Australia and South Africa may be among the greatest cricketing nations, but neither team has got their hands on the Men’s T20 World Cup. They will be up against each other on 23 October in a Group 1 fixture of Super 12 in the ongoing edition of the tournament, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Australia played the first ever Men’s T20I, against New Zealand on 17 February, 2005. They won by 44 runs in that contest, courtesy Ricky Ponting’s unbeaten 55-ball 98. They had won the last two ODI World Cups before that (they won the next one as well), and were also the top-ranked Test nation.
The situation is different now. Unlike 2004/05, they are no longer the undisputed champions of cricket. The likes of Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Michael Clarke and Glenn McGrath have hung up their boots. Some of them have taken to coaching, while some become commentators. In their absence, Aaron Finch, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc have picked up the baton, but have not really filled their void.
South Africa will go into the tournament as one of the favourites. Led by Temba Bavuma, they have won 11 T20Is this year, the most by any side. They are also on a seven-match winning streak in this format, and are well ahead on paper against Australia.
They have got the arguably the strongest bowling unit in T20Is in contemporary, led by Tabraiz Shamsi, the top-ranked bowler in the world. Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin are in decent form as well, as are Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje.
With bat, Quinton de Kock holds the key. With 455 at a strike rate of 136, he is currently at the third place among the most run-getters in a calendar year, after Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan (752) and Babar Azam (523). Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen are the other batters to look out for in South Africa’s line-up.
Likely XIs
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Josh Inglis (wk), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, Bjorn Fortuin, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi,
Betway Fantasy Tips
- Back South Africa. Make Markram captain. He can provide value with both bat and ball.
- Do not ignore Marsh. He is the only consistent batter among the Australians in recent times.
- Maxwell can be an excellent vice-captain choice. He performed well in recently concluded IPL in the UAE, and will be looking to carry the momentum.
Prediction
Though the two sides have plenty in common, South Africa should win this one by a fair margin.
Bliztpools Fantasy XI
Aiden Markram (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, Aaron Finch, Reeza Hendricks, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell (vc), Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.