England v Australia first T20I: Prediction, Tips and Odds

England take on Australia in the opening match of their three-match T20I series at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday and Racing Post's James Milton has picked out his three best tips for Wednesday's clash.

England v Australia first T20I betting tips and predictions

Australia opening partnership - Under 22.5 @ 5/6

Australia's openers Travis Head and David Warner shared a stand of 70 in just five overs of June's T20 World Cup group-stage victory over England.

Head kicked off the white-ball tour of Scotland and England with an extraordinary innings of 80 from 25 balls in last week's first T20I against the Scots, powering the Aussies to a total of 113-1 off the first six overs.

However, his new opening partner Jake Fraser-McGurk was dismissed for a third-ball duck in the first over of the innings and England's bowlers should be confident of striking early against their gung-ho opponents.

Australia's wealth of all-rounders gives their side remarkable batting depth and Sean Abbott, who slammed a 34-ball century for Surrey against Kent in last summer's T20 Blast, was due to bat at number 10 in the final game of the Scotland series.

That depth allows the openers free rein to attack the new ball, which can be a dangerous approach in autumnal conditions in the UK.

After Fraser-McGurk's duck in the first T20I against Scotland, Head was bowled first ball in the second match and his opening partner again failed to trouble the scorers in the third game.

The Baggy Greens lost their first wicket with the score at nought, 11 and two in their three wins in Edinburgh, so it may be worth going under their opening runs line of 22.5 at the Rose Bowl.

Josh Inglis Australia top batter @ 9/2

Australia wicketkeeper Josh Inglis could be the man to take advantage if England break through with the new ball and he is a tempting price to top-score for the tourists.

Inglis has been waiting in the wings for a while and seems determined to nail down his place as Matthew Wade's successor with the gloves in T20 cricket.

He sealed the run-chase in the opening game against Scotland, finishing unbeaten on 27 from just 13 deliveries, before smashing a brilliant 103 off 49 balls after being promoted to number three in the second T20I.

That was Inglis' second T20 international century, having made a terrific 110 off 50 deliveries against India in Visakhapatnam last November.

The Leeds-born right-hander has had success in English conditions, racking up 531 runs in 14 Blast innings for Leicestershire in 2021, when he scored two centuries, and he should relish a crack at the home bowlers.

Cameron Green to hit most match sixes @ 16/1

England captain Jos Buttler misses the series due to a calf injury but there are plenty of other big hitters ready to be unleashed so the six-hitting markets are intriguing betting heats.

Stand-in skipper Phil Salt, likely opening partner Will Jacks and the powerful Liam Livingstone are the main threats for England while Head, Inglis and Aussie captain Mitchell Marsh are also big runners.

However, Australia all-rounder Cameron Green is an eye-catching price to hit the most sixes in the match after a couple of useful contributions against Scotland.

Green struck two sixes in the second T20I in Edinburgh and followed up with an unbeaten 62 from 39 balls, striking five of his side's eight maximums.

He is yet to deliver on his massive potential as a T20 batter, but has hit 32 sixes in 28 IPL innings and should be full of confidence after Saturday's player-of-the-match performance against Scotland.

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England v Australia first T20I odds

England - 6/5
Australia - 4/6

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.