T20 World Cup 2022: Match 26 - Predicted England Playing XI vs Australia

England will be locking horns with arch-rivals Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Super 12 encounter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, October 28. This is a must-win game for both sides and with this being a virtual knockout, neither of the teams can allow any amount of complacency to creep in. 

The Three Lions secured a hard-fought five wicket victory over Afghanistan in their tournament opener. However, their top-order was yet again exposed in the following game against Ireland where they were completely outplayed by the Andrew Balbirnie-led side in all departments of the game to go down by five runs via DLS method.

Without further ado, here's a look at England's Playing XI against Australia:

Openers: Jos Buttler (c and wk), Alex Hales

England's opening duo has looked completely off-colour in their first two Super 12 fixtures. Skipper Jos Buttler might have been in good form during the bilateral T20I series against Australia preceding the T20 World Cup, but lately, he has been a pale shadow of himself. He was dismissed for a silver duck in the last game. Alex Hales, on the other hand, is yet to play a destructive knock and there would be no better platform for him other than the virtual knockout clash against the Aussies. 

Middle Order: Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone, and Harry Brook

Dawid Malan scored a precious 35 runs in the previous game, but it happened to be a painstaking knock which came off 37 deliveries. Malan has been one of England's proven match-winners in the shortest format and he would be expected to come good against Australia.

Liam Livingstone looked ordinary against Ireland and in fact, even got a reprieve when an easy catch of his was misjudged at the boundary. He scored only one run off two deliveries before rain played spoilsport. Livingstone would be eyeing a match-winning knock against Australia.

Harry Brook also looked uncomfortable out in the middle, managing just 18 runs off 21 balls. He would be expected to take up more responsibility in the middle order.

All-Rounders: Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Sam Curran

Ben Stokes has been very poor with the bat so far as the bowlers have succeeded in breaching his defence in the first two games. With the ball in hand, he took the wicket of Josh Little, conceding eight runs from his 2.2 overs at an economy of 3.4.

Moeen Ali might not have bowled in the previous game, but he was England's savior till the rain break played a spoilsport. He played a cameo knock of an unbeaten 24 runs from 12 deliveries. 

Sam Curran can change the course of the game with his cameo knocks. However, the youngster has been outstanding with the ball in hand taking seven wickets in two matches including a fifer against Afghanistan. 

Bowlers: Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Chris Woakes was off-colour against Ireland as he went wicketless and was conceded 41 runs at an economy of 13.7. Leggie Adil Rashid also went wicketless but was economical, giving away just 24 runs from his quota of four overs. Mark Wood was the pick of the bowlers for England with an outstanding three-wicket haul. He finished with figures of 3/34 from his four overs at an economy of 8.5.

England Predicted XI: Jos Buttler (c and wk), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood