FANTASY
Follow UsAustralia and West Indies are on the two different ends of fortunes in the ongoing T20 World Cup with the defending champions losing three out of their four games to crash out of the event already. On the other hand, Australia are holding onto their chances after a clinical effort against Bangladesh that saw them canter home by a margin of eight wickets.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall 16 | Australia 6 Wins | West Indies 10 Wins
Last Five Matches | Australia 1 Win | West Indies 4 Wins
Both sides had played each other in a five-match T20I series at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in July and the Windies were clinical in their effort. The home side secured a 4-1 series victory despite Mitchell Marsh doing everything in his ability to save his side.
Ground Details
In the ongoing T20 World Cup, 12 matches have already been played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and batters have scored at a run rate of 7.1 - the lowest among all four venues in the tournament so far. The batting average of 22.1 is also the second-lowest after Al Amerat Cricket Ground Oman Cricket, but what could be a point worth looking that the balls per dismissal ratio in the World Cup is the highest in Abu Dhabi, which means a patient innings can be the difference.
Of the total 135 wickets dismissed in the ongoing T20 World Cup at the venue, 70.4 % of wickets have been picked by the pacers with an average of 22.2. That might be because of the fact that pacers have bowled 301.5 overs as compared to spinners’ 148.4 but it only tells us the impact they have had.
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. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Suggested Captain
Shimron Hetmyer has scored the highest score for a West Indies batter against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi by hitting an unbeaten 81 runs. Playing his first T20 World Cup, he is the top run-scorer for the Windies side and you can bank on him to deliver even more. He is averaging 26.93 in T20s this year and struck those runs at an SR of 134.4, which is the second-highest since his debut back in 2016.
Our Criclytics Player Projections predict Hetmyer to score 29-43 runs
X-Factors
A fantasy side is never complete without one of its finest ever players - Andre Russell. The big-hitting Jamaican may not have a great record in the UAE but he compensates that with his impactful innings and bowling. It is imperative we have him in our XI to cash in on that x-factor.
Our Criclytics Player Projections predict Russell to score 29-43 runs and pick 0-1 wickets
Aaron Finch is going through a stupendous run of form currently, averaging 34.23 in T20Is in 2021, and has already posted three fifty-plus scores. He averages 47.28 in winning matches and that easily establishes why he is one of the best T20I batters going around. Our fantasy geeks would hope for a repeat in the important games once again.
Our Criclytics Player Projections predict Finch to score 26-38 runs
Here are the top 10 Criclytics Predictions on the basis of their projected points
Player Match-up
If Windies back Lendl Simmons to play the game, Australia might fancy the opportunity to hand the ball to Mitchell Marsh, who has dismissed the batter three times in 13 balls. Simmons has scored just 12 runs in the process.
Probable XIs:
Australia are most likely to remain unchanged after the big win over Bangladesh and even though there is a slight bit of concern regarding the middle-order, a combination of Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis remain their best bet.
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Given the way he bowled in the home series against Australia, Hayden Walsh Jnr may come into the squad as a replacement for Ravi Rampaul.
West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Kieron Pollard (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Hayden Walsh Jnr