- England are unbeaten in their last six T20 World Cup matches
- Australia have won their last four T20I matches
- Recommended bet: England

England are a point worse off than they had hoped to be after the abandonment of their opening match against Scotland and they will be desperate to make amends by pushing for a victory over Australia in Barbados.

There is very little room for error for Buttler’s side, who would find themselves in a precarious position if they were to lose out against the Baggy Greens.

Australia put two points on board on Wednesday with a far from convincing 39-run success over Oman.

They will expect to play better as the tournament progresses and will be fired up against England, who they have not beaten in the T20 format since a five-wicket success at Southampton in September 2020.

Team news

Pat Cummins has returned to full fitness and could replace Nathan Ellis in Australia’s pace attack. Mitchell Starc suffered an injury scare while bowling his final over against Oman but has been declared fit to feature.

Sam Curran and Reece Topley are options to come in for Chris Jordan, who conceded 24 runs in just two overs against Scotland. England failed to get a hit in their opening match and are unlikely to make changes to their top and middle order.

The stats

Of the last eight T20I’s between the teams, six have been won by England, one by Australia and there has been one no result.

England are unbeaten in their last six T20 World Cup matches, while Australia are on a four-match T20I winning sequence.

England have bowled out their opponents in three of their last four completed T20I matches.

Predictions

England have an excellent recent record against Australia in the T20 format and they can beat the Baggy Greens at the Kensington Oval.

Critics of England’s ‘Bazball’ approach were out of force after Jos Buttler’s side failed to advance beyond the group stage at last year’s 50-over World Cup.

But England are potentially better suited to the shorter format and they prepared for the tournament in fine style with a couple of dominant victories at home to Pakistan.

They allowed Scotland to get to 90-0 from 10 overs of Tuesday’s abandoned match although there were positives to take with pacemen Mark Wood and Jofra Archer bowling with hostility and accuracy.

Australia’s bowling is also strong, with Cummins set to join Starc and Josh Hazlewood in a three-pronged pace attack.

But England’s batting line up looks deeper and more destructive and that could hold the key in a contest which should deliver plenty of thrills and spills.

Back England to beat Australia @ 21/20 with LiveScore Bet.