India v Australia in World Twenty20 clash of favourites
The two World Twenty20 favourites go toe-to-toe today at Bridgetown in a Super Eight match that should provide a clearer idea of whether Australia or India are the front-runners for this year’s title.
So far, it’s all gone pretty much to plan for both sides, as they emerged from their respective group stage matches undefeated, with India defeating a strong South African outfit and Australia continuing their recent dominance over defending champions Pakistan.
Now, though, we get a chance to see how the sides stack up against one another on what has proved to be a quick Kensington Oval pitch. And that’s a prospect that should leave the Australian fast bowlers salivating, with Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait already enjoying the pace and bounce at the ground in their final group match against Bangladesh.
The final piece of the Australian pace-bowling jigsaw puzzle should fall into place if, as expected, Mitchell Johnson lines up for this one, after missing the match against Bangladesh with an elbow infection. Throw all-rounder Shane Watson into the mix and India will need to be prepared for a relentless onslaught of speed and bounce, with the young Steven Smith providing some variety with his leg-spinners.
While Australia can expect their bowling attack to be bolstered by Johnson’s inclusion, India has received a blow heading into the match, and indeed the remainder of the competition, with paceman Praveen Kumar ruled out of the rest of the World Twenty20 with a side strain.
Delhi Daredevils fast bowler Umesh Yadav will replace Praveen in the squad, but the injury will surely create some interesting discussions at the selection table as India grapple with the make-up of their bowling attack for the match.
Surely the Bridgetown pitch demands the inclusion of Zaheer Kahn in India’s playing XI, the left-arm seamer was, after all, the team’s joint leading wicket-taker at last year’s World Twenty20 in England as India make some attempt to fight fire with fire.
Still, with Australia’s top order struggling against a spin-heavy Bangladesh bowling attack in their final group match, it might be the slow bowling of Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan that makes things uncomfortable for the Australians.
While Australia’s bowlers look to be best suited to the expected conditions at the Kensington Oval, there is the not insignificant factor of India’s batsmen to contend with. Suresh Raina (pictured) has already demonstrated his ability to single-handedly tear an opposition bowling attack apart, smacking the South Africans for 101 from 60 balls in their group match.
Yusuf Pathan and Yuvraj Singh have the same capacity to turn a match on its head, and Michael Clarke’s side will need to ensure neither that pair nor Raina are allowed the freedom to do so in this Super Eight match.
If Australia can be confident their pacemen are up to the task of containing the India batsmen, then after their final group-stage match against Bangladesh, they may be a little concerned at some of their current batting form.
Though Michael Hussey dug Australia out of their batting hole on that occasion, they’ll clearly prefer it if when Mr Cricket strides to the crease today, he’s not facing the same scenario. Shane Watson and David Hussey both scored half-centuries against Pakistan, but Clarke, David Warner and Cameron White will all need to lift if Australia’s batting card is to prove as strong in reality as it does on paper.
Prediction: Australia’s pace attack will be the difference between the sides on a pitch that plays to their strengths.
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