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CricBattle Daily Fantasy Cricket League Tips

Australia vs England on December 14

If England are to keep their Ashes hopes alive then they will have to avoid defeat in the third Test match against Australia in Perth. Starting on 14 December at the Waca, the third Test could see Steve Smith’s Aussie side win back the title after taking a 2-0 series lead with victory in Adelaide. It’s an uphill task for the tourists, but skipper Joe Root believes they are still “massively in the series”. With three Tests left to play, England can still retain the Ashes if they draw the series, so the pressure is on, starting in Perth next week.

·         Best economical pick – Patrick Cummins in steadfastly turning himself into a genuine all-rounder for Australia. He impressed with the bat as he played a matured knock of 44 runs in the first innings. With the ball, he bowled decently to get rid of Joe Root, English skipper and Dawid Malan in the first innings.

·         Top captains & vice captains – Shaun Marsh was effortlessly Australia’s Player of the Match. His awe-inspiring century in the first innings attributed to Australia’s significant score first innings. The knock eventually turned out to be the difference between both the teams. He couldn’t quite replicate the same form in the second innings, but by then Australia already had England on the mat. Joe Root timing the ball ever-so-sweetly as things started looking comfortable for the visitors in day 4. He struck some timely boundaries on the fourth day while reaching his fifty with a drive to come back for two. Just when Root looked comfortable on the crease, an in-swinging delivery from Hazlewood caught the English batsman plumb in front.

·       Smart pick – Mitchell Starc made a comeback to the Australian team after an injury layoff. He found his feet in the first Test itself. He replicated the same rhythm in the Day-Night encounter and was right on the money in England’s first innings as he nipped out three vital wickets. In the second innings, Starc made inroads into England’s batting lineup.

·         Cautious Pick – Usman Khawaja has been struggling to claim a permanent spot in the Australian Test team. He didn’t help himself in the second Test. Nevertheless, he dished out a painstaking, yet graceful half-century in the first innings. He perished after a couple of impressive stands with Warner and Steve Smith. In the second innings, he was trapped in front by James Anderson for a low score.

My XI – Shaun Marsh (Captain), Joe Root (Vice-Captain),Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jonny Bairstow, Cameron Bancroft, Chris Woakes, Patrick Cummins, James Vince, Steve Smith, Craig Overton