Australia Team (Source : ESPNcricinfo)
Despite both Australia and Afghanistan exhibiting remarkable performances in the group-stages — with Afghanistan securing victories in three out of their four games and Australia triumphing in all four, their forthcoming encounter at the Arnos Vale Ground presents vastly divergent stakes. Notably, Afghanistan find themselves in a precarious position, battling for survival in the tournament. Conversely, for the 2021 champions, the focus would be on solidifying their qualification to the semi-finals with a win in this crucial game.
Regarding the pitch and conditions, spinners have flourished in Kingstown, amassing 22 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 5.64 across six innings in this tournament. Anticipate a continuation of this trend when two of the world’s premier T20 wrist-spinners, Rashid Khan and Adam Zampa, take the field.
Here’s the strongest line-up for Australia against Afghanistan:
Openers — David Warner, Travis Head
Leading up to the T20 World Cup, David Warner’s form was under intense scrutiny, with a faction of supporters advocating for Jake Fraser-McGurk to replace the left-handed opener. Nevertheless, the team management maintained their confidence in Warner, and he vindicated their trust with impressive performances during the group-stage. With 169 runs in the tournament so far, he would hope to continue the same momentum going forward.
Warner’s opening partner, Travis Head, can be destructive as hell, like how he showed via his decimation with the bat during IPL 2024. However, he’s not been at his exuberant best in this tournament so far, in terms of failing to convert his starts. Nevertheless, Head is poised to seize the opportunity and deliver a crucial performance for the team in this pivotal encounter.
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Middle order — Mitchell Marsh (c), Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk)
Skipper, Mitchell Marsh, is yet to make a significant impact. After departing from the Delhi Capitals prematurely due to a hamstring injury, the 32-year-old has struggled to regain his optimal form. He hasn’t bowled since the IPL, although there’s been speculation about him potentially returning to bowling duties if needed during the knockout stages.
Tim David possesses exceptional prowess and hitting power, capable of making a significant impact on the big stage with his explosive batting. He would be eager to replicate his form and deliver powerful performances whenever he gets the opportunity to showcase his skills.
Regarding wicketkeeper-batter, Matthew Wade, he’s batted only twice in the tournament, against England and Scotland, remaining unbeaten on both occasions, respectively. While he has the ability to finish games, he requires more time in the middle to fully capitalize on his potential.
All-rounders — Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell
Marcus Stoinis has emerged as one of Australia’s standout performers in the tournament. Nicknamed “The Hulk,” he has amassed 156 runs across the three innings he’s featured in at an astounding strike-rate of 190.24. He presently stands as the tournament’s fourth-highest run-getter and has additionally made valuable contributions with the ball, securing six wickets, thus showcasing his multifaceted impact in the matches.
Glenn Maxwell, conversely, has had a subdued group-stage campaign thus far, following a grim IPL 2024 season. He’d be eager to harness his abilities across both batting and bowling to enhance his value to the team, and his potential for making a significant impact should not be underestimated. He delivered a memorable innings against the same opponent during the 2023 50-over World Cup and would be aiming to replicate a similar sort of performance.
Bowlers — Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were rested in Australia’s match against Scotland, while Mitchell Starc sat out during the match against Namibia.
Meanwhile, Adam Zampa has emerged as a standout performer with the ball for Australia, hoarding 11 wickets in five matches with an impressive economy rate of 5.90. Presently occupying the second position among the top wicket-takers, he’d be eager to augment his tally and enhance his statistical achievements.
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Australia’s Probable Playing XI vs Afghanistan
David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Adam Zampa.