FANTASY
Follow UsAfter recording a 2-1 series win in Bangladesh in the ODI series away from home, the two sides are all set to lock horns in a three-match T20I series starting on Thursday, March 9, at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
The home team suffered their first series defeat at home in the last seven years and will be itching to make amends in the upcoming T20I series.
Over the years, the two sides have surprisingly met only once in T20 internationals, with England defeating Bangladesh by eight wickets in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Ground details
The wicket in Chattogram is known to be sluggish in nature, and the average first-innings total at this venue is around the 146-run mark. On the other hand, the average winning total is 157 runs.
The fast bowlers have been more effective with their cutters and slower deliveries and scalped 153 out of the 246 wickets to fall at this venue which is 62.2 percent of the wickets compared to 93 scalps which is 37.8 by the spinners.
Suggested Team
While you could go for the above team, you can also choose 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.
Captaincy Suggestions
For small leagues: Jos Buttler (Captain), Shakib Al Hasan (vice-captain)
For grand leagues: Mooen Ali (Captain), Mark Wood (vice-captain)
Stats that matter
England skipper Jos Buttler will be one of the most sought-after players in the fantasy league as the right-handed batter has amassed 462 runs in 15 innings at an average of 35.54 and a strike rate of 160.4 in T20Is since 2022.
The wicket-keeper batter is the third leading run-scorer for England in the aforementioned time and will be the vital cog in the batting unit for the visiting side early on in the powerplay.
While all eyes will be on Jos Buttler, his opposite number Shakib Al Hasan will too be the player who can help you gain maximum points. The all-rounder has scored 349 runs in 15 innings at an average of 24.29 and a strike rate of 129.3 in T20Is since 2022.
In the same time period, Shakib has scalped 11 wickets at an economy rate of 8 runs per over, making him one of the players to watch out for on the slow surface in Chattogram.
Grand League Punts
In T20Is since 2022, Mooen Ali is the leading run-scorer for England, with 515 runs in 22 innings at an average of 30.29 and a strike rate of 158.5.
The all-rounder has also been more than handy with the ball and scalped 12 wickets at an average of 26.7.
With 18 wickets in seven innings at an average of 10.3 and a strike rate of 8.7, Mark Wood is third on the list of leading wicket-takers for England in T20Is since 2022.
The right-arm seamer has the ability to rattle the opposition with some fiery pace and will hold the key for the visiting side early in the innings.
Probable XIs:
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Litton Das (wk), Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mustafizur Rahman, Shamim Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed
England: Jos Buttler (Captain & wk), Phil Salt, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley
