Team Preview: Reigning Champions & Hosts Australia out to defend their crown

Australia 15 Man Squad for T20 World Cup 2022

Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Australia have had an up and down season as far as their T20I results have been concerned. They have lost to India away and to England at home but have managed to beat the West Indies comfortably at home. They also lost in their opening warm up match against India.

Batting

Australia are stacked with an explosive batting unit starting with the experienced pair of Warner and Finch at the top. Mitchell Marsh looks to be back from injury and should slot in at number 3. Wade and Tim David along with Glenn Maxwell should make up for their lower middle order.

The only question for the Australian management is whether they need Steve Smith in this line up. At number 4, ideally in T20's you need someone who can force the issue with the run rate when required. Australia have Inglis and Stoinis in the squad who can easily play at either 4 or drop down with Maxwell slotting in at 4.

The form of Maxwell and Finch should be a minor concern as well but they are big match players and Australia shouldn't be too worried about that aspect.

Bowling

There might be a few issues with the batting unit but the bowling unit seems to be well settled and firing for most part. Starc and Cummins with pace and Hazlewood with that nagging line make their pace attack. Zampa is quite an underrated spin bowler, but he's always getting wickets in the middle overs. The lines of Marsh, Stoinis and Maxwell can fulfill the quota of the 5th bowler with ease.

Australia Fixtures T20 World Cup 2022

22 October: v New Zealand at SCG

25 October: v Sri Lanka at Perth

28 October: v England at MCG

31 October: v Ireland at Brisbane

4 November: v Afghanistan at Adelaide

Australia Probable Starting XI for T20 World Cup 2022

Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade,  Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa

Australia always find a way to go deep at global ICC events and this time it should be no different. I can see them having enough in their team to reach the semi finals at the very least.  The pressure of being hosts and indifferent batting form are the only weakness that they currently seem to have. They have the squad to be the first team to successfully defend their T20 World Cup crown as well.

What do you think about this Aussie side? Do they have it in them to go all the way?

Read Other Team Previews for the T20 World Cup 2022.