T20 World Cup 2024, AUSTRALIA vs ENGLAND: Pitch report, head-to-head, playing 11 predictions, toss time

If Australia go the distance in this tournament, they will become the first team to hold each of the World Cups and reinforce their positions as the kings of cricket. Having beaten India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the ODI World Cup final in 2023, they now aim to regain the T20 title they won in Dubai in 2021. This is their first real test, up against England, the reigning champions.

England, who also held two world titles at one point, endured a shocking defence of the ODI World Cup in India last October-November, coming nowhere close to a semi-final place. But the return of the often-injured Jofra Archer is a huge boost, and this will be an emotional game for both him and Chris Jordan, who have roots in Barbados.

The surfaces so far in this tournament have not been conducive to any sort of gung-ho batting, and both teams may need to recalibrate their approach. If Australia boast the firepower of Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell – despite his recent awful form – in their top four, England can respond with a heavyweight line-up of their own. Phil Salt had an excellent IPL, Jos Buttler didn’t go badly, and Jonny Bairstow scored one of the fastest hundreds. Will Jacks was a revelation for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, didn’t play Oman, but will be back for this pivotal clash. Nathan Ellis will make way, reuniting the potent trio of Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Both sides have vastly experienced leg-spinners – England’s Adil Rashid and Australia’s Adam Zampa, and it’ll be intriguing to see who England choose to take the new ball with Archer – the raw pace of Mark Wood, or the left-arm angle of Reece Topley.