UAE is a desert; hence, Pitches are slow, there is turn on offer, runs are difficult to score, stadiums are bigger and wider than the rest of Asia and most significantly, there is hot out there in the desert. So, can the Super 12 teams Group 1 perform in these difficult conditions? Let’s try to find out by previewing each of England, West Indies, Australia, and South Africa. 

T20 WC 2021 Super 12 Teams Group 1 Preview

ENGLAND

T20I Rankings: 1st

Best result in T20 WC: CHAMPIONS, 2010 ICC T20 World Cup

What can we expect: Semi-finalist and no.1 in the Group 1

Overview

The most strong side in the Super 12 teams Group 1, England had almost won the previous ICC T20 World Cup. It was just that in the last moments, Carlos Brathwaite snatched a victory from the Englishmen. This time around, England is the most prepared side for the mega event. If the tournament wasn’t in Asia, they would have been far hotter favorites than India even.

England will be going without their elite all-rounder Ben Stokes and this is a massive blow for Eoin Morgan and company who would have expected to play their full-strength side in the T20 World Cup. Jofra Archer is also unfit and these two unavailabilities have left a big question mark on England’s combination for UAE. Players like Liam Livingston, Moeen Ali, and Chris Jordan are expected to fill the vacuum but a decision to go with just one specialist spinner has raised many eyebrows before the start of the tournament.

Still, England has plenty of match-winners in Jos Buttler, Johny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, and Chris Woakes. They must be in the semi-finals, and, seeing the brand of cricket they play. But there are concerns as well seeing just one specialist spinner in Adil Rashid for a T20 World Cup held in UAE.

Top Ranked Batter

David Malan – 1st

Dawid Malan is currently the world’s number one batsman in T20I cricket. Since 2019, he has become a pillar of the English T20I top order. Despite his recent bad patch, he is at no.4 in the list of the batters who scored the most number of runs in the last year and a half. Malan can play a big inning. He knows how to finish the games and most importantly, he is good against spinners. Any British who plays well in Asia must be the most important batter of their side.

Top Ranked Bowler

Adil Rashid – 4th

With spinners being the most important factor of the victories in UAE, Adil Rashid is one of the core members of this English cast. He is no.4 in the list of the highest-ranked T20I bowlers. In 2020-21, he has 26 scalps before his name and his strike rate is 18, a wicket after every three overs. Being the only specialist spinner of England, he must make it read 6 or 8 because England needs plenty of wickets from him in this T20 World Cup.

Schedule

October 23 – vs West Indies

October 27 – vs B2

October 30 – vs Australia

November 01 – vs A1 

November 06 – vs South Africa 

WEST INDIES

T20I Ranking: 9th

Best Result in T20 World Cups: CHAMPIONS, 2012 and 2016 ICC T20 World Cup

What can we expect?: Finalist and no.2 in the Group 1 teams

Overview

West Indies have won just 24 out of the 68 T20I matches they played between 2016 and 2021. They have lost 36, the win-loss ratio is 2:3. It means on paper, they would have 60% of the expectation to be defeated. For this side of the Super 12 teams Group 1, the ground reality is always the opposite of what stats and figures tell us.

West Indies cricket has declined significantly in the 21st century but in T20I cricket, they are the most dangerous side. The reason they have struggled in this format as well over the years is the unavailability of their main players like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, and a couple of other guys. 

Any of these West Indies players would be played by any side of the world. Just months before the big event, all the main players have joined the West Indies and history tells us that between 2014 and 2016, West Indies had played just 8 T20I games but won the show in India. In UAE, they are already missing Sunil Narine seeing his current form in IPL, but still, they are a side almost every team would be scared to play against in T20 format. They are a stronger side among the Super 12 teams Group 1.

Top Ranked Batter

Evin Lewis – 9th

West Indies get cracking starts because they have a technically sound hard-hitter at the top of the order in Evin Lewis. He is currently a top-ranked West Indian batter and realizing that the Universe Boss is a big old now, Lewis must build the inning as well as play aggressively. He has no problem against the spin and has the ability to go regularly on the bowlers. UAE must be a big trial of his batting skills.

Top Ranked Bowler

Fabien Allen – 16th

In the list of the top-ranked bowler of T20 International cricket, you will have to go down, down, and further down until you find Fabian Allen at no.16. Without exaggeration, the concern of bowling would look genuine on paper but in reality, it is not a big issue. For UAE, they have the resources available, and Allen would be the leader of their spin bowling attack.

Schedule

October 23 – vs England

October 26 – vs South Africa

October 29 – vs B2

November 04 – vs A1

November 06 – vs Australia 

AUSTRALIA

T20I Ranking: 7th

Best Result in the T20 World Cups: Runner-ups, 2010 ICC T20 World Cup

What can we expect?: Group Stage 

Overview

Australia is no.7 in the current ICC T20I rankings of teams and they lost 4-1 in the West Indies very recently. Smith and Warner are out of form for the last couple of months and the Australian middle order is not functioning. Things are not good for them at all but still, people will be looking towards them to see what the men in yellow have for their fans? If Australia really turns out like real Australia, there will be a lot of entertainment from this side placed among the Super 12 Teams Group 1.

Top Ranked Batter

Aaron Finch – 3rd

Kangaroos skipper Aaron Finch is the top-ranked Australian batter where he is ranked no.3, just below the Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Good starts are always key for victories. Finch has never been impressive in the IPL so he missed a chance to play for a month in UAE before the tournament. That would have been quite helpful. As the bad patch of Smith and Warner continues, the pressure on Australians would be massive.

Top Ranked Bowler

Ashton Agar – 6th

The last couple of months have remained the months of the career for Ashton Agar as the left-arm orthodox has become a permanent member of Australia – A side, famous for its pace battery only. Agar and Zampa make a perfect combination of spin bowling. This would be perhaps the first time after Shane Warne’s retirement that Australia would be hoping for their spinners to change their fortunes in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Schedule

October 23 – vs South Africa 

October 28 – vs A1 

October 30 – vs England

November 04 – vs B2 

November 06 – vs West Indies 

SOUTH AFRICA

T20I Ranking: 5th

Best Result in the T20 World Cups: Semi-finalist, 2009 and 2014 ICC T20 World Cup

What can we expect?: Group Stage

Overview

South Africa has struggled since the day AB De Villiers announced his retirement. The situation worsened after a couple of other elite players left them after the 2019 World Cup. So now when the T20 World Cup is being held after a gap of 5 years, the biggest surprise is the lack of stars and fan following of the Bavuma’s led side. Many won’t recognize who this Temba Bavuma is? 

They ignored AB De Villiers for a comeback and have moved on from the likes of Faf Du Plessis and Imran Tahir. Dale Steyn has also retired. So the absence of stars from their squad is understandable. They are the least favorites to win in the Super 12 teams Group 1 but their current group of players also has some potential and skillset. On the day, they can beat any team in the world. 

Top Ranked Batter

Quinton de Kock – 8th

Quinton De Kock is the top-ranked South African batter. In the current setup, he and David Miller are the only players who have played for a decade alongside some elite South African cricketers. In the IPL, De Kock has played for a month alongside Rohit Sharma in the Mumbai Indians as an opener. There will be a huge responsibility on his shoulders to provide good starts as well as build and play big innings to help South Africa score big.

Top Ranked Bowler

Tabraiz Shamsi – 1st

If you google and open ICC’s official website to check the list of the top-ranked T20I bowlers, you will find Tabraiz Shamsi at the top. In the last year and a half, he has 37 scalps, the most in T20I cricket during 2020-21. He has one of the best strike rates in the world and the UAE must be a heaven for Shamsi to showcase his skills

Schedule

October 23 – vs Australia

October 26 – vs West Indies

October 30 – vs A1 

November 02 – vs B2 

November 06 – vs England

Also Read: Dream to Achieve Big | T20 WC Qualifiers Teams Overview