FANTASY
Follow UsArch-rivals England and Australia will come face to face in Match 26 of the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai on Saturday (October 30). The two are the only unbeaten sides in Group 1 and will look to inch closer to that semifinal spot.
(All stats till October 28, 2021)
Head to Head comparison
Overall matches - 19 | ENG - 8 wins | AUS - 10 wins | NR - 1
Last five matches - ENG - 3 wins | AUS - 2 wins
Suggested teams
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Ground details and team combination
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium has hosted four games so far in this tournament and the batters here have scored runs at an average of 25.3 and a strike rate of 123.9 - the best among all four venues used in this event. Meanwhile, a wicket has fallen every 20.4 deliveries. If you compare them with seamers, spinners here have a better average (22.6 v 30.2) and strike rate (21.1 v 22.7). So, it would be ideal to have both Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali in your team. There are also a couple of world-class fast bowlers on offer and all of them have been in solid form.
Captain
Having scored 24* and 18 in the first two games, Jos Buttler will look to go big against Australia. The wicketkeeper-batter has slammed 362 runs in his last 10 T20Is at an impressive average of 51.71 and a strike rate of 132.6. He also has a decent record against Australia (321 runs at 32.1) in this format. If needed, he could also get you some crucial points from behind the stumps.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Buttler to score 18-28 runs in this match.
X-factors
Moeen Ali hasn’t been needed to do much with the bat in this tournament but has been superb with his offspin. The 34-year-old has scalped four wickets in two games and is someone who could fetch you points in all three facets of the game. He was in sublime form in the recently concluded Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings and will be keen to showcase his prowess in the national colours.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Moeen to score 19-29 runs and pick up 1-2 wickets in this match.
Glenn Maxwell didn’t have a great game against Sri Lanka but the all-rounder has been in outstanding form of late. The right-hander slammed 513 runs at an average of 42.75 in the recently concluded IPL 2021 and has a superb record in the UAE. England also have a couple of left-handers in their batting line and his offspin could come in handy.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Maxwell to score 16-24 runs and pick up 0-1 wicket in this match.
Guess what, David Warner is back in form! And, once he gets going, Warner is very consistent and we have seen it many times in the past. The left-handed opener smoked 65 off 42 deliveries against Sri Lanka and looked at his absolute best. Alongside scoring at 156.3 in the powerplay, the southpaw motored along at 153.9 during the middle-overs. That is what makes him a dangerous opener at his best - the ability to hit gaps when the field is spread.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Warner to score 19-29 runs in this match.