England vs Australia LIVE: Stream, TV channel, teams as Eoin Morgan's men chase T20 series whitewash – latest udpates

September 8, 2020

ENGLAND are playing Australia with a chance to whitewash the old enemy in their three-match T20 series.

Toss: Australia to field first
TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Cricket/NOW TV

Follow all the action as it happens with our over-by-over live blog below…

OVER 6.0: ENGLAND 33-1 (BAIRSTOW 17, MALAN 11)
The final over of the powerplay is bowled by Josh Hazlewood.
He begins it well as he rattles Bairstow on the pads. Not out is the call and it's close, but the tourists have already used up both reviews.
Bairstow, meanwhile, continues to go for the big shots, but has not found his timing yet – that is until Hazlewood bowls a front foot no ball and the England's opener faces a free hit.
Two boundaries follow and it may just be the tonic Bairstow needs.
OVER 5.0: ENGLAND 23-1 (BAIRSTOW 9, MALAN 10)
Kane Richardson's first over begins with two appeals for caught behind.
The first sees an attempted scoop from Bairstow clip the batsman's thigh pad while the second creeps under the bottom of the bat as it sails through to Wade.
After a long delay, Finch decides to send the second appeal upstairs where there is shown to be a clear gap between ball and bat.
Bairstow ends with a well-run two, but it's another strong over from the Aussies.
OVER 4.0: ENGLAND 19-1 (BAIRSTOW 5, MALAN 10)
Impressive again from Hazlewood.
Just the one boundary in that over as Malan manages to manoeuvre a looping shot down to deep fine leg for four.
Bairstow ends the fourth with a big pull, but it's straight to a fielder for a single.
OVER 3.0: ENGLAND 13-1 (BAIRSTOW 4, MALAN 5)
A single to end the third over as Malan moves to five.
That one delivery aside, it's another good stint from Starc.
OVER 2.3: ENGLAND 11-1 (BAIRSTOW 4, MALAN 4)
Now England do have their first boundary.
A slack delivery from Starc is seized upon by Malan who clips it away for four.
OVER 2.2: ENGLAND 7-1 (BAIRSTOW 4, MALAN 0)
Bairstow tries to drive towards deep extra cover but doesn't quite time it right.
Slick fielding by the rope denies England their first boundary but they manage three.
OVER 2.0: ENGLAND 4-1 (BAIRSTOW 1, MALAN 0)
A great first over from Hazlewood, and a strong start from the Aussies.
Bairstow and Malan are both capable, and England may already be looking to them to take charge.
OVER 1.4: ENGLAND 4-1 – BANTON C WADE, B HAZLEWOOD 2
Banton hadn't looked comfortable and now he departs for two.
The young batsman nicked one through to Matthew Wade following a outswinger from Josh Hazlewood.
Dawid Malan is the new man at the crease.
WICKET!
That's the end of Tom Banton's innings!
OVER 1.2: ENGLAND 3-0 (BAIRSTOW 0, BANTON 2)
Hazlewood takes charge for the visitors and keeps them on the front foot.
OVER 0.5: ENGLAND 2-0 (BAIRSTOW 0, BANTON 1)
Banton is off the mark following a wide from Starc.
Nevertheless, it's a decent opening over from the the Australian seamer.
OVER 0.3: ENGLAND 0-0 (BAIRSTOW 0, BANTON 0)
The ball moves, and once again swings into the pads of Banton.
It's closer than the previous delivery but the umpire rules it not out.
The Australians send it upstairs where a clear spike shows that England batsman got bat on ball before it cannoned into his leg.
AUSTRALIA REVIEW!
Is Banton in trouble?
OVER 0.2: ENGLAND 0-0 (BAIRSTOW 0, BANTON 0)
There's a hint of swing in the air for Starc.
His second delivery clips Banton on the pads but is clearly heading down the leg side.
OVER 0.1: ENGLAND 0-0 (BAIRSTOW 0, BANTON 0)
Starc opens the bowling for the Aussies and sends a crisp delivery through that Banton leaves.
GAME TIME
England openers Banton and Bairstow head to the middle at the Ageas Bowl.
Australian Steve Smith has a huge smile on his face – will that be the case in a few hours time?
THE TEAMS
Here are how the two sides line up in full.
TIGHT AT THE TOP
This is how close the countries are at the top of the ICC T20 Rankings.
Victory for either side tonight will give them clear daylight in number one spot.
There really is no such thing as a dead rubber between England and Australia.
AN AUSSIE VICTORY
The tourists finally get one over England by winning the coin toss at The Ageas Bowl.
BAT-O BANTON
With no Buttler to open, young Tom Banton is given a chance at the top of the order alongside Jonny Bairstow.
Coming into the side, Sam Billings slots in at number four while Joe Denly bats at six.
Eoin Morgan is, of course, the other man to miss out as England make two changes to the team that was triumphant on Sunday.
THREE CHANGES FOR FINCH
The visitors have made a trio of changes for the final game.
In comes Matthew Wade to open and keep wicket, and he's joined in the starting line-up by Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood.
Missing out this evening are David Warner, Alex Carey and Pat Cummins.
CAPTAIN MOEEN
It is Moeen Ali who leads England this evening, and he's been speaking of his pride.
“It's an absolute honour to captain your country, and to lead such a side is great.
“I don't think I'll be as good as him, but a captain like Morgs does produce other guys to be leaders and hopefully I can learn a lot from him.
“We believe we deserve to be there (at number one) and we belong there.”
AUSTRALIA WIN THE TOSS
Australia captain Aaron Finch has won the toss, and his side will bowl first.
MOEEN THE MAN?
The suggestion at Southampton is that Warwickshire's Moeen Ali will lead the team this evening if Morgan misses out through injury as feared.
GOOD EVENING
Welcome our live coverage of the third and final international Twenty 20 match between England and Australia.
The series may already be won, but there is still plenty for Eoin Morgan's men to play for.
A victory tonight, and a 3-0 series win will put England clear at the top of the ICC T20 rankings at the expense of their old enemy.
However, they will have to do it without the star of the series so far, Jos Buttler.
The explosive opener has been the star of the series so far, but misses out this evening after requesting leave to see his family after ten weeks in England's cricket bubble.
Buttler top scored with 77 in Sunday's 6-wicket win, and made 44 before Australia clinched defeat from the jaws of victory in Friday's first meeting.
There are also concerns about the inclusion of skipper Morgan too, who suffered a hand injury at the weekend.
The absence of two key players will be significant, but could offer opportunity to others to step up with the T20 World Cup slowly creeping on to the horizon.

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