It does not get much bigger than Australia versus England and with the T20 World Cup just around the corner the next three matches between the arch rivals are crucial.
The Aussies continued their build up to the World Cup with a 2-0 series win over the West Indies, but now they will face a big test against another of the hot fancies to win the tournament.
England made it to the semi-finals of the last T20 World Cup before losing to New Zealand and they look set to be in the mix again.
Both teams will tinker with their sides over the next three games and it will be interesting to see who takes to the field in the first game at Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday.
Any game between Australia and England is huge and this could well be a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup final, so they will be taking it extra seriously.
So let’s take a closer look at the opening game in WA.
What: Australia v England
Where: Optus Stadium, Perth
When: 18:10 (AEST) Sunday 9th October
How to watch: Foxtel, Kayo
Odds: Australia 11/10, England 8/11
Team news
Australia are set to field two different sides in two different states of the country and not everyone has made the trip to Perth for the first game.
With the second and third games to be played in Canberra, some have remained in the nation’s capital.
They include Adam Zampa, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell, who were all part of the side that won the T20 World Cup.
However that does mean that others will get a chance to impress and stake a claim for the World Cup.
West Aussies Mitch Marsh, Kane Richardson and Ashton Agar are set to play while another WA star, Marcus Stoinis, will make his return from injury in the game.
Marsh has also had his injury issues and was rested in the second match against the West Indies. However he will return to action in his home state.
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
England have a different look about them this year with Eoin Morgan no longer captain following his retirement, so it is Jos Butler that now leads the side.
There is no Jonny Bairstow who has been ruled out long-term through injury, so Alex Hales has been called up to replace him.
Harry Brook and Phil Salt, who both played in the Big Bash League last season with the Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers respectively, are also new faces in the England.
Mark Wood will be the fast bowler to fear as he has been in top form and has been clocking some electric pace.
England: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Form guide
Australia performed well despite slipping to a 2-1 series defeat in India, but bounced back well when beating the West Indies 2-0 back on home soil.
England are also in good touch after they beat Pakistan 4-3. Before that series they suffered narrow defeats against both India and South Africa.
England came out on top the last time the two sides met in the T20 World Cup, winning by eight wickets in the group stage. But of course Australia had the last laugh when winning the whole tournament.
Australia are also the dominant side on home soil when winning seven matches compared to England’s one victory down under.
The form book can go out of the window though and T20 matches against these two sides can go either way. That is the nature of the shortest form of the game, they hinge on pivotal moments.
What they say
England captain Butler says Test captain Ben Stokes will be crucial to England’s chances of winning the T20 World Cup and he is set to bat at four.
"Ben's a superstar of the game and absolutely someone you want in your team, both on the field and off the field, he brings so much to the group," Butler said. "We'll try to get him up the order as high as we can. Give him as much responsibility as possible and allow him to play his way to get the best out of him."
Australia will be tinkering with their side and captain Aaron Finch says that is the way to go with the T20 World Cup not far away.
"We're going to keep tinkering with things just to make sure we've got all bases covered heading into the World Cup," Finch said.
