T20
World Cup: Team-by-team guide and predictions before Super 12 begins
After a gripping week of upsets and nervy
encounters, the competition welcomes the main contenders on Saturday in what
looks a wide open field.
Can England come good when it matters? Will
home advantage help Australia defend their title 12 months on? Or can India
bounce back from their early exit last time to win the title?
Take a look at BBC Sport's predictions below,
with a guide to each team's array of big hitters and world-class bowlers.
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Men's T20 World Cup |
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Group 1 |
Group 2 |
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Afghanistan |
Bangladesh |
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Australia |
India |
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England |
Pakistan |
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New Zealand |
South Africa |
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Sri Lanka |
Netherlands |
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Ireland |
Zimbabwe |
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Top two sides in each group qualify for the
semi-finals  |
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England
Ranking: Second. 2021 result: Semi-finals. Form (most recent first): WWWWLLWLW
Power, skill and pace. On paper at least, England have it all.
A recent T20 series win in Pakistan has boosted their hopes
after a difficult year in white-ball cricket. For four years, they were the
world's dominant limited-overs team but this summer were beaten by both India
and South Africa as the post-Eoin Morgan era began slowly.
Still, they have a line-up as strong as any. Captain Jos Buttler is
arguably the best white-ball batter in the world while Mark Wood returned
from an elbow injury in Pakistan and reached speeds of 97mph, something which
could prove crucial in Australia - fitness permitting.
An already powerful batting line-up has been improved by the
emergence of dazzling 23-year-old Harry Brook and
the return of Ben Stokes,
back in the T20 side with the aim of putting right the wrongs of the 2016 T20
World Cup final defeat.
The loss on the eve of the tournament of left-arm bowler Reece Topley,
England's form T20 bowler this year, is a big blow, however.
Prediction: Runners-up
Australia
Ranking: Sixth. 2021 result: Winners. Form: LLWWLLWLWW
Will home advantage help Australia go back-to-back? Possibly.
They remain among the favourites despite a recent series loss to England.
Few expected Aaron Finch's side to challenge in last year's
World Cup but they ended up going all the way.
Their pace bowling attack - world number one Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc -
is familiar and fearsome. So too are other regulars, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Matthew
Wade. Wade is one of the form 'finishers' around and
memorably took Australia to victory over Pakistan in last year's semi-final by
hitting three consecutive sixes in the penultimate over.
Explosive middle-order batter Tim David,
a star of the domestic franchise leagues and former Singapore international,
adds a bit of X-Factor to their side.
Prediction: Winners
New
Zealand
Ranking: Fifth. 2021 result: Runners-up. Form: LWWWLLWWWW
Just a year ago, New Zealand reached the final of the T20 World
Cup but, once again, go into a tournament with few talking up their chances.
The stalwarts remain - captain Kane Williamson,
seamer Tim Southee and
left-armer Trent Boult,
despite his decision to be released from his New Zealand contract.
Adam Milne and, in particular, Lockie Ferguson provide
extra firepower with the ball and Glenn Phillips is
the form middle-order player.
There remains a feeling they are a side coming to the end of a
cycle, however.
Prediction: Super 12
Sri Lanka
Ranking: Eighth. 2021 result: Super
12s. Form: WWLWWWWWLW
After a surprise defeat in the first game of this World Cup
against Namibia, Sri Lanka recovered to qualify for the Super 12 with two
comfortable wins.
In September, they shocked everyone by beating both India and
Pakistan to win the Asia Cup and are an improving side under former England
coach Chris Silverwood.
Wanindu Hasaranga could easily claim
to be the best leg-spinner in the world. He is Sri Lanka's standout player but
aggressive left-hander Bhanuka Rajapaksa -
he hit 71 not out in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan - and Dasun Shanaka,
now Sri Lanka's captain, provide middle-order threat. Opener Pathum Nissanka hit
a crucial 74 against the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday too.
Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has
been ruled out with a calf injury, however - a significant absence which leaves
them lacking pace bowling threat.
Prediction: Super 12
Afghanistan
Ranking: 10th. 2021 result: Super
12s. Form
(most recent first): LLLWWLWWLL
For the second year in a row, Afghanistan qualified directly for
the main phase of the T20 World Cup but they are yet to achieve a statement win
at the global showpiece in their short international history.
Once again, leg-spinning sensation Rashid Khan is
their star player and will be backed up by two more quality spinners in Mujeeb ur Rahman and Qais Ahmad.
Rashid is the most successful overseas bowler in the history of the Big Bash,
so knows conditions well.
Mohammad Nabi is the captain, aged
37, in a much-changed squad. Wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz is
the form player at the top of the order after good campaigns in the Caribbean
Premier League and Asia Cup.
Afghanistan's Asia Cup campaign showed signs of promise when
they beat winners Sri Lanka and Bangladesh before a dramatic, one-wicket loss
to Pakistan.
Prediction: Super 12
Ireland
Ranking: 12th. 2021 result: First
group stage. Form: WWLWLLWWLL
Ireland's dominant victory over West Indies on Friday secured
their place at the main table.
Opener Paul Stirling needs
little introduction. He has regularly taken down bowling attacks in county
cricket in recent years.
All-rounder Curtis Campher is
a lesser-known player but one equally as important. He smashed a stunning 72
from just 32 balls in the dramatic
win over Scotland and is also a good seamer.
Keep an eye on 22-year-old left-armer Josh Little,
who made his Ireland debut aged 16 and earlier this year took 5-13 in The
Hundred - the tournament's best figures to date.
Prediction: Super 12
Bangladesh
Ranking: Ninth. 2021 result: Super
12s. Form (most recent first): LLLLWWLLLW
Shakib al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman are
the big names in a Bangladesh squad it is difficult to see being competitive.
This time Shakib will juggle the captaincy with his crafty
left-arm spin and stylish batting while left-arm seamer Mustafizur will look to
bamboozle with his exciting tricks and variations.
The Tigers exited the Asia Cup without winning a match and have
lost series to Zimbabwe and West Indies this year.
Former captain Mahmudullah has been left out of the squad while
underrated wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim has retired from T20s.
Prediction: Super 12
South
Africa
Ranking: Third. 2021 result: Super
12s. Form: WLLWWWWLLL
If every sporting tournament needs a dark horse, then South
Africa may be just that for the Men's T20 World Cup 2022.
They impressively beat England in the UK in the summer and have
the best bowling attack in Australia. Fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada,
two of the quickest around, are electric and Tabraiz 'the magician' Shamsi is
an effective wrist spinner.
Rilee Rossouw and David Miller have
hit T20 hundreds this month, both scored against India, while explosive batter Tristan Stubbs,
already known to England fans after smashing a 28-ball
72 in Bristol, could become a global star.
There are distracting doubts, however, about their captain Temba Bavuma while
injuries to middle-order rock Rassie van der Dussen and canny all-rounder
Dwaine Pretorius should not be dismissed.
Prediction: Semi-finals
India
Ranking: First. 2021 result: Super
12s. Form (most recent first): LLWWWWLWLL
India have an almost endless supply of white-ball players to
choose from but no-one quite like superstar bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has been
ruled out of the tournament with a back injury.
The loss of Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja means India -
now captained by Rohit Sharma,
who replaced Virat Kohli following
last year's surprise group-stage exit - suddenly do not look as strong.
But Kohli has found form, ending debate about his place in the
side with a T20 century in the Asia Cup, while thrilling batter Suryakumar Yadav could
rival Buttler for best T20 batter in the world and many would pick Hardik Pandya as
the best all-round cricketer in the format.
Hardik will have a key role will both bat and ball. How the
bowling attack, likely Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal copes
without Bumrah will decide their chances.
Prediction: Semi-finals
Pakistan
Ranking: Fourth. 2021 result: Semi-finals. Form (most recent first): LLWWLWLLLW
Another side who could win it.
The question with Pakistan is whether their full XI is strong
enough, outside their well-known superstars.
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam showed
against England they are an opening pair for the ages, capable of winning
matches on their own. Their unbeaten partnership of 203 in the second match of
the series was their fifth stand of 150 or more, the most by any pair in men's
T20s.
Left-armer Shaheen Afridi is
a fast bowling sensation while there are few quicker than Haris Rauf,
who made his name in Australia in the Big Bash.
Pakistan say Shaheen is fit, which is a major boost, as he has
been sidelined with a knee injury.
But the series against England showed if opponents get Babar and
Rizwan early, there is not a lot of batting elsewhere.
Prediction: Super 12s
Netherlands
Ranking: 17th. 2021 result: First
group stage. Form: LWWLLLWWWW
The lowest-ranked side in the competition, who pipped Namibia to
qualify with Sri Lanka from Group A in the first phase.
All-rounder Bas de Leede,
22, has been the Netherlands' standout player so far with a good supply of runs
and seven wickets courtesy of his right-arm seam.
Long-haired opener Max O'Dowd hit
71 not out from 53 balls and will have an important role to play for a side
used to upsets. They have beaten England in this competition twice.
Prediction: Super 12
Zimbabwe
Ranking: 11th. 2021 result: Did
not play Form: WLWWLWWWWW
Zimbabwe were not able to play at last year's World Cup because
of a suspension but this year have made it through to the second stage for the
first time in their history, breaking
Scottish hearts in the process.
Their standout player is undoubtedly all-rounder Sikandar Raza -
so much so the International Cricket Council billed him as the form player in
the world before the tournament.
He was the highest scorer in the first group stage, including an
82 against Ireland, and has also taken five wickets with his off-spin.
Captain Craig Ervine,
37, is an experienced leader - his 58 helped them edge over the line against
Scotland - while 6ft 8ins seamer Blessing Muzarabani is
an exciting pace bowler, but the Super 12 stage could be a struggle.
Prediction: Super 12
