The T20 Tri-Series – Can England’s Cricketers Defeat Their Rivals to Secure Some Silverware?
England in Australia – How Have They Done So Far?
England were determined to hang onto the Ashes when they headed to Australia last November. However, their performances in their warm-up matches caused many fans to doubt whether they could win the distinctive cricket trophy this year.
Unfortunately, things didn’t improve for the visitors when the five-match Test series got underway. Whilst much of the first match, in Brisbane, was evenly fought, the Aussies ultimately proved why The Gabba is nicknamed “The Gabbatoir”, triumphing by ten wickets. They went on to defeat England by 120 runs in Adelaide in the second Test.
The home team piled more misery on England when they won the third Test match by an innings and 41 runs, guaranteeing that the coveted cricket trophy would be theirs. Joe Root’s men ensured that a whitewash wasn’t on the cards by securing a draw in the fourth Test match, but the Aussies triumphed yet again in the fifth and final tie.
Despite their disappointment, England picked themselves up and prepared to fight back as the tour continued. Their next big challenge was a series of five ODIs. The first match took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue where they’d secured their face-saving draw. This time, they went one stage further, defeating their opponents by five wickets. They then went on to clinch the series with victories in Brisbane and Sydney. Australia defeated them in Adelaide in the fourth ODI, but the tourists finished the series in style, winning by twelve runs in Perth.
The T20 Tri Series – Can England Take the Trophy Home?
The Twenty20 Tri Series between England, Australia and New Zealand got underway last week, with Australia taking on New Zealand in Sydney. The hosts proved how dangerous they can be by beating the visitors by seven wicketsand giving England something to think about in the process.
England face the Aussies in the first match of their Tri Series campaign, which takes place today at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval ground, Tasmania. They’ll play them again in Melbourne on Saturday. They’ll then head to New Zealand, where they’ll take on the Kiwis at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium on Tuesday 13 February.
New Zealand then face Australia at Auckland’s Eden Park on the 16th of February, before meeting England again two days later at Seddon Park, Hamilton. The series will reach its conclusion on the 21st of February in Auckland, when the winners will be decided in what’s set to be a hard-fought final at Eden Park.
England will be missing several key players, with Joe Root, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow taking a break before the team’s forthcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Liam Plunkett and Jason Roy could also miss out due to injuries. However, Eoin Morgan will take over the captaincy and, if they reach the final, Ben Stokes may also be able to play.
While the series will be a tough test for England, their performances after the Ashes series should give fans hope that they could return from the southern hemisphere with some silverware.
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