England v Australia Prediction: Back the Openers with bad weather around in 3rd T20i

England host Australia at Old Trafford on Sunday for the 3rdd T20I with a start time of 14:30, a match broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket.     

Jamie Pacheco missed out last time after 3/3 in the first match but is looking to hit back by showing faith in the two star opening batsmen on show at 23/10 and 16/5 respectively as he takes us through his England vs Australia 3rd T20i Predictions...

England 

England can pretty much thank Liam Livingstone for still being in the Series. Not only was his 87 off 47 the match-winning knock but his 2-16 off three overs with the ball earlier was a massive contribution too, that meant they were chasing sub-200 rather than 210 or so; big difference.  

Remarkably it means he's now top-scored with the bat in both games and won one top bowler effort outright, and tied the other. And he only tied the other because Betfred don't split bowlers on the same number of wickets by how many runs they conceded or else he would have beaten Brydon Carse in the second match, rather than tied. Are England a one-man team?  

Sam Curran has been poor but then again, that's been the case for a while. Jamie Overton didn't bowl at all and surely can't be in the side just to bat at seven, so they either have to be clear on what his role is, or pick someone else. Like Dan Mousley.  

Jacob Bethell was also instrumental in the chase with 44 off 24 and should keep his spot. Jofra Archer should be back for this one and could well replace Reece Topley, who was disappointing in both games. 

Possible XI:  Jacks, Salt, Cox, Livingstone, Bethell, Curran, Overton/Mousley, Rashid, Mahmood, Archer/Topley, Carse.    

Australia  

Mitch Marsh was unwell, so Travis Head took over as skipper and Jake-Fraser McGurk took his place at number three, top-scoring with 50 off 31.  

All of the Top 4 made contributions with the bat, meaning Marsh's return could result in Fraser-McGurk missing out despite that fine knock. Especially because Matt Short also took five wickets, so they'll see that as a big plus.  

The one danger here is that they may be fielding too many all-rounders at the expense of specialist bowlers so Josh Hazlewood could come in for Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie or Cooper Connolly.  

Possible XI: Head, Short, Marsh, Inglis, Stoinis, Green/Connolly, David, Abbott, Hardie, Zampa, Hazlewood.   

Pitch and Conditions  

There have been nine completed T20I matches here at Old Trafford stretching back to 2008, of which England won six of those. Pakistan beat England here twice, India once. Twice England were meant to play Australia here in 2009, twice the game was rained off, with two further washouts over the years. Well, it is after all Manchester.  

Three of the last four games saw the side batting first get past 190 so there could be some big runs on the board here. That is, if we get a game at all.  

The weather forecast is far from great with one betting company is making it even money that we'll get a completed match, which tells its own story.   

England vs Australia 3rd T20 Odds

England are 5/4 and that doesn't look the worst price on a side with a good record here at Old Trafford and who found a way to win from a precarious position last time out. Then again, they may be a little too over-reliant on Livingstone as we said, so may be in trouble if he has a quiet game.  

Team news could make a big difference though so it may be best to wait for the line-ups.  

Australia Top Batsman  

With these matches that could be reduced in overs (a minimum of six overs must be played for bets to stand) it's always worth siding with the openers so Head gets the nod albeit as the 23/10 favourite.

He was brilliant in the first match and was going well in the second before slicing one straight to point on Friday for a well-made 31 off just 14 and should go well again. Another quick start with rain on the horizon could mean he's in business again here.