll probably go for Denly as the safe option.

And this England side is missing Root, Roy and Stokes, that's a formidable trio to call upon if needed, and shows the strength in depth England possess batting wise right now.

Hell of a task picking the team now when everyone is fit and available

[tiger76]

Hell of a task picking the team now when everyone is fit and available

Nice problem to have though, it's a sea change from the dreadful days of the 80's/90's, when England struggled to find 11 decent players to compete.

The T20 WC squad will arguably be England's strongest ever, that doesn't mean they'll bring the trophy home, but it must increase their chances.

It's hard to judge on this series alone, as the Aussies haven't had much preparation time, and I've no doubt when the WC does come around again they'll be ready to challenge.

However England's last 7 T20 series have yielded 6 wins and the drawn series against Pakistan, so we're becoming proficient at winning in this format, and that's a good habit to have.

[ashtonlongsider]

Think Moeen Ali might open with Bairstow.

[ClaretTony]

A lot of the improvement is down to Morgan. Picking the team, you start with him and Buttler.

[claretonthecoast1882]

When everyone is available I wouldn't be rushing to drop Malan to accommodate Bairstow either on current form

[Burnley1989]

Possibly not, there's no point in taking unnecessary risks now the series is wrapped up, and the ODI'S start on Friday, so I'm sure Morgan will want to be fit for those. I wonder if Livingstone will get a call up, with Buttler and Morgan missing the batting is looking somewhat fragile. I suspect not, and they'll probably go for Denly as the safe option.

And this England side is missing Root, Roy and Stokes, that's a formidable trio to call upon if needed, and shows the strength in depth England possess batting wise right now.

And Hales potentially

[Local cricketer]

Hales won't play until Morgan retires

[tiger76]

When everyone is available I wouldn't be rushing to drop Malan to accommodate Bairstow either on current form

Malan's the one player who is reliable in that batting order, some of the others can be explosive, but equally they can be hit and miss, and every team needs a steady eddie in it's ranks, it's by no means impossible that Bairstow, Root & Roy miss out next year, and Ben Stokes still has to return to the fold, I'm assuming he will be picked once he becomes available again, you can't leave him out, he can win a game on his own with bat, ball and fielding.

TBF to all the players it's tough to judge them on this summer, as it's hardly a regular season, but Tom Banton has done his cause no harm, and he'll be the future of this team, it's amazing that he's only 21, he, Crawley and Pope are 3 high quality batsman that should provide England with a stack of runs over the next decade or more in the various formats, and all 3 are pleasing on the eye, which only adds to their scoring.

[Quickenthetempo]

Nice problem to have though, it's a sea change from the dreadful days of the 80's/90's, when England struggled to find 11 decent players to compete.

England had good enough players then but the structure was woeful. No funding, small crowds, staying in budget hotels and flogged to death in county cricket.

Central contracts have been a god send for English cricket. The cricketers are looked after far better these days. Fitness, recovery, coaching and tactics are way ahead.

Plus they will all turn up sober these days which is a massive bonus.

[LeadBelly]

Final match of the series tonight, yes the series is already won, but a victory for England would ensure they leapfrog the Aussies into 1st place in the T 230 rankings, so it does matter if only for bragging rights.

No Buttler for England, so who'll open alongside Bairstow is a good I'd be tempted to promote either Banton or Malan, both have shown they are more than capable of building an innings at the top of the order.

I think Banton will open in stead of Buttler. Livingston might get in further down - especially if Morgan also takes a day off with his recovering finger. I think Morgan will play though, he''s a tough guy & his captaincy would be missed.

[Quickenthetempo]

Ali captains the side.

Banton opens and Billings comes in the team with Denly.

[dandeclaret]

Cymbals is struggling to hit it off the square.

[dandeclaret]

Banton out for 2. Very slow start this, but the pitch looks to have a bit in it.

[dandeclaret]

Hit out or get out Cymbals.... stop wasting deliveries.

[Red Fox Rocks Socks]

Anyone else’s sky freezing????

[dandeclaret]

Sky is.... Ok here, although it did look like Cymbals just hit one reasonably well.

[Red Fox Rocks Socks]

Phone call in the AM it is then!!

[ClaretTony]

Anyone else’s sky freezing????

Pay your bill

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Down to skipper Moeen and Johnny Bairstow now

[Buxtonclaret]

Billings was well beaten on that delivery.
He's getting some good bounce with both the wickets.

[tiger76]

150 could be challenging on this track, it's not easy to play shots on.

[Buxtonclaret]

If these two stick around they'll get 150.

[dandeclaret]

2nd game running I’ve educated a Yorkie on how to play this game.

[Buxtonclaret]

Another huge 6!

[Buxtonclaret]

Weird C & B.

[dandeclaret]

119-5 - Smith with a catch that he just by the barest of margins managed to keep from touching the rope on.

[Buxtonclaret]

Ooops.

[Dinks]

Anyone else’s sky freezing????

Watching a dodgy stream for nowt..picture perfect

[Buxtonclaret]

Watching a dodgy stream for nowt..picture perfect

Me too. WillowHd. No hint of buffering.

https://mob.livecricket.is/live1.html

[Buxtonclaret]

They bowled well those last couple.
Reckon we're 15/20 short of what we ought to have got.

[dandeclaret]

Reckon England have a 30% chance of winning this.

[Local cricketer]

Ed smiths love child with 3 streaky edges to the boundary now guaranteed a game for the 20 internationals

[tiger76]

England will probably have to bowl the Aussies out to defend that score, they just never got going, it has been a low scoring series though, I guess that's mainly down to the strength of both attacks.

[ClaretTony]

They bowled well those last couple.
Reckon we're 15/20 short of what we ought to have got.

Definitely short after that last couple of overs. We need a good start here.

[Buxtonclaret]

Definitely short after that last couple of overs. We need a good start here.

Which we don't look like having.

[Gordaleman]

Me too. WillowHd. No hint of buffering.

https://mob.livecricket.is/live1.html

Watching cricket AND football on Hesgoal. So far, perfect pictures.

Why pay for sky?

[Buxtonclaret]

Watching cricket AND football on Hesgoal. So far, perfect pictures.

Why pay for sky?

Yep. Casting the footy to the little TV without sound and, the cricket on big TV.

[ClaretTony]

Which we don't look like having.

First two Archer overs were horrific.

[Gordaleman]

First two Archer overs were horrific.

Brilliant 6 off him though. What a shot!

[Buxtonclaret]

Not putting them under any sort of pressure.

[joey13]

Never seem to do well in dead rubbers

[Local cricketer]

Dreadful performance in the field so far. This is where Morgan would get a grip of them

[Buxtonclaret]

Naff fielding now.
Making it so bloody easy for them.

[Gordaleman]

Aussies 61 for 1 at the end of the power play. England were 33 for 1.

[dandeclaret]

THERE ARE THOSE CYMBALS.... YOU CAN'T KEEP WITH THEM ON JOHNNY

[Buxtonclaret]

Oh dear, Johnny....

[ClaretTony]

That’s the worst dropped catch I’ve ever seen from a wicket keeper. Absolutely shocking.