FANTASY
Follow UsAfter 44 games, we have our finalists for the 2021 T20 World Cup. The Trans-Tasman rivals, Australia and New Zealand will lock horns at the floodlit Dubai International Cricket Stadium. For Australia, it is their second final but probably their first ever since they started taking this format seriously. The Kiwis, on the other hand, will be playing their first final in a T20 World Cup. The cricket world is set for new champions which is what draws special attention to this contest.
Ground details and team combination
The average first innings score at Dubai in the first 11 games was only 123. However, in the semi-final, on a new pitch, 177 was not enough to win the game. We can expect similar kind of conditions for the final as well. It presents some baffling questions since both sides have had great bowling performances in the tournament. Hence, taking some references from the earlier games, one should pick bowlers from the side bowling first. Having said that, the top-order batsmen from both sides remain crucial.
Spinners here are close to the pacers in terms of picking wickets. They have recorded 2.3 wickets per innings here as compared to 2.7 by the pacers. Hence, we can say death overs don’t necessarily produce wickets for the pacers. Based on these assessments, the likes of Adam Zampa, Ish Sodhi, David Warner, Daryl Mitchell and Martin Guptill become must picks.
Suggested Teams
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Captaincy Suggestion
David Warner is back to his blistering best. He is hitting the gaps and is yielding the optimum value out of the merit of each delivery. Warner averages 30 against pace with a boundary approximately every fourth delivery. Against spin, he averages 116. One can expect New Zealand to hide Mitchell Santner in the attack as long as Warner is in. If he gets his DRS form right, Warner can be a real pain for the Kiwis.
Our Criclytics Player Projections predicts Warner to score 34-50 runs
X-Factors
Josh Hazlewood 2.0 has had a phenomenal tournament up until the last match where he was taken down for 49 runs in his four overs without getting into the wickets column. Before that, the right-arm pacer had picked eight wickets in five matches. He hasn’t had many bad games in T20s this year that has rendered his return to white-ball cricket. Playing at the same venue, one can expect Hazlewood to mend his mistakes and blemish the Kiwis. 11. Hazlewood has picked more two wickets or more 11 times this year in T20s.
With 16 wickets in nine T20s, Ish Sodhi is the third-highest wicket-taker against Australia in the format. He has dominated most of the batsmen in their current setup, dismissing Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis thrice each. He has also accounted for David Warner and Glenn Maxwell on two occasions. Sodhi would relish his chances against one of his favorite oppositions to cap off this World Cup.
Here are the top-10 picks as per Criclytics projected points -
Player Match-ups
Finch averages only 17.9 against in-swingers in T20s in 2021 with eight dismissals. This is a glaring weakness in his game, highlighted further after his first ball duck in the semi-final. Both Trent Boult and Tim Southee are well equipped to pin him early in the innings.
Probable XIs
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith/Ashton Agar, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Adam Milne, Trent Boult