With all the different formats of cricket, both national and international, fans never have to wait too long for a big tournament to come along. That feels even more the case this year, as we are blessed with another T20 World Cup just one year after Australia triumphed in Dubai.
The T20 tournament backlog was caused by the COVID pandemic, of course. But, whatever the reason, fans of this format are now getting very excited by the upcoming competition starting in Australia this month. This is a type of cricket that has really excited the crowds all over the world and now the very best in the world will be reconvening Down Under to crown a new champion.
Australia to Repeat
The Aussies were not fancied for the title last year. The team had been struggling before the tournament began and a few of the big name players were experiencing a tough time after seeing out suspensions. But after sneaking through the group stage, Australia beat Pakistan in the semi-final before thrashing New Zealand in the final.
Now Aaron Finch’s side is going into this tournament as favourites. Home field advantage will be huge for this team – and the crowds will get behind the likes of David Warner with the bat and Josh Hazlewood with the ball. Nothing is guaranteed in T20 – but this could be Australia’s World Cup to lose.
England Poised for Victory
England is still to play Australia in a series of warm up games before the competition proper starts. So we should, perhaps, shy away from predicting a second ever title. But the recent series victory in Pakistan did show that this is an improving side that can win away from home.
The team that beat Pakistan will be different from the one that starts off the T20 World Cup Super 12 campaign against Afghanistan later this month. But there are good reasons to be hopeful. England crashed out to New Zealand in the last four last time – there is a chance it could go one better in 2022.
Can India Triumph?
India was probably the biggest disappointment of the T20 World Cup last year. Billed as title favourites before proceedings, everything went wrong right from the start. A 10-wicket defeat to Pakistan was followed by a loss to New Zealand and the team never recovered, crashing out in the Super 12.
India will be just as well supported this time though – and new captain Rohit Sharma has definitely settled the team. Virat Kohli will now be able to play without the stress of captaincy and there is power on both sides of the ball to take the game to opponents. Redeeming its name after 2021 will be big on India’s agenda.
Kiwis to Go One Better
New Zealand has its best ever T20 World Cup in Dubai last year, as it performed consistently well to reach the final. That game against old rivals Australia was then something of a disappointment – but the same kind of laid back approach could work again for a Kiwi side not devoid of star players.
New Zealand’s first game in the Super 12 will tell us a lot, as it is against the host in Sydney. A defeat would not be the end of the world – but a surprise victory would really set things up nicely. Kane Williamson will be leading a very familiar team that has to be considered as a potential semi-finalist at least.
Other Challengers
With the West Indies and Sri Lanka struggling for form, the other two nations who look like having a chance of glory in Australia are Pakistan and South Africa. Both currently rank higher than both the Kiwis and the host nation in the latest ICC rankings and will fancy their chances.
Pakistan, in particular, were unlucky not to reach the final last time, after a delightful showing in the Super 12. These two will both be in the same Super 12 group this around though. So it does feel as though only one of them has a real chance of making the knock out stages.
