Australia to face Asian onslaught as their path to Twenty20 glory is laid out in the West Indies

Australia is bracing for a spin bowling onslaught on their road to trying to qualify for the World Cup semi-finals after their Super Eights opponents were revealed.

Rashid Khan and Afghanistan wait on Australia’s path to the T20 World Cup. Picture: Ashley Allen/Getty Images

Australia’s path to a history-making Triple Crown of cricket in the West Indies has been made clear: topple Asia and conquer the world.

It is now all but certain that Australia has drawn Asian giants Bangladesh, Afghanistan and India as their three Super Eights matches standing between them and a World Cup semi-final berth later this month.

Bangladesh hasn’t quite booked itself into the Super Eights but it’s most likely Australia will face the Tigers in their first match next week in Antigua.

From there it is certain Australia will fly to St Vincent to tackle Rashid Khan’s Afghanistan outfit who have successfully knocked New Zealand out of the World Cup and according to Test great Mark Waugh are no longer minnows, but genuine contenders at this tournament.

Australia will then finish the Super Eights with a blockbuster against India in St Lucia, and Mitchell Marsh’s side is bracing for a spinning onslaught coming their way from the Asian kings.

The positive is Antigua seems one of the better batting wickets at this World Cup, while the St Lucia venue where Australia will face India is possibly the Caribbean’s best surface for fast bowling – potentially playing into the hands of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

But spin is coming and Australia is ready.

Rashid Khan and Afghanistan are no longer minnows. Picture: Ashley Allen/Getty Images

“Yeah, I think coming here, a lot of us have prepared for plenty of spin depending on what venue you get to,” vice-captain Matthew Wade said on the eve of Australia’s last group game against Scotland on Sunday morning AEST, also in St Lucia.

“I know here (St Lucia) is a good wicket. I think this might be the venue we play India at so that will be nice.

“But yeah, we are going to get a heap of spin. The guys have been preparing for that through the IPL into the start of this World Cup, so we expect nothing different.

“On their day, they’re all going to be very, very hard teams to beat.

“We’re expecting them to hit us with a fair bit of spin over the next little bit.”

If Australia can win two of their three Super Eights fixtures they should progress through to the semis.

Although it won’t be easy, Australia will back themselves to be too good for Bangladesh and Afghanistan given the powerful form they’ve shown in the group stage.

A semi-final berth could beckon against an opponent like South Africa, West Indies – or, yes, England.

Australia boast one of the most experienced squads in the World Cup, yet in a field which includes Test captain Pat Cummins – Tasmanian fighter Wade is the T20 vice-captain.

Wade is a deceptively crucial member in the Australian brain’s trust and has outlined just how he is trying to lead his team to history in the West Indies.

Australia are already holders of the 50-over World Cup and the World Test Championship and are now hungry to add the T20 World Cup to the already bulging trophy cabinet.

Veteran Matthew Wade is an integral part of Australia’s leadership for the tournament. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Veteran Wade is the eyes and ears behind the stumps.

“Yeah, behind the stumps you get a great look at it, obviously, maybe a little bit better than some of the other guys,” Wade said.

“But it is a real collective. Myself, Mitch (Marsh, the captain) and Cummo, we’re all in a leadership group and we meet before games with the coaches and go through a lot of stuff.

“So it’s a real collective out there. Having Pat so close to Mitch helps quite a lot as well with communication. But just seeing the game, working out the rotations of the bowler.

“We play four specialist bowlers and a fifth bowler as well, so just talking with Mitch about when the best time to use guys is.

“I feel like I’ve got a good feel for the game behind the stumps.

“So, when to bring Zampa (spinner Adam Zampa), when to use impact with (Josh) Hazlewood – just little things like that throughout a game where communication is happening all the time.

“You’re probably making two or three tough calls, 50-50 calls throughout a 20 overs and just being there for him if he needs me.”

Australia may make multiple changes to their XI against Scotland, with all-rounder Cameron Green and spinner Ashton Agar in contention to play their first matches of the tournament.

Skipper Marsh bowled for half an hour on match eve and is vying to make his bowling return from injury either against Scotland or in the first Super Eights match.

Originally published as Australia to face Asian onslaught as their path to Twenty20 glory is laid out in the West Indies