Australia has lost the T20I series by losing back to back first two T20Is. The reason for Australia’s defeat can be their crucial player being ruled out because of injuries. The captain Aaron Finch sustained a hip injury while Josh Hazlewood picked up the niggle during the first 20I. Thus, both the crucial players didn’t play the second T20I which the host lost by six wickets.
On the other hand, David Warner was already ruled out of the series after suffering a groin injury in the second ODI. Mitchell Starc pulled out ahead of the second T20I due to illness in the family. The premier pacer Pat Cummins has been rested to manage his workload. The star all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who had sustained a side injury, was only available to bat.
With significant contributors out of the team, Australia has the threat to face a clean sweep if they lose the last T20I in Sydney on Tuesday (December 8).
Here, let’s take a look at how Australia’s playing XI can shape in for the fixture:
D’Arcy Short:
D’Arcy Short scored only nine runs off nine balls before T Natarajan picked his wicket in the second T20I. In the opening match, he had also given his wicket to Natarajan. He needs to give a good base to the team in the absence of the regular opener David Warner.
Matthew Wade (wk & c):
Matthew Wade captained Australia in the second T20I in Sydney but could not guide them to victory. He played a scintillating knock of 58 runs off 32 balls to take the team’s total to 194 runs but was out in a comical way as Virat Kohli first dropped his catch but made the time to run-out. His captaincy was also criticized after he gave the bowl to Glenn Maxwell in the powerplay. But he is likely to captain the side again as Aaron Finch is still injured.
Steven Smith:
Steven Smith scored back to back centuries in the first two ODI matches to take the game home for Australia. With this, he also became the third Australian to score the fastest ODI century. He is the game-changer and difference-maker.
But Yuzvendra Chahal halted him to play a big knock in the first T20I and the penultimate T20I, the spinner again picked his wicket, but he managed to score 46 runs off 38 balls to push the team’s total to past 190
Glenn Maxwell:
Glenn Maxwell’s power-hitting has demolished India’s bowling attack in the ODI series. But in the T20I series, he has lost his wicket early albeit he has managed to play some powerful shots. He scored 22 runs off 13 balls, but Shardul Thakur got his wicket.
The power-hitter would be desperate to play a match-winning knock to end the series on a winning note.
Moises Henriques:
Moises Henriques was prolific with both bat and ball. He picked the crucial wickets of KL Rahul, Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya in his four overs quota while batting, he played a fiery knock, scoring 30 runs off 20 balls in the first T20I.
But in the second T20I, he bowled only one over but played a rocket fueling knock, scoring 26 runs off 18 balls. However, his effort could not lead Australia to win the series. He will look to bounce back stronger in the last T20I match.
Sean Abbott:
Sean Abbott proved to be expensive with the ball as he gave away 23 runs in his two overs in the first T20I. At SCG, he bowled only two over but gave away 17 runs. But as Marcus Stoinis is not fully, he is likely to maintain his spot.
Marcus Stoinis:
Marcus Stoinis came to bat, and his powerful cameo propels Australia to 194 runs. He scored unbeaten 16 runs in seven overs, but it was not enough to win the game against India. Australia will be hoping that he gets fit to bowl soon.
Daniel Sams:
Daniel Sams bowled an economical first over but was then removed from the attack in the powerplay. The strategy proved wrong for Australia. He went expensive, leaking 41 runs in 3.4 overs. In his last over, Hardik Pandya struck him consecutive sixes to take the game home.
Matthew Swepson:
Matthew Swepson, who notched the wicket of Virat Kohli in the first T20I, picked the wicket of Sanju Samson and was the most economical bowler. He conceded 25 runs in his four overs. He is surely going to retain his place in the XI.
Andrew Tye:
Andrew Tye gave the first breakthrough as he got the crucial wicket of KL Rahul, but he could not control the run rate. In his four overs, he gave away 47 runs. He also bowled the no-ball in his first over which allowed Rahul a free hit, and he went on to hit a six. It was the first boundary for India, and it also changed the momentum of the game.
Adam Zampa:
In the first T20I, The leg-spinner Adam Zampa picked the wicket of Manish Pandey while was too economical. He gave away only 20 runs and was hit only for one boundary in his four overs quota.
At SCG, he again troubles Indian batsman to suffocate them and not allow for scoring against him easily. He picked the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, but Shreyas Iyer struck him for six and a boundary to disturb his bowling figures. However, he is an important bowler for Australia in white-ball cricket.