The first game of England’s T20 series against Pakistan was rained out on Wednesday but the forecast looks more promising for the second clash, which is due to take place at Edgbaston on Saturday.
The teams are putting in their final preparations before the T20 World Cup, which starts in the USA in June.
Jos Buttler’s side are defending champions so will be keen to go into the tournament in the best possible form.
England v Pakistan second T20 Tips
- Phil Salt top England runscorer @ 19/5
- Mohammad Rizwan top Pakistan runscorer @ 11/5
- Mark Wood top England wicket-taker @ 13/5
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Salt continues to impress
Phil Salt has laid down a marker for his international teammates with some of his recent performances as he attempts to make the spot at the top of the England batting line-up his own.
The 27-year-old arrives fresh from some impressive performances for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League after being drafted in as a late replacement for Jason Roy.
Salt made 435 runs in 12 matches for Kolkata Knight Riders at a strike rate of 182 and an average of 39.54. The opener also made two centuries in England’s last T20 series against West Indies and has staked a major claim to open the batting in this summer’s World Cup.
Expect Salt to impress once more in this game and he can be backed to be England’s top runscorer.
Rizwan a key man
Mohammad Rizwan is key to Pakistan’s success in this short-format game and he has a strong record against England in T20 cricket.
The 31-year-old has reached 60 in six of his last ten appearances against these opponents and goes into this series in good nick after making 75 not out and 56 in his last two games against Ireland.
Against opponents he has enjoyed plenty of success against, side with Rizwan to top-score for the visitors.
Wood a solid selection
The scheduled return of Jofra Archer, who has not played for England in over a year, grabbed the headlines for the first game of this series before it was rained off.
However, the pace bowler is entitled to be rusty after recovering from his plethora of injury issues and it may pay to look elsewhere for England’s top wicket-taker.
Mark Wood remains one of the most explosive bowlers in world cricket and averages just 18 with the ball for his country in T20s.
While Archer could still take the spotlight, Wood offers better value to be the home team’s top wicket-taker.
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