England vs Pakistan 2020, 3rd T20I: Preview, Live Streaming, Timings, Predicted XI, Stats, Pitch Report & more

Despite some positives, the score reads 1-0, and the onus will be on Pakistan to manage a win, at least once before they finally board the flight back home.

Published - 01 Sept 2020, 12:39 IST | Updated - 01 Sept 2020, 12:39 IST

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The English team has had some great time in the last couple of months or so. They have etched their name in the history for bringing cricket back to life when the chances of that happening looked a pipe dream. Their cricket board was grappling with a financial crisis and of course, the resumption of the game has been self-help. But for the manner they did it in, they deserve many thanks.

Series after series, England’s grind of managing cricket in such incredible times led us to get the answers to many questions. And after three eventful series and consecutive wins in them, England will have a couple of boxes, or maybe a bit more, to tick as they step out on Tuesday at Old Trafford in the series-decider against Pakistan. The approaching comeback of Jason Roy (subjected to his fitness), Jos Buttler, Mark Wood, and Jofra Archer for the upcoming series against Australia is good news for them.

Both Archer and Wood have the knack to bowl with pace and move it around. The latter being a trait that other counterparts- Tom Curran and Chris Jordan, who both are predominantly death bowlers- lack in plenty. In their previous game, the batting unit lit up the show through their blazing willows, but the English bowlers’ success can be measured by the fact that Pakistan registered their highest-ever T20I score against England. That Pakistan bowlers showed an uglier lack of discipline during the pursuit of defending a much defendable total is a different thing.

The run of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman at the top, however, was a certain positive. They dominated the opponent bowlers, though not as much as Jonny Bairstow and Eoin Morgan did later, through a slew of shots and not blind hoicks. Pakistan perhaps doesn’t need another spinner as long as they have Shadab Khan for he is as good as two. Despite the positives, the score reads 1-0, and the onus will be on Pakistan to manage a win, at least once before they finally board the flight back home.

Pitch and conditions

The same surface will be used for the final encounter and it was evident in the last game that the conditions for batting were much improved than the washed-out first T20I. The odd ball did keep low but the bounce otherwise looked promising, as is the case in England always. The other thing that looks promising, thankfully, is the weather forecast and we can expect an unrestricted game.

Team Combinations

Pakistan

Mohammad Amir looked in visible discomfort as he kept stretching and pressing his hamstring before going off the ground. This could well mean Wahab Riaz’s first game. The pacer would have preferred to feature alongside Amir and not enter upon his exit. Pakistan might give youngster Haider Ali a chance at the expense of a struggling Shoaib Malik.

The other veteran, Mohammad Hafeez, however, has shown that age is just a number through his bat in the last game. Shadab Khan’s successive strikes did not aid his team to his liking, although he was the lone performer while Imad Wasim and Ifhtikar Ahmed were taking a beating.

Azam and Zaman’s fluency at the top was crucial by every sense of the word and Pakistan will need it as much as ever, if they do not want to return empty-handed. For that, Shaheen Afridi- who looked bemused during his expensive, wicket-less spell, will need to take responsibility as well.

Predicted XI- Babar Azam (C), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali/Shoaib Malik, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi

England

England have, quite surprisingly, kept David Willey benched despite his heroics against Ireland last month. After the woes of Chris Jordan in the last game, this match would be a good time for him to be given a look-in. Moeen Ali probably needs more game time and he is set to be given that, while Lewis Gregory, who has remained largely untested hitherto, will be inside as well.

With all of the top-order- Tom Banton, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, and Eoin Morgan- firing in the last couple of games, any tampering looks improbable. Both Tom Curran and Saqib Mahmood failed to trouble the visitors and being aware that this is their last appearance for some time for England, they should look to make the most of it.

Predicted XI– Tom Banton, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (C), Moeen Ali, Sam Billings (WK), Lewis Gregory, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan/Dawid Willey, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood.

Stat Attack

1. Mohammad Hafeez, after his 36-ball 69, became the second Pakistan batsman and the ninth overall to reach 2,000 T20I runs.

2. If England manage to win the game, they will secure their sixth consecutive series victory in T20Is running since India’s visit in July 2018.

3. Pakistan, who was the No.1 T20I side not too long ago, is on the verge of losing their fourth series out of the last five they have played recently.