T20 World Cup 2021: Australia Predicted Playing XI against Bangladesh

In a tournament where the margin of error is dangerously low, Australia find themselves placed precariously despite having won two of their three encounters hitherto. They defeated South Africa by five wickets to kickstart their campaign on a high, following which came a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka. However, the eight-wicket drubbing at the hands of England wiped off the momentum they had gained so nicely with two wins on the bounce.

The England defeat has not only made their remaining encounters must-win affairs but also left them dependent on other results for further qualification. Plain and simple, Australia need to defeat Bangladesh and West Indies, and then hope table-toppers England can continue their winning run when they meet South Africa. Earlier, the margin was low, now it’s nil. 

Australia Predicted XI against Bangladesh:

Openers – David Warner, Aaron Finch

Following his 42-ball 65 against Sri Lanka, David Warner took an early exit against England, edging Chris Woakes on the second delivery he faced. His partner and skipper Aaron Finch played an uncharacteristically sluggish knock, but given how things fared at the other end, that was the only option he was left to choose. Finch held his end up, scoring 44 off 49, but on a day when no other Australia batter was able to gain momentum, he was no exception. 

Middle-order – Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade

Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis scored seven runs off 18 balls combined. With such a dreary fall of the middle-order, it was no surprise Australia was kept to an undercooked total of 125 that England did not even break a sweat chasing. 

Smith fell to Chris Jordan, while Woakes pinned Maxwell lbw, both inside the powerplay. Stoinis, meanwhile, was trapped on the front by Adil Rashid for a four-ball duck a delivery after the powerplay ended. 

Matthew Wade and Ashton Agar scored run-a-ball 18 and 20 respectively in what was a performance they would not want to repeat. But to look at what the glass had than what it did not, it was their brief hangout in the middle that ensured Australia were not wrapped for sub-100 total. Meanwhile, Agar, who was called in at Mitchell Marsh’s expense in the previous game, might make way for him against Bangladesh.

Bowlers – Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

All Australia could manage against England were two wickets: Agar got Dawid Malan while Adam Zampa claimed Jason Roy. Mitchell Starc had to bear the brunt of both Roy and Jos Buttler’s onslaught; he returned 0/37 in three overs. Josh Hazlewood, who bowled two, leaked 18 for no wickets, while Pat Cummins gave away 14 in the only over he bowled. Australia would hope that was just an off-day at the office.