England come into the game after a demoralising defeat to Ireland, but there are a few areas where they can target the hosts
After their loss to Ireland on Wednesday, Jos Buttler’s England side face a crucial game against arch rivals Australia on Friday morning. A loss will leave their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the T20 World Cup as remote.
How, then, do England go about their crucial match in Melbourne?
For years, culminating in a soporific Ashes Test in 2017, the Melbourne Cricket Ground pitches were among the most drab in the world. But there has been a conscious effort to make the wicket more seam-friendly in recent years. Just ask Scott Boland, who took 6-7 at the MCG last year when England were skittled for 68 to lose the Ashes.
In the two games at the MCG this T20 World Cup, seam bowlers have thrived with the new ball. Consider these scores after the Powerplay: 32-2, 31-3 and 37-3. Sandwiched between these, though, is a score of 59-1: Ireland’s total after the Powerplay at the MCG.