'Should have bowled him earlier' - Travis Head reflects on Liam Livingstone mayhem in Cardiff drubbing

Australia captain, Mitchell Marsh missed the second T20I against England at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on September 13. The all-rounder was unwell and Travis Head was named as the stand-in captain for the game as Australia succumbed to the hosts by three wickets. The flamboyant opener lamented that the team should have dismissed Liam Livingstone early as the batter steered England towards the victory.

Chasing a stiff target of 194, Livingstone and Jacob Bethell wreaked havoc in the middle order as the duo put up a 90-run stand for the fourth wicket. Particularly, Livingstone scored 87 off 47 balls laced with six boundaries and five maximums with a strike rate of 185.11. The Aussie opener argued that the match was impacted by the result of the toss.

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“Good score, felt we were in the hunt and got close. Yeah, it changed out there, but you know that at the toss. We were pretty close, but it was a good innings. Should have bowled him [Livingstone] earlier. We know what he's got to offer, a nice option moving into the next game. Nice for him [Jake Fraser-McGurk] to get into the series. We didn't get the win, but that's okay,” Head said during the post-match presentation.

Ben Dwarshuis to replace Xavier Bartlett in third T20I

As England have managed to outclass Australia at the Sophia Gardens, the series is levelled at 1-1. The third T20I at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on September 15 will be a series decider. It is worth noting that Australian pacer, Xavier Bartlett, has sustained a side strain and Ben Dwarshuis will fill in for him in the third T20I.

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“Overnight scans revealed Bartlett sustained a side strain while bowling in the first game. He has been ruled out for the remaining two matches. Ben Dwarshuis will join the squad for the final T20 match in Manchester,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.