T20 World Cup victory would heal Australia’s cricket wounds
The Aussies have some of the most sought after talent in the world - winning teams have been built on a lot less. Can they erase a scratchy history to become T20 World Cup champions?
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It’s time for Australian cricket to get its mojo back.
To get aggressive. Be confident. Rattle the sabres. Stop the bickering. Get on with the job and snap out of its Covid slumber.
The T20 World Cup, which features Australia’s first match against South Africa on Saturday night, is an unusual place to start because it remains the last great black hole in Australian cricket and no one can fully understand why.
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When it comes to 50-over World Cups, Australia has dominated like no other nation with five title wins, including four of the past six tournaments, which would only serve to make a victory in this tournament in the UAE a major moment.
There were 50-over World Cups when Australia only had to walk on the field to make opposition sides tremble. You could see it in their eyes.
Yet in the T20 Cups, Australia has rarely come close, making the final only once in six attempts. The T20 side always seems to be searching and snatching with little star bursts accompanied by plenty of stumbles.
The 30-over gap between those two white-ball formats has somehow provided a chasm which has swallowed up Australia’s ambitions in the game’s shortest format.
Australia has been drifting as a cricket nation for five years, winning three out of its past eight Test series, four of its past seven 50-over series and none of its past five T20 series.
It’s an inexcusably mediocre record, not quite bad enough to send alarm bells ringing but never good enough to suggest any of the three Australian teams are ready to dominate the world.
The surprise of it is that Australia’s attack of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon is one of the most successful it has ever fielded and Steve Smith one of its greatest ever batsmen. Many exceptional teams have been built on less.
Each format tells a different story and the demise of Australia’s T20 team has a lot to do with the frequent rotation of the side, lack of role clarity and players asked to do different roles to what they perform in the Big Bash.
But, back to South Africa. Australia has selection challenges all the way down the order but, while the pressure on players like David Warner is totally justified, it is also true World Cups are won by heavy duty performers like Warner rather than short format ‘Flash Harries’.
Virat Kohli was player of the tournament at the past two T20 World Cups, while England’s Kevin Pietersen and Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi also won this title.
World Cups are where great players excel.
Warner turns 35 next week, about the age when the brutal interrogation that go with opening the batting can grind even the best players down, but he deserves to be given every chance to shine.
The South Africa game will bring him into the firing line of one of the most dangerous fast men in the world, Kagiso Rabada, in an instant test of his reflexes.
Smith’s place has been questioned but Australia simply has not got a good enough batting team to drop a player with a Test average of 61, even though this is a different format.
Australia needs his ballast as much as his bash because there will be games, much like the last trial against India, where quick wickets fall and someone has to get the buckets working in the lifeboat.
The Covid era has not enhanced the image of Australian cricket with a feud between coach Justin Langer and the players the main news story, six players skipping white-ball tours to the West Indies and Bangladesh.
But a World Cup victory would instantly change the narrative.
CRYSTAL BALL: T20 WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS
News Corp’s cricket experts take a punt on picking the winners, grinners and sinners we will be talking about at the T20 World Cup.
MIKE HUSSEY - FOX CRICKET EXPERT
1. Australia’s leading run scorer for the tournament:
Aaron Finch – It’s likely going to be someone batting top 3. If Finchy can fire up and get some big starts he’ll put Australia in a strong position.
2. Australia’s leading wicket taker for the tournament:
It’s a toss up between Mitch Starc and Kane Richardson. I can’t split them at this stage.
3. Tournament leading run scorer:
I’m a big KL Rahul fan. He’s an amazing player. He adapts his game so well and is a great player of spin and pace. If he gets going – he’s going to be hard to stop.
4. Tournament leading wicket taker:
It’s hard to go past Rashid Khan. He performs well every match and I think the conditions will suit him as well.
5. World champions:
A lot has to go right for them but on the day anything can happen so I’m going to back the Aussies in to bring home the trophy.
6. Runners Up:
India have an amazing squad on paper – plus most of their players are coming straight out of the IPL so will be in good touch.
7. Australia will finish:
First – I’m quite bullish about our chances, I think we’ve got a very well-balanced squad who has been together for a number of years and played a lot of T20 cricket together.
8. The biggest talking point for Australia at the T20 World Cup will be:
A lot of the conversation and attention will be around India so if they get off to a scratchy start then conversations will quickly turn to the Aussies chances.
BRETT LEE - FOX CRICKET EXPERT
1. Australia’s leading run scorer for the tournament:
David Warner - He’s gone through a bit of lean patch. Beware the raging bull. Think he’ll come out and fire.
2. Australia’s leading wicket taker for the tournament:
Mitch Starc – I like the way he plays. He’s got some momentum back after what happened with his knee last year.
3. Tournament leading run scorer:
KL Rahul because I’ve watched the way he’s played during the IPL closely. He’s at a different level. He can either anchor or play more aggressively so he’s got gears.
4. Tournament leading wicket taker:
Mohammed Shami – He’s like a nice fine red who gets better with age and is looking fit.
5. World champions:
Of course I’ve got to go with the Aussies and I would love to have that silverware in the cabinet.
6. Runners Up:
India are going to be very hard to beat. They know the conditions very well and are the complete package. They will be our biggest threat.
7. Australia will finish:
First – I have to back in the Australian Cricket Team to get it done over there.
8. The biggest talking point for Australia at the T20 World Cup will be:
“We did it” – the rest of the world probably doesn’t think Australia can win it so that will be the headline when we do.
ANDREW SYMONDS - FOX CRICKET EXPERT
1. Australia’s leading run scorer for the tournament:
I would really like to see David Warner top score. If he strikes and scores heavily that sets us up for big scores.
2. Australia’s leading wicket taker for the tournament:
I think our spinner can be really potent but it depends who we’re picking because we have three options at the moment.
3. Tournament leading run scorer:
Rohit Sharma is a favourite of mine. He’s great to watch and has an amazing style.
4. Tournament leading wicket taker:
I’ll go Zampa but if Pat Cummins can strike early with the new ball then he’ll go really well.
5. World champions:
Are Australia good enough to win it? Time will tell. We have a few things to refine first but I think we can do it.
6. Runners Up:
The teams that have their method right at the moment are India and West Indies so one of those teams will be around the mark.
7. Australia will finish:
We’re currently a work in progress but I think if we can get our strike rotation and batting order right – then we can finish at the top end.
8. The biggest talking point for Australia at the T20 World Cup will be:
Australia’s immaculate behaviour on and off the field, winning the Spirit of Cricket Award.
ROBERT CRADDOCK
1. Australia’s leading run scorer for the tournament:
Mitchell Marsh. The signs are he’s blossoming into the player Australia hoped he would be. He should bat at No. 3 and get every chance to shine.
2. Australia’s leading wicket taker for the tournament:
Mitchell Starc. The temptation is to go for a spin bowler like Adam Zampa but Starc does have a freakish ability to take white ball wickets, especially against teams who haven’t seen him for a while in tournament play.
3. Tournament leading run scorer:
Babar Azam. Pakistan’s blossoming star is now a threat in all forms of the game and he’ll be fun to watch all tournament.
4. Tournament leading wicket taker:
Adil Rashid. The legspinner is England’s best white ball wicket taker. I’m expecting England to go all the way to the final, so he should be able to have a good tournament, especially given he will have a fresh opponent every match – something which worked so well for Brad Hogg in white ball World Cups.
5. World champions:
England. They play a lot of white ball cricket. They invented the T20 game and long gone are the days where we used to smirk at how far off the pace they were in the limited overs game.
6. Runners Up:
India. They’re rightful tournament favourites. They should play the final and they’ll be hard to beat.
7. Australia will finish:
Beaten semi-finalists at best.
8. The biggest talking point for Australia at the T20 World Cup will be …
The result will have a direct bearing on the amount of pressure on Justin Langer entering the Ashes. Anything worse than a semi-final finish and it will be a big narrative entering the home summer.
BEN HORNE
1. Australia’s leading run scorer for the tournament:
Glenn Maxwell. His form at the IPL has been exceptional and he will grow in confidence if Australia is making him the beating heart of their campaign.
2. Australia’s leading wicket taker for the tournament:
Mitchell Starc. The white ball master cannot be underestimated in big tournaments. Always delivers.
3. Tournament leading run scorer:
Kane Williamson. Has big tournament experience and the plucky Black Caps are never far away from the action.
4. Tournament leading wicket-taker:
Rahul Chahar. India’s leg spinner is primed from the IPL and is now a weapon with the new and old ball.
5. World champions:
India. There are plenty of teams in contention but it’s hard to go past the side that’s just spend the past month in tournament mode in the IPL.
6. Runners Up:
Pakistan. Have flown under the radar but there’s plenty to like about the Pakistan team particularly in slow, low conditions in the UAE they know well. Babar Azam the key.
7. Australia will finish:
Semi-finalists. Good balanced team and some big matchwinners, but haven’t had the preparation to quite go all the way.
8. The biggest talking point for Australia at the T20 World Cup will be …
Shane Warne has already declared he’d leave Steve Smith out of his best XI and selectors are going to have to make some massive selection calls on their biggest names. Does Smith fit into the best top order? Can David Warner regain form? And how do you narrow Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood down to two?
SAM LANDSBERGER
1. Australia’s leading run scorer for the tournament:
Mitchell Marsh batting at No.3. Broad shoulders and a big blade, the big-hitting middle-order batter hasn’t morphed into a top-order basher — he has simply been moved. Marsh has always had this raw power and the Aussies huddle around his net at practice wearing childish grins because they are giddy with excitement at how hard he whacks the ball. The popular teammate who strums an air guitar during rain delays is ready to explode.
2. Australia’s leading wicket taker for the tournament:
Adam Zampa. Sluggish decks will put the brakes on Australia’s usual Test quicks and so look for this cool cat with a warm soul to turn matches. Zampa prepared for the World Cup by bowling to club cricketers in Byron Bay, but Covid has created some funky situations and captain Aaron Finch loves Zampa’s zest so much that he will be given crucial powerplay
overs. The fearless little leggie seems to attack harder after every boundary and that often unlocks big wickets. The automatic match-up for Virat Kohli.
3. Tournament leading run scorer:
Babar Azam (Pakistan). Who said T20 batting was made for muscle over finesse? Babar Azam’s cover drive is a thing of beauty and the kid who idolised AB de Villiers is a headache for rival captains as much as bowlers because he can score everywhere. If the Pakistan skipper lifts the trophy — and Virat Kohli signs off his T20 captaincy without a World Cup — then
Babar will just about be ready to rival the king as cricket’s biggest rock star.
4. Tournament leading wicket taker:
Jasprit Bumrah (India). Bumrah burst towards stardom by bringing T20 varieties to Test
cricket. Well, imagine what he’s got in store for the format he was built for. The boy who grew up with one T-shirt and pair of shoes — he would wash them daily — sculpted that famous toe-crushing yorker as a 12-year-old when he realised he could bowl for longer by aiming at the floor skirting inside the house because it wouldn’t wake his Mum. Now
that delivery has batters requiring a second pair of underwear and that strange action where the non-bowling arm goes out to gully means they struggle to pick up cues.
5. World champions: AUSTRALIA
Injuries, instability and a lengthy form slump resulting in a world ranking of No.7 makes for an alarming lead-in. But anybody who claims they can confidently predict outcomes in this format is fibbing and in 2019 the Aussies fleetingly looked unstoppable when they thought they were preparing for a home World Cup the following year, which will now be played in 2022. Fading force South Africa stuffed up Australia’s charge towards the last ODI World Cup with a dead-rubber upset and so Finch’s men should take revenge on Saturday night.
6. Runners Up: PAKISTAN
England and India are all the rage but Pakistan is the World Cup’s dark horse while West Indies are the cavalier boundary bashers built for T20 who know how to get this job done. They could meet in a semi-final which would put 42-year-old ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle
against rocket left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi. Two exciting teams although Pakistan is packed with more class, particularly with the ball.
7. Australia will finish:
Champions. The pass mark is getting out of the group stage and that would require also knocking off at least England (missing Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes) or West Indies. But that’s achievable and then victory is required in just two cutthroat games in a fickle format to hoist the trophy … with a bloke called Glenn Maxwell in the sheds and currently in the right mood. Let’s hope Maxi bats high enough, hopefully above Steve Smith at No.4, to make bowlers sweat even more than they already are in Abu Dhabi’s sweltering 38C heat.
8. The biggest talking point for Australia at the T20 World Cup will be …
David Warner’s form, where Glenn Maxwell bats and how many specialist bowlers play. The Aussie way has long been to pick five, but choosing four and calling on Stoinis, Maxwell and Marsh to act as the fifth might be a winning recipe, although could also see Starc, Cummins or Hazlewood told to carry the drinks. Given Hazlewood’s blistering IPL form in these conditions that would be unfortunate. As for Warner, a lean run entering an Ashes when he scored 95 runs in the last series and was terrorised by Stuart Broad would accelerate calls for the sacked IPL captain to quit. Some smart folk think Marnus Labuschagne is Australia’s next white-ball opener, particularly in 50-overs, and there’s little doubt the cricket tragic could also rise up one spot in the Test order should he be required.
LIZ WALSH
1. Australia’s leading run scorer for the tournament:
Glenn Maxwell. Has had the perfect entree into the World Cup with his Indian Premier League turn with Royal Challengers Bangalore where he hit 513 runs from his 15 matches at an average of 42.
2. Australia’s leading wicket taker for the tournament:
Adam Zampa. Has already shown how his leg spin can respond on the slower pitches, with his impressive 2-14 from four overs in the warm-up match against New Zealand. Expect him to be important to Australia’s fortunes.
3. Tournament leading run scorer:
Babar Azam. The ICC’s No. 2 ranked batsman in the world, Pakistan’s master will wow the crowds with his flawless cover drive.
4. Tournament leading wicket taker:
Jasprit Bumrah. The Indian quick with the unorthodox action will be the one to watch.
5. World champions:
India. The team’s experience on these slower Dubai pitches will set up their campaign to give the perfect swan song to Virat Kohli in his final match as their T20 captain.
6. Runners Up:
England. Currently the world’s No. 1 ranked T20 side, the bats of Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler should prove showstoppers.
7. Australia will finish:
My heart says that Australia – fuelled by their underdog tag – will cruise through the group stages and into finals. But with England, the West Indies and South Africa also looking to do the same in Group 1, my head says they’ll miss out and will finish third in their group.
8. The biggest talking point for Australia at the T20 World Cup will be:
Opener David Warner’s form. The 34-year-old is coming into the tournament with a cloud over his form, having been dropped twice during the Indian Premier League and then out for a golden duck with the first ball of the World Cup practice match against New Zealand.
RUSSELL GOULD
1. Australia’s leading run scorer for the tournament:
Glenn Maxwell made the IPL team of the tournament and is in his sweet spot in conditions he’s more used to than anyone else in the squad.
2. Australia’s leading wicket taker for the tournament:
Adam Zampa may have been preparing against teenagers in Byron Bay but spin will rule the day in the UAE.
3. Tournament leading run scorer:
KL Rahul (India)– With the IPL as a reference point again, he was unstoppable and will get every opportunity at the top of the Indian order.
4. Tournament leading wicket taker:
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – The ICC’s T20 player of the decade will lift his country on to his back after a tumultuous time and bamboozle batsmen.
5. World champions:
India – No team has had a preparation like them, with every member of the squad active in the IPL for the past month and that has to make them favourites.
6. Runners Up:
West Indies – No country has put more stock in T20 than the two-time champs, and hit the World Cup after the CPL and IPL with players high on confidence.
7. Australia will finish:
Making the semi-finals would be a huge achievement coming off a low base and if the players find their best, they should get there.
8. The biggest talking point for Australia at the T20 World Cup will be …
what happens to the team beyond the tournament with a big need for regeneration ahead of the 2022 tournament at home.
Originally published as T20 World Cup victory would heal Australia’s cricket wounds
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