Despite losing their recent T20I encounters against India and England and standing at number six in the ICC rankings, the defending champions and hosts, Australia, enter the 2022 T20 World Cup as the favourites to lift the trophy. Aaron Finch’s team is littered with match-winners with both bat and ball, and the make-up of their side is suited to the pacy and bouncy conditions expected in Australia during this World Cup.
David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc are amongst the best T20 players on the planet, while the introduction of Tim David is a massive boost to Australia’s middle-order firepower with the bat.
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Alongside India and England, Australia has one of the most impressive batting units in the tournament, with plenty of power hitters spread across the line-up. Finch, Warner, Marsh, Stoinis, David, and Wade are all excellent back-foot players that will thrive on the bouncy pitches down under, while Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc at numbers eight and nine give Australia enviable batting depth.
With the ball, Australia have two of the top ten T20 bowlers in Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood. Zampa was the highest wicket-taker in the last T20 World Cup in the UAE and has the experience of bowling in Australian conditions where there isn’t much purchase off the pitch for spinners. Hazelwood has evolved into one of the best operators with the new ball in T20 cricket and has an economy of 7.07 and a strike rate of 14 in T20Is since 2021.
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The one concern for Australia heading into this World Cup is the form of their star batter Glenn Maxwell. The all-rounder has six consecutive single-figure scores heading into the tournament and a strike rate of 113 in T20Is in 2022. If this poor run persists during the tournament, it leaves a gaping hole in Australia’s middle order and could expose the hosts’ weaknesses against wrist spin.
With Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell acting as Australia’s fifth and sixth bowling options, the defending champions also have a small chink in their armour with their attack. Although Maxwell and Stoinis have been economical in T20Is in 2021, neither bowler can be relied upon to give four overs regularly and can be got at by opposing batting line-ups.
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Although Aaron Finch is the captain of the side, the opener has been on the decline over the past couple of years, averaging just 27 at a strike rate of 124 in T20Is since 2021. Finch’s poor form places increased importance on David Warner to carry the torch at the top of the order and give Australia the momentum they need in the powerplay.
Warner was the player of the series in Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup triumph in the UAE last winter, scoring 289 runs in seven games, and the left-hander will play a similarly crucial role if the team are to go all the way once again in 2022.
1. Aaron Finch
2. David Warner
3. Mitchell Marsh
4. Glenn Maxwell
5. Marcus Stoinis
6. Tim David
7. Matthew Wade
8. Pat Cummins
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Adam Zampa
11. Josh Hazlewood
1st in Group 1
T20 World Cup Champions
[Featured Image Credit: ANI]
Shivaan Shah