Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
World T20 Match 1: AUS-W vs IND-W Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS-W vs IND-W Dream11 | Sydney Showground Pitch Report | Australia Women vs India Women Preview Dream11 | AUS-W vs IND-W Dream11 Prediction Today
Here we are. Arguably the biggest tournament in recent times for the Australian Women’s Team, who are looking to become just the second host nation since England in 2009 to win a World T20.
The Final will be played at the MCG on March 8 – International Women’s Day – in front of what will be a bumper crowd, should Australia qualify.
However, as you can see, it is easy to get caught up in the possibility of such a great event. So, the Aussies need to focus on the here and now, which is their tournament opener against an India team that more than held their own in the recent Tri-Series also involving England.
India reached the Final. They chased 170+ against Australia along the way, and pushed the Aussies in the Final, too. Australia start as favourites, but India will fancy their chances of giving their opponents a good run for their money in the quest to make a very strong statement.
So, in a challenging group that includes New Zealand, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who will get a crucial win first up?
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Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
- Harmanpreet Kaur has the most runs in Australia-India T20Is (401, avg. 30.85). However, she was below her best in the recent Tri-Series, striking at 94.44 per 100 balls. The skipper needs to step up.
- Meg Lanning, who scored 37 (22) and 26 (19) vs India in the Tri-Series, is next on the list with 388.
- However, Australia’s best player in the series was Beth Mooney. Mooney scored three fifties in five matches, including 71* (54) in her last game vs India.
- Smriti Mandhana was India’s star. She scored the most runs in the recent Tri-Series (216, avg. 43.20), with scores of 35, 55 and 66 vs Australia. She now has 308 runs vs Australia (avg. 44.00, SR: 130.51).
- A player who struggled badly was Alyssa Healy. The star keeper-batswoman has five single-figure scores in her past T20Is, along with just 9 in the warm-up game vs South Africa.
- Ashleigh Gardner’s last two scores vs India: 93 (57) and 26 (24).
- Shafali Verma (49 off 28 recently vs Australia) and Jemimah Rodrigues make up India’s crucial top order. They scored 184 runs between them in the recent Tri-Series at an average of 18.40, so they need to deliver.
- If Australia are to go all the way, Ellyse Perry will need to deliver. The champion cricketer has 181 runs (avg. 30) and 20 wickets (most out of anyone) vs India.
- Jess Jonassen was Player of the Match in the Tri-Series Final vs India last week (5/12) – a series where left-arm spinners dominated (27 wickets).
- Deepti Sharma has a key role to play for India. She took seven wickets in the Tri-Series, including 1/18, 2/27 and 2/30 vs Australia.
- Rajeshwari Gayakwad took 10 wickets in five matches in the Tri-Series – the most of any bowler. She took 2/18, 1/34 and 2/32 vs Australia.
- Poonam Yadav has returned to competitive cricket. She took 3/20 in a close two-run win against West Indies in a warm-up match.
Stats and Facts
- Australia were well below their best in the Tri-Series, but still won it.
- The scoring rate in the first innings of matches at Sydney Showground in the recent men’s BBL was 8.68, boosted by Tom Banton’s big hitting. Usually, it is a slow deck.
- Head-to-Head: Matches 17, Australia 12, India 5.
- India won the last meeting in a T20 World Cup between the sides, beating Australia by 48 runs in 2018.
Possible Playing 11
In a big blow for Australia, young pace bowler Tayla Vlaeminck could be out of the tournament after suffering a foot injury. Delissa Kimmince could take her place for this one.
Australia: 1. Alyssa Healy (wk), 2. Beth Mooney, 3. Ashleigh Gardner, 4. Meg Lanning (c), 5. Ellyse Perry, 6. Rachael Haynes, 7. Jess Jonassen, 8. Annabel Sutherland/Sophie Molineux, 9. Delissa Kimmince, 10. Nicola Carey, 11. Megan Schutt
Poonam Yadav is fit again, and should slot into the XI as India’s premier spinner. It remains to be seen who she comes in for – i.e. do India go with just one seamer or replace one of the spinners from the Tri-Series? Or, does Richa Ghosh miss out with Deepti Sharma to bat at five?
India: 1. Shafali Verma, 2. Smriti Mandhana, 3. Jemimah Rodrigues, 4. Harmanpreet Kaur (c), 5. Richa Ghosh/Veda Krishnamurthy, 6. Deepti Sharma, 7. Taniya Bhatia (wk), 8. Arundhati Reddy, 9. Shikha Pandey, 10. Poonam Yadav, 11. Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Sydney Showground Pitch Report and Conditions
The Sydney Showground pitch is typically on the slower side. With spin playing a key role in the recent Tri-Series, and this pitch suiting spin, look for the slow bowlers to play a big role in the middle overs.
In terms of the weather, Sydney has copped plenty of rain and storms in recent weeks. But, rain should be minimal on Friday for the tournament opener.
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Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
Option 2:
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Match Prediction
A cracking match potentially awaits us in the World T20 2020 Opener.
Australia have the quality, as well as the recent confidence of winning the recent Tri-Series without being at their best. We will get an early glimpse of whether hosting the tournament is a driver or a burden, but with their depth, they are a good pick for a win.
Thanks for reading!
Also read: Is cricket blogging something you are looking to pursue more of in 2020? Download my free E-Book for tips!
