Preview: MCG ‘eliminator’ cranks the pressure up on Australia and England
The Big Time Preview: Episode 16 | T20WC 2022
The latest episode of The Big Time Preview features world cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan along with Alex Jordan and Zainab Abbas.
The winner of the huge game in Group 1 of the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup will effectively have knocked out the other, with two defeats likely to be terminal to chances of qualifying for the semi-finals of the tournament.
Hosts and defending champions Australia were pummeled in their opening group game, but are back on a high after Marcus Stoinis inspired a win over Sri Lanka with a brutal display of hitting last time out.
In contrast, England followed up their winning start with a lacklustre showing against Ireland, a performance that resulted in defeat on DLS Method to leave Jos Buttler and his side needing a big run of wins to avoid leaving the World Cup at the Super 12 stage.
Ireland shock England | Digital Daily: Episode 20 | T20WC 2022
“We know we have made a mistake and have put more pressure on us,” Buttler admitted. “But certainly, if you needed a game to get going then England v Australia is one of those.”
England’s equation is relatively simple. Beat Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and their qualification hopes remain in their own hands. Lose any of those games and a group-stage exit is possible, if not probable.
Australia v England Preview | Match 26 | ICC Men’s T20WC 2022
Preview of the Australia v England T20I | Match 26 | ICC Men’s T20WC 2022
A similar scenario lies ahead for Australia, although their final two group games come against the lower-ranked Afghanistan and Ireland, matches that the hosts would expect to win.
So rather than results, the talk of pressure directed toward the Australia camp was focussed on the role and selection of captain Aaron Finch.
The opener endured a tricky evening against Sri Lanka, scratching his way to 31* from 42 balls in a manner that has prompted further discussions about his place in the side.
“I don’t feel any more pressure than I ever have, the only pressure is the expectation you put on yourself,” Finch said ahead of the England game.
“Everyone’s got their opinion, that’s fine. I’ve got no issue with what people’s personal opinions are, I don’t read or listen to any of it.”
Behind the scenes with Nasser Hussain and Australia in the nets | T20WC 2022
Nasser Hussain goes behind the scenes ahead of Australia's all-important T20 World Cup 2022 clash
Australia
Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
England
Jos Buttler (c), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
The Aussie hoping to mastermind an England triumph Down Under | T20WC 2022
Australian Matthew Mott is now the coaching brains behind the England set up
Jos Buttler: Since finding a tempo to his T20 batting, Buttler has gone from a dangerous hitter to a calculated batter who adapts to game situations and maximises boundary opportunities, keeping the strike rate quite a bit above par. An aggressive Alex Hales aids Buttler's new mantra at the other end, and potentially helps him get those big knocks for England.
**Glenn Maxwell:**He has been stuck in a rut of late. Maxwell is averaging only 16.53 in T20Is this year and his strike rate has also gone down to 120.97, which is quite low by his standards. He has to get back to the top of his game soon in order to help his team get through to the semi-finals, and showed positive signs during a destructive cameo against Sri Lanka.
Maxwell keeping for Australia? Glenn takes the gloves | T20 World Cup
Captaincy Pick: Jos Buttler
It's obvious why Buttler could be your best punt as captain for this game. The England opener has turned into an expert at managing the risk that comes with T20 batting to maximise his rewards. Buttler is best positioned to get one of those big hundreds than most other batters, and he demolished the Aussie attack a year ago to show he can turn it on in this fixture in World Cups.
Must-have Pick: David Warner
Even though Warner missed out on scoring big in the first two matches, he has been in superb form in T20Is this year. The top-order batter has amassed 312 runs in just eight matches in 2022, at a superb average of 39 and an even better strike rate of 152.19.
Differential Pick: Dawid Malan
Malan had been enjoying a strong 2022 in this format, making 471 runs at an average of 33.64 prior to the Ireland game while pushing his strike rate up a notch to the mid-130s. His stuttering innings in the loss to the Irish came in for criticism, and Malan has shown repeatedly that he responds well when personally under pressure.