http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 – ICC World Twenty20 2012 (Group B) – Match Preview [Part 2]
Continued from Part 1 ...
While Australia came into the tournament looking shaky, their most recent performance against Ireland confirmed that despite having sunk in ICC's T20 team rankings, the team is in form and retains the potential to pose a formidable threat to any opposition. This suggests that the contest between Australia and the West Indies today is bound to be a close one.
Australia played a total of three T20I series this year prior to the World T20 – they drew a two-match series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, 1-2 (although they did manage to end the series on their terms, securing a massive 94-run win in the final match).
The warm-up matches saw mixed results from the Aussies – they easily secured a 56-run win over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754, but struggled while playing top-level opposition like England, against whom they conceded a 9-run defeat. However, their first group stage match, against a lower-ranked but unpredictable Irish side, saw the team maintaining a consistent upper-hand, and going on to claim a 7-wicket win, with 29 deliveries remaining.
The team owed the victory largely to the stellar all-round performance of the in form http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625’s rankings, Watson is bound to play a huge role for the team with both bat and ball, not just in the match against the Windies, but during the entire campaign.
His 782 career runs from 31 T20Is bear testament to his ability, and he has grown into a consistent opener for the team. In addition, he has also registered the best bowling figures for Australia in the T20 format – 4 for 15 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 in 2011.
Joining http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DA-Warner-c1301, who occupies the fourth spot on the ICC’s top T20 batsmen rankings. The 25-year-old is among Australia’s most successful batsmen in T20Is, having scored the most runs (1004 runs from 37 matches) in the format.
The batting order is further bolstered by experienced campaigner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hampshire-c789 in the 2012 Friends Life t20.
In addition to the devastatingly accomplished part-time pace of Watson, Australia’s bowling attack also contains fiery young pacemen http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Daniel-Christian-c1308 and Maxwell.
The spin department is covered by veteran chinaman bowler http://www.senore.com/Cricket/XJ-Doherty-c2804 is also available for the team, should he be required.
While Bailey confirmed that both Hogg and pacer Starc had been out of sorts, he went on to add that their illnesses were not severe, with both bowlers likely to be available as Australia take on the West Indies.
The pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is expected to be a fairly hard one, with plenty of runs for the batsmen on both sides. The temperature today, on September 22, is expected to be around 25 - 30° C, with a forecast for scattered thunderstorms.
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