AUS v AFG: T20 WC PREVIEW

Washouts, Upsets and NZ dominating the defending champions with 89 runs in the opening match has almost knocked Australia out of the tournament. But there can be a twist in the tale. The Irish, now a full member, have a history of causing upsets. They knocked out WI before the Super 12s and then defeated England by 5 runs by DLS.

Unlike Group B, Group A is wide open due to these events, and any two teams from NZ, ENG, AUS can qualify for the semis provided AUS win big against Afghanistan as their NRR is negative, and hope either ENG or NZ lose their last game.

Whereas, ENG and NZ just have to win their remaining matches. Australia’s problems have increased as Tim David and Aaron Finch have been nursing injuries. It is said the Cam Green and Steve Smith will come in as replacements. No team has been successful in defending their title and no team has won a T20WC on their home soil.

A series loss against IND, ENG, and a closely fought series against WI had left Australia with too many questions in the run up to the tournament. While the inclusion of Tim David and Cam Green prior to the World Cup did rewarded them with too many options in the batting line up but there were still some chinks in their armour.

Probable XIs

Australia

Aaron Finch/ Cameroon Green, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David/Steve Smith, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Afghanistan

Usman Ghani, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmed, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Venue

Adelaide Oval

Total matches 10

Matches won batting first 4

Matches won bowling first 5

Average 1st Inns scores 154

Average 2nd Inns scores 142

Highest total recorded 233/2 by AUS vs SL
Lowest total recorded 117/10 by ZIM vs NED

HEAD to HEAD

This is the 1st time both sides will lock horns in a T20I match

Recent Form

(Last five matches)

Australia: W NR W L NR

Afghanistan: L NR NR L L

Pitch Report:

The Adelaide is usually a good batting surface with short square and long straight boundaries. Since its early in the season and pitches are fresh fast bowlers had a lot of help against India in the last game in 1st 6 overs

Match Ups

Stoinis v Rashid: 39 off 33, 3 out

Maxwell v Rashid: 77 off 68, 1 out

Wade v Rashid: 49 off 32, 0 out

Wade v Nabi: 24 off 15, out

Stoinis v Nabi: 25 off 17, 0out

Warner v Mujeeb: 61 off 35, 0 out

Form Update

(Last 5 innings)

Key Players & Fantasy Picks

Rashid Khan

He is arguably the greatest t20 bowler of all time. Not just with the ball but even with the bat Rashid has repeatedly pulled off miraculous wins in the end overs. The game against CSK and SRH in this year's Indian t20 league are best examples. Afg could hold his one over at the back end mostly the 17th over which is usually a make or a break over in t20s. A legend of the game has to be your 1st pick in any fantasy XI

David Warner

The man of the tournamnet of last t20 wc, a t20 legend who scores atleast 500-600 runs every season in the Indian t20 league. In simpler words, a run machine, who would walk into the starting 11 of any t20 side. Warner looked in great touch coming into the wc with 50s against WI and ENG. So far he has failed to make any mark in the tournamnet and was unlucky the way he got out against NZ. An opener should always be your 1st choice pick in the fantasy XI and if he is a player named David Warner then it should be an automatic choice

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Apart from being a hard hitting opener he is also a part time keeper. He has more than 2400 runs at a SR of 152, He had an impressive outing on his LPL and BPL debut which led the Gujarat Titans pick him as the replacement for Jason Roy. Along with Gurbaz, another batter to look out for is Najibullah Zadran.

Glenn Maxwell

One of the most dangerous batters in the format who has found some rhythm against SL and NZ after failing to reach double digit scores in his last 6 out of 7 innings prior to the WC. In addition to that, he is a very hand bowler in Powerplays and a gun fielder. Has all the makings of a top fanatsy pick

Wild Card pick

Mitchell Starc’s form is always blow hot blow cold in t20s but he always steps up against weaker teams. His pace could be too hot for Afghanistan to handle or he’ll be butchered by their batters just like Tucker in last game

Fantasy XI