Going into the initial T20 international between Australia and South Africa, both sides are finally set to play each other and looking for a competitve battle after last facing two months prior. Looking at Australia’s side specifically, they have yet to lose a match since that World Test Championship and took control by clean-sweeping the West Indies in two different formats.
As they will not have many big-time players like Mitchell Starc or Steven Smith available for this game, a lot of their hopes will be riding on secondary pieces that played tons of cricket over the last year. With captain Mitchell Marsh leading this side, he showed his full capabilities in a 5-0 T20I series win before this, and continues to be one of the most impactful plus motivating leaders that Australia really needed.
On the other side, South Africa will be entering this series after facing a heartbreak defeat against New Zealand in the Zimbabwe Tri-Series finals. Although they were highly competitve there, their getting back key pieces who have had Australia’s number over the past couple of years, like Aiden Markram.
A group that is still missing Marco Jansen due to injury, David Miller, and Keshav Maharaj, it will be an even greater experience for younger players to understand ways of playing against a top T20I nation. With the previously mentioned Aiden Markram also being listed as captain for this series, he is going to continue being clutch when in tense situations and show a lot of intensity, while being calmer with other pieces so they can keep developing and playing their style.
Australia: Batting Lineup Poses A Massive Threat From To Bottom
When looking at who the Aussies have in their unit to bat, they are one group that can bat extremely deep. With the openers most likely going to be Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh, these two should really help them get off to an extremely fast start during powerplay overs. As Head, 1093 runs in 37 innings, has been a lethal left-handed piece that can play a wide range of shots, most teams have struggled to get him out early.
On the other end, Mitchell Marsh had been a fabulous aggressor who’s known for launching massive sixes and batting at a near 140 strike rate. Coming in at one-down, Cameron Green has slowly found form and hit three half-centuries during his last 5 performances while also improving his average over 35.
Now that the top three have been mentioned, this group’s middle-order really poses a great threat that can help Australia chase down any score or create a big target. One person who stands out is Tim David, as he hit a century in the previous series during a match where his side was down and out while having a strike rate of 167.88. Mitchell Owen, who made his debut recently, has shown the capability to play crisp drives and take on bowlers when needed, as he’s been batting at a 40+ average.
As Josh Inglis is set to take over for Alex Carey at wicket-keeper, his modern and controlled attack lets this 30-year-old piece score at a high rate, including two centuries. Rounding out the attack, Glenn Maxwell provides veteran leadership down the order and will continue using his famous reverse sweep throughout the match. With Ben Dwarshuis being their top bowler who can bat as well, he will provide a threat alongside Sean Abbott to help this unit have batting pieces till 8 down.
Australia: Pace and Spin Attack Have Tons of Potential To Breakout
Seeing that Australia is playing with a bowling attack many are not accustomed to, they are still a group full of talent that can make an impact for this side. Out of their big three pacers, only Josh Hazlewood will be here, and that is a big deal since he has been extremely consistent in this format. Someone who’s taken 67 wickets in just 52 matches, his accuracy and length have helped keep his economy under 7.50 throughout T20Is.
Being their key fast bowler, the other one that has slowly stood out is right-hand pacer Nathan Ellis, whose slowly turned himself into a regular starter after making his debut for Australia four years ago. Looking at how he delivers the short ball, his yorker has allowed him to get 38 wickets and not leak too many runs, even when everyone else is getting torched.
Sean Abbott is a key right-handed medium bowler who’s been a solid wicket-taker as well, even though his economy could be a little more higher than Australia would like. Being a piece that can bowl between 120 and 130, he does have this habit of creating slower balls for batsmen to launch it up right in the air and land into a fielders hand.
On the left side, Ben Dwarshuis has finally gotten a chance to prove his full worth and create real confusion with the angle at which he is coming in. Having had a 4-wicket haul once during a crucial situation, he can face out of tense situations and rounds out the pace attack. This group’s main spinner will be Adam Zampa, 125 wickets, as his experience plays a huge role of locking in his full spell.
South Africa: Strong Power Hitters Are Accompanied By Solid Stroke Players
For South Africa, their batting lineup should pose a similar threat and be able to score a lot of runs as well. Since Reeza Hendricks is no longer playing in this series, the openers will now be Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickleton. Looking at Markram directly, he’s been known for his for against Australia in the past and is a well-rounded batsman in general with an ability to mix up all different shots. Someone who has crossed over 1,300 runs during this format, a left-handed Ryan Rickelton, will be on the other side to create confusion for bowlers as a lefty. Seeing that he’s only played 13 T20I matches thus far, this is someone who has batted at an intense strike rate and shown capabilities in leagues around the world.
Coming in at one-down, it will potentially be newcomer Lhuan-Dre Pretorious, who’s known for going big and having some unbelievable power. Leading the SA20 in runs with his side named Paarl Royals, he showed great improvement after hitting a half-century at the end of South Africa’s last Tri-Series.
Having Rassie van Der Dussen in that middle order as well, this is someone who plays some amazing strokes and has found open gaps throughout his innings. The two true power hitters for this group include Dewald Brevis, who’s gone at a 176.92 strike rate, and played some 40+ knocks in quick succession during his short career. Looking at the other one being Tristan Stubbs, he is someone built for modern cricket and continues playing shots with a delightful flair. Closing it out down the order, all-rounders Corbin Bosch and Senuran Muthuswamy can really provide runs with their underrated batting skills.
South Africa: Experienced Bowlers Can Be Difference Makers
On the Proteas bowling side, they pose an extremely elite attack despite missing out on a few pieces like Marco Jansen. Looking at Lungi Ngidi, he’s someone who can deliver at 140 km/hr and has that tall length to create bouncers against other batsmen. Picking up 68 wickets during his 47 matches, their other major piece is Kagiso Rabada, who can also bowl extremely fast and hit 150 at a consistent basis.
A true wicket-taker whose always seemed to dominate Australia, this will be another key factor alongside Nandre Burger coming in on the left side. The amount of pace that is in this attack gets equaled out by the medium speed that Corbin Bosch can bowl at, and go for less economy in bigger matches. Finishing it off, Senuran Muthuswamy is going to be their main spinner and has made a rapid growth in the short format over the last couple of years.
Previous Matches
Matches Played: 23
South Africa Won: 8
Australia Won: 15
Past 5: Australia won 4 of their last 5
Match Prediction
South Africa Bat First: They will score 170-180 runs for 5-6 wickets lost
Australia Bat First: They will score 175-185 runs for 4-5 wickets lost
South Africa Bat Second: They will win by three wickets
Australia Bat Second: They will win by 5-6 wickets
Final Pick: Australia will win by 5 wickets if they bat 2nd or lose by three when batting first (Whoever bats 2nd will win this match, likely)
Key Players
Australia
Josh Hazlewood: A true match-winning bowler who picks up wickets at ease
Travis Head: Strong all-around batsman who has shown immense hitting ability in every format
Tim David: Power hitter who can close out the match no matter their situation
Mitchell Marsh: Big-time hitter who can launch sixes and also play classy drives
South Africa
Kagiso Rabada: Top five bowler around the world who is a true wicket taker in this T20I format
Aiden Markram: Has great touch in his batting ability and comes out during clutch situations
Dewald Brevis: Great closer that bats at extremely high strike rates
Lungi Ngidi: Bowler who can deliver with both pace and also create bouncers
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