Match: 3rd T20.
Teams: West Indies vs Australia.
Venue: Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, St.Lucia.
Time: 5:00 am IST.
Preview:
Weather Report:
A clear sky is predicted again with an average temperature of 29 degree Celsius.
Pitch Report:
The 3rd T20 will be played on a fresh pitch which means there would be more freshness and more carry in the pitch. It is expected that the nature of the pitch would remain the same till 40 overs unlike the last match where spin dominated.
H2H Records:
Total matches played:13.
West Indies won:8.
Australia won:5.
Recent match result:
2nd T20:
WI: 196/4 vs Aus:140/10.
(WI won by 56 runs).
Hetmyer:61.
DJ Bravo:47.
Simmons:30.
Russell:24.
Mitchell Marsh:54 & 18/1.
Henriques:19.
Agar:28/1.
Hazlewood:39/1.
Pacers:2+5=7 wkts.
Spinners:1+4=5 wkts.
1st T20:
WI: 145/6 vs Aus:127/10.
(WI won by 18 runs).
Russell:51.
Simmons:27.
Hetmeyer:20.
Marsh:51 & 26/2.
Wade:33.
Hazlewood:12/3.
McCoy:26/4.
Walsh:23/3.
Allen:24/2.
Pacers:5+5=10 wkts.
Spinners:0+5=5 wkts.
Key observations from both matches:
1.The Top Order of West Indies is yet to fire in the series. They tried Simmons-Lewis in the first T20 and Simmons-Fletcher in the second but the highest opening partnership has been 13. Simmons have got starts in both the matches whereas Chris Gayle at 3 has been disappointing.
2. The Australian top order however has put up a fight with Marsh at 3 scoring consecutive fifties. Apart from that Australia has experienced 2 dramatic collapses of losing last 7 wickets for 38 and for 39 in the 2 matches.
3. Unlike the Australian middle order, the West Indies middle order has showed a lot of flare with Russell getting a hit in both the matches. Hetmyer and DJ Bravo too has been amongst the runs.
4. The Australian bowling too has been lacklustre with Hazlewood being the best bowler. The second best bowler has been Mitchell Marsh whereas Starc their premiere fast bowler has gone for 89 in his 8 overs.
5. The West Indies bowling looks sorted with Hayden Walsh being the pick of the bowlers scalping 6 wickets in 2 games. The left arm pacers, McCoy and Cottrell too have been amongst wickets in the 1 match they have featured.
Last 5 H2H results:
West Indies leads 4-1 in last 5 H2H.
Aus:178/8 vs WI:179/4. (2014).
(WI won by 6 wkts).
Finch:16.
Gayle:53.
Simmons:26.
Bravo:27 & 1w.
WI:191/6 vs Aus:164/8. (2013).
(WI won by 27 runs).
Pollard:26 & 3w.
Russell:23.
Bravo:13.
Hazlewood:1w.
WI:205/4 vs Aus:131/10. (2012).
(WI won by 74 runs).
Gayle:75.
Bravo:37.
Pollard:38 & 2w.
Starc:1w.
WI:191/8 vs Aus:100/1. (2012).
(Aus won by D/L method).
Gayle:54.
Bravo:27.
Starc:3w.
Christian:1w.
WI:160/10 vs Aus:146/9. (2012).
(WI won by 14 runs).
Bravo:23 & 2w.
Christian:1w.
H2H Records:
Most runs:
Overall H2H records:
Chris Gayle: 316 runs (10 Inns). Avg:35.11.
Dwayne Bravo:229 runs (10 Inns). Avg:38.17.
Kieron Pollard:159 runs(8 Inns) Avg:22.71
Mitchell Marsh: 105 runs (2 Inns). Avg:52.50.
Andre Russell: 98 runs. (3 Inns). Avg: 98.
Lendl Simmons: 88 runs (4 Inns). Avg: 22.
Hetmyer: 81 runs (2 Inns). Avg:40.50
Most wickets:
Dan Christian: 7 wkts (6 Inns). S.R: 14.27.
Fiedel Edwards: 7 wkts (6 Inns) S.R.:13.57.
Dwayne Bravo: 7 wkts (9 Inns). S.R: 22.27.
Hayden Walsh: 6 wkts (2 Inns). S.R: 8.0.
Mitchell Starc: 6 wkts (5 Inns). Avg:20.
Hazlewood: 5 wkts (3 Inns). Avg:14.40.
Mitchell Marsh: 3 wkts (2 Inns). S.R: 12.
Obed McCoy: 4 wkts (1 Inns). S.R:6.
Cottrell: 2 wkts (1 Inns). S.R:9.0.
At this Venue:
Australia: Played: 6, Won:4.
West Indies: Played: 6, Won:3.
Venue Performance: (Current Squad)
WI:160/8 vs Eng:161/6. (2019).
(Eng won by 4 wkts).
Pooran:58.
Gayle:15.
Hetmyer:14.
Cottrell:3w.
Holder:1w.
Pacers: 7+5=12 wkts.
Spinners: 2+1=3 wkts.
WI:150/7 vs Aus:153/2. (2012).
(Aus won by 8 wkts).
Pollard: 54.
Bravo: 14.
Dan Christian: 3w.
Pacers: 6+2= 8wkts.
Spinners: 0+0=0wkts.
WI:150/7 vs Pak:143/9. (2011).
(WI won by 7 runs).
Simmons:65.
Pacers:2+4=6 wkts.
Spinners:4+4=8 wkts.
WI:105/10 vs Aus:109/4. (2010).
(Aus won by 6 wkts).
Pollard:13.
Gayle: 1w.
Pacers: 4+1=5 wkts.
Spinners: 5+2=7 wkts.
Venue Performers: (Current Squad)
Simmons: 122 runs (3 Inns). Avg: 40.66.
Mitchell Marsh: 105 runs (2 Inns). Avg:52.50.
Hetmyer: 95 runs (3 Inns). Avg: 31.66.
Pooran: 75 runs (3 Inns). Avg:37.50.
DJ Bravo: 74 runs (4 Inns). Avg:37.00.
Russell: 75 runs (3 Inns). Avg:37.50.
Hayden Walsh: 6 wkts (2 Inns). S.R: 8.0.
Cottrell: 5 wkts (2 Inns). S.R:8.2.
Hazlewood: 4 wkts (2 Inns). S.R: 12.
Mitchell Marsh: 3 wkts (2 Inns).S.R: 16.
Christian: 3 wkts (3 Inns). S.R: 24.
As there is lack of International matches data we will look for CPL data.
CPL 2019 Performers: (Current Squad).
Jam: 165/7 vs STZ: 169/6.
(STZ won by 4 wkts).
Gayle:29.
Fletcher:17.
Pacers: 6+1=7 wkts.
Spinners: 0+4=4 wkts.
STZ:161/7 vs GAW: 162/2.
(GAW won by 8 wkts).
Fletcher:18.
Pacers: 4+1=5 wkts.
Spinners: 2+1=3 wkts.
STZ:165/6 vs SKN:145/9.
(STZ won by 20 runs).
Fletcher:36.
Pacers:3+7=10 wkts.
Spinners: 3+2=5 wkts.
BAR:172/6 vs STZ:101/10.
(BAR won by 71 runs).
Holder:10 & 2w.
Fletcher:14.
McCoy: 2w.
Pacers:5+6=11 wkts.
Spinners:1+1=2 wkts.
Recent Games result:
Australia played 2 Intra Squad Practice Matches ahead of 1st T20.
Intra Squad Practice Match:
Australia II: 193/5.
Christian:47.
Henriques:36.
Meredith:2w.
Australia I: 196/5.
Marsh:56.
Turner:45
Tye:2w.
Australia I: 165/6.
Wade:52
Starc: 3w.
Australia II:166/2.
Philippe:67.
Henriques:51.
Recent Series Performance:
West Indies played a 5 match T20 series against South Africa at home. They lost the series 3-2.
Lewis: 178 runs (5 Inns) Avg:35.60.
Simmons: 72 runs (3 Inns). Avg: 24.
Pooran: 72 runs (5 Inns). Avg:18.
Bravo: 10 wkts (5 Inns). Avg:13.10.
Obed McCoy: 9 wkts (5 Inns). Avg:15.67.
Australia played against India in 2020, their last competitive series. They lost 2-1.
Wade: 145 runs (3 Inns). Avg:48.33.
Henriques: 61 runs & 3 wkts (3 Inns). Avg:30.50.
Swepson: 6 wkts (3 Inns).
Zampa: 3 wkts (3 Inns).
Core team:
Russell.
Wade.
Marsh.
Bravo.
Hayden Walsh.
Simmons.
Players shortlisted on basis of toss.
Hazlewood (Bowling first).
Zampa (Bowling second).
Finch (Batting first).
Christian (Batting first).
Squad Info:
West Indies squad:
Kieron Pollard (c), Nicholas Pooran (Wk), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Kevin Sinclair, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr.
Australia squad:
Aaron Finch (C), Ashton Agar, Wes Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey(Wk), Dan Christian, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade(Wk), Adam Zampa.
Probable Xi:
WI: Lewis, Simmons, Gayle, Hetmeyer, Pooran, Russell, Allen, Dj Bravo,Sheldon Cottrell,Hayden Walsh, Oshane Thomas.
(With Fiedel Edwards out injured , West Indies should bring in a pace bowler in the lineup. McCoy who has been in form could be slotted in after being rested for a game but with Cottrell firing it is highly unlikely that West Indies would field 2 left arm pacers. In that case Oshane Thomas may get a game.
The opening partnership has yielded only 21 runs in the 2 games. With Simmons fixed, West Indies should bring in Evin Lewis to partner him. However if they persist with Fletcher then they can try with Gayle at top with Fletcher at 3.)
Aus: Finch, Wade, Marsh,Phillippe, Carey, Henriques, Dan Christian,
Agar, Starc, Zampa, Hazlewood.
(Barring Wade at top and Agar 8,Australia has six right handers in the middle and Hayden Walsh has feasted on them. Ideally they should think of bringing in Alex Carey in the middle to break the chain. McDermott is likely to face the cut.
They can also bring in Turner in place of Henriques or Phillippe as Turner can bowl off-spin. Remember West Indies has 3 left handers in the middle.)
My team:
Wk: Wade.
Batsmen: Gayle, Simmons, Finch.
All Rounders: Christian, Marsh, Russell.
Bowlers: Hazlewood, Bravo, Hayden Walsh, Cottrell/McCoy (whoever plays).
Other options: Zampa, Henriques, Allen.
Safe C/Vc: Russell, Marsh.
Differential C/Vc: Gayle, Simmons,Christian.
Risky: Finch, Starc, Lewis.
Note: West Indies are pure favourites to win this match. However Australia can bring in a surprise. So ideally make a GL team favouring Australia.
Disclaimer: The analysis is purely based on latest Stats and H2H records. You can go with your choice of players.