FANTASY
Follow UsAustralia will take on Sri Lanka in Match 22 of the ICC World T20 on Thursday, 28th October 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium. Both teams won their first Super 12 game. However, the routes taken were quite different. Sri Lanka stepped up with the bat after a lacklustre bowling performance against Bangladesh. Australia, on the other hand, were fantastic with the ball against South Africa and did just enough with the bat to cross the finish line. Now both teams will aim to build on the momentum and also iron out the chinks from their first game.
Ground Details and Team Combination
The average first innings total at the venue is around the 150-run mark. The pitch gets slower as the game progresses, making power-hitting a tough prospect. In the 32 innings at this venues since September 1, 2021, the economy-rate has been 7.7. The fast bowlers have dominated proceedings, picking up nearly 70 percent of the wickets.
The spinners wickets-per-innings ratio of 1.6 is the least amongst all the UAE venues in the specified time period but both the teams boast of some incredible spinners. Australia have Adam Zampa but Glenn Maxwell will play a crucial role with his off-spin too. Sri Lanka will rely heavily on Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, the latter if he is fit.
Suggested Team
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. Based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Captaincy Suggestion
It is hard to look past Glenn Maxwell for this role. He is Australia’s premier batsman to cope with Sri Lankan spinners and also up the ante against them. It is a big role which Maxwell nailed for his IPL franchise this season and also kept Australia in the run chase against South Africa. Moreover, his off-spin will be handy again given the presence of three lefties in Sri Lanka’s top five.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Maxwell could score 16-24 runs and pick 0-1 wickets in this match
X-Factors
Maheesh Theekshana is projected by Criclytics to be the most influential player in this match. Australia are not known to be great batsmen of spin bowling and Theekshana’s mystery spin can startle them. The only catch is Theekshana’s side strain. Sri Lanka rested him from their clash against Bangladesh as a protective measure. He can be a trump card against Australia and we reckon he will take the field for this match.
Josh Hazlewood has remodeled himself into an excellent T20 bowler. This year, he has 25 wickets in 18 T20s, at an economy of 7.4. He hits the back of a length perfectly which troubled South Africa and can do the same against Sri Lanka.
Here are the top-10 picks as per Criclytics projected points-
Probable XIs
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajaspaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara