England hoping to avoid Ashes hangover for one-off T20 v Australia
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After England’s fourth successive home Ashes success, a number of stars have been left out or rested for this one-off Twenty20 battle against Australia at Cardiff, before the nations’ five-match ODI series.
The likes of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Stuart Broad won’t take part in the rest of the battles in the short form of the game with the Baggy Greens, but Moeen Ali, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood could all feature.
Both England (6/4 for victory) and Australia (4/6) return to the same ground, Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens, where the hosts began their quest to regaining the Ashes in terrific fashion, as they ran out winners by 169 runs.
Of the players available for the T20, Ali and Stokes managed 50s in that match, and can both be backed at 5/1 to be best batsmen for their team here.
Buttler, fresh from helping his county club Lancashire win their first T20 Blast title, meanwhile, is an 8/1 shout. David Willey, who faced the wicketkeeper in the final with Northamptonshire, is 7/1 in the same market, and 4/1 to be best bowler for the hosts.
Captain Eoin Morgan and possible Test opener replacement for Adam Lyth, Alex Hales, are respective 9/2 and 3/1 chances.
With the ball, Finn tops England’s best bowler market at 3/1, while Yorkshire’s leg-spinning all-rounder Adil Rashid, who could be finally given a first Test cap for the upcoming series with Pakistan in the UAE, is a tempting 4/1.
For ODI world champions the Aussies, Steve Smith is their main man as always, and is 3/1 to get the highest score for his team. He is also the subject of a Coral match special, with odds of 6/1 available on him being best Australia batsman and the visitors win (maximum stake £20).
Mitchell Starc is the standout name in the bowling department, and he tops the market to get the best Baggy Greens figures at 11/4.
Coral’s betting tip: Buttler may not have been at his best in the Ashes or T20 Blast final, but showed glimpses of his remarkable ability. He loves this form of the game, and is an enticing 8/1 chance to be best England batsman.
England T20 squad:
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wk), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Essex), James Vince (Hampshire), David Willey (Northamptonshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).
