England vs Australia predictions: Aussie batters can overpower hosts
- England have won eight of their nine T20Is in Cardiff
- Australia have hit 38 sixes in the first four matches of their tour
- Recommended bet: Australia to hit most sixes
Australia's openers Travis Head and Matthew Short set up a convincing 28-run victory over England in the opening game of their three-match T20 series on Wednesday.
England are aiming to level the series on Friday with victory in Cardiff, where they have won eight of their nine T20 internationals.
However, the hosts have an inexperienced squad for this series and they were well beaten by Australia in June's group-stage meeting at the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Team news
Phil Salt captains England in the absence of the injured Jos Buttler and Jordan Cox and Jacob Bethell, who made their debuts on Wednesday, should get another opportunity.
Fast bowlers Brydon Carse, John Turner and Josh Hull sat out the opening game, along with uncapped all-rounder Dan Mousley.
Fast bowler Xavier Bartlett suffered a side strain in Wednesday's win, joining fellow pacemen Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson on the sidelines.
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have been rested for this series, so Riley Meredith is expected to come into the pace attack.
The stats
England have won six of their nine home T20 internationals against Australia and have won eight of their nine T20Is in Cardiff.
Opener Will Jacks has reached 25 in only two of his 16 T20I innings for England.
Australia's Travis Head has hit 31 sixes in 14 T20 international innings this year, while the Aussies have hit 38 sixes in the first four matches of their tour of Scotland and England.
Adam Zampa has combined figures of 4-48 from eight overs in his last two T20s against England.
Prediction
Australia's batters cracked 30 sixes during this month's 3-0 T20I series success in Scotland and they overpowered England in that department at the Rose Bowl.
In-form opener Head cleared the ropes four times during his sparkling half-century and the Aussies hit eight sixes to England's two in the first T20I.
There is an unfamiliar look to the home batting unit, with number three Cox and number five Bethell making their debuts on Wednesday.
Jacks was dismissed for six off seven balls and his fellow opener Salt was caught off a no-ball from the first delivery of the innings.
Australia, in contrast, have proven big hitters all the way down their batting line-up.
Josh Inglis struck seven sixes in his century in the second T20I against Scotland, while Cameron Green, who batted at number seven on Wednesday, struck five maximums in the final game in Edinburgh.
Number eight Sean Abbott scored a 34-ball century for Surrey against Kent in last summer's T20 Blast and Australia are well worth backing to hit more sixes than England in game two.
