The ultimate T20 World Cup form guide
The turnover of players since the 2021 event and experimentation at the top of the order in their series defeat to Ireland makes predictions hard, though glimpses of quality at the Asia Cup may have answered a few queries.
On the batting side, Rahmanullah Gurbazis enjoying a batting purple patch, while Najibullah Zadran is proving a more consistent performer in national colours. Given the hitting capabilities of those around him, Usman Ghani could make sense as a rare T20I anchor, while there are high hopes on Darwish Rasooli.
The emergence of Fazalhaq Farooqi likely gives them a pace bowling upgrade, and spin should be reliable through the regular contributors of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman and the returning Qais Ahmad.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Knocked out in the Super 12 stage
Hosting the West Indies for three T20Is, a number of Australian players are looking to find late form or prove their fitness ahead of the home defence.
Aaron Finch slid himself down to No.4 in the batting order, making a Player of the Match 58 (53) as Australia snuck home in the last over chasing 146.
The hosts were at one stage 58/5 after ducks for both Glenn Maxwell and Tim David, though Matthew Wade's39 (29) ensured Australia's win.
There are injury clouds over Mitch Marsh(ankle)****and Marcus Stoinis(side strain), and the surprise emergence of Cameron Greenat the top of the order could lead to a late event squad shuffle, should either all-rounder miss the competition.
Thrown up the order as an experiment against a strong India side, Green has made two fifties in his three innings in replacing the resting David Warner.
The bowling corps look ready to emulate their 2021 success, with Josh Hazlewood perched at the top of the MRF Tyres ICC T20I bowling rankings.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Champions
Losing to both Afghanistan and Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup and losing series to Zimbabwe and West Indies, Bangladesh are desperate for an uptick of form.
After inclement weather spoiled a training camp in Dhaka, the side are piecing things together with a series against fellow event competitors UAE, though the side are missing captain Shakib Al Hasan for the matches. Wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan leads the team, who won the first T20I by seven runs and the second by 32 runs.
Afif Hossain saved Bangladesh’s blushes in the first match, making 77* from 55 balls after a recovery from 47/4 in the eighth over. Mustafizur Rahman’s 2/21 (4) and three-wicket hauls from Shoriful Islam and Mehidy Hasan Mirazensured the favourites snuck away with victory.
Setting UAE 170 for victory in the second match, Bangladesh had their opponents reeling at 29/4, eventually containing them to 137.
Bangladesh play Afghanistan and South Africa in warm-up fixtures.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Knocked out in the Super 12 stage
After home series defeats to South Africa and India, England showed their class abroad with a 4-3 series win over Pakistan.
Their series win was built on a strong batting platform, making several scores over ten an over. Lower-order brute Harry Brook led England's run tally in the series with 238 at a strike rate of 163 and an average of 79.
Stand-in skipper Moeen Aliwas a strong performer, particularly with the bat, making 142 runs across four innings, dismissed just once at a strike rate of 160 in a death-over role. Permanent skipper Jos Buttlersat out as precaution.
Sam Curran and David Willeyled the way with seven wickets apiece, with Mark Woodlooking sharp upon his return from injury, clocking 156kph and taking 3/20 (4) in match five.
Runs will be pivotal in England's campaign, and while Buttler himself holds the key, their task has not been made easier with the loss of Jonny Bairstow after a freak injury ruled him out of the event. The form of the previously-exiled Alex Halesis encouraging, and the right-handed opener is one of several English players with domestic T20 experience in Australia.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Semi-finalists
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India claimed a 2-1 series win over South Africa, winning matches one and two before leaking 227 in match three, though the biggest news covers off the field in the form of injuries.
Jasprit Bumrahwill miss the tournament through a back injury, as well as Ravindra Jadeja(knee) also misses out. Deepak Chahar and Mohammed Shami stand by as cover.
Despite the losses, India have the players to win the T20 World Cup, with the only question being finding the ideal line-up balance. KL Rahul'sspot at the top of the order is by no means guaranteed, even with an unbeaten half-century in their win over South Africa in match one of their series.
Critically though on the batting side, Virat Kohliis peaking at the right time, with a colossal hundred against Afghanistan at the Asia Cup, and a half-century to push his side to a series victory over Australia. Suryakumar Yadavcan lay claim to being the form player in the world with the bat, while a fit Hardik Pandyawill no doubt boost the side's chances.
Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal look like the bowling group of four at the moment.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Knocked out in the Super 12 stage
With more than 20 T20Is played this year alone, no one can question Ireland's rigorous preparation. The side have lost a dozen of those matches however, with a record of just three wins in 12 matches against Full Member opponents.
As Kevin O'Brienmakes way, the younger brigade have slowly made the side their own, with Gareth Delanynow a key figure and Harry Tectorperforming in both franchise and international cricket.
Wicket-keeperLorcan Tucker has emerged as another batter to step up with quick runs, beating out former Zimbabwe international PJ Moor, who was eligible for the tournament.
There are concerns of Paul Stirling'sform though, only making double figures in one of his last six T20 innings at domestic level.
Ireland are in Sydney to play an SCG XI and a New South Wales XI before they meet Namibia and Sri Lanka in warm-up action.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Knocked out in the first round
Enjoying a breakout tournament of sorts last year, the Eagles have travelled to country Victoria to prepare 2022 event, in decent white-ball form.
Featuring more recently in 50-over cricket through League 2, the side also boast a recent T20I series win over Zimbabwe, though with the caveat that it was before Dave Houghton’s appointment as coach.
Veteran Craig Williams has announced his retirement, though the top order should be bolstered by Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Michael van Lingen continuing their development.
There are injury concerns for JJ Smit (knee) and Pikky Ya France (ribs), though both are tipped to be fit ahead of their tournament opener against Sri Lanka.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Knocked out in the Super 12 stage
It’s been a bumper home summer of international cricket for the Dutch, though most of the action came in the longer white-ball format through the ODI Super League.
The side lost both home T20Is against a travelling New Zealand side, the second in convincing fashion, though the side can take solace from enjoying a strong Qualifier campaign in Zimbabwe. The tournament hosts were the only side to beat the men in orange, with Logan van Beek and Fred Klaassen the only players at the tournament to take 10 wickets.
All-rounder Bas de Leedeis fulfilling his potential as a generational talent, new skipper Scott Edwardshas shown quality with the bat against Full Member opposition, and the side welcome back a number of UK-based players who missed international action due to county commitments.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Knocked out in the first round
New Zealand have lost just one T20I in 2022, the final match of a 2-1 series win in the West Indies.
Nineteen players have featured across the 10 matches this year, with Glenn Phillips (319 runs at 145.00 strike rate) a clear standout with the bat. Spin has led the way with the ball, withIsh Sodhi, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewellcombining for 37 wickets across the year, though the likes of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have played three and two matches respectively, will no doubt feature more prominently.
Bracewell, Finn Allen and Lockie Ferguson replace Kyle Jamieson, Todd Astle and Tim Seifert from their 2021 campaign that saw them finish runners up behind Australia.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Finalists
Pakistan have shown their batting prowess time and again at the top of the order, though a 4-3 series defeat to England show the performances by Babar Azamand Mohammad Rizwan mask some frailties in the lower order.
As rumours linger in regards to changes to the squad already named, Asif Ali at this stage is the man entrusted at the death, alongside the likes of Iftikhar Ahmed. Shoaib Malik's name as an eleventh-hour inclusion have been teased.
The country is sweating on the fitness of Shaheen Afridi, who has travelled to London to treat his knee injury. Fakhar Zaman misses through injury.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Semi-finalists
The warm-up hit-outs against the Netherlands and UAE will be crucial for Scotland, who have played just two T20Is this calendar year - two heavy defeats to New Zealand.
The side have prioritised ODI cricket through League 2 on the path to CWC 2023, and have lost opener and former skipper Kyle Coetzer, who has retired from the format. Richie Berrington now leads the side.
Uncapped Brandon McMullen bolts into the squad after impressing in ‘A’ team matches and regional cricket as a genuine all-rounder, and joins a team looking to impress again after a strong 2021 campaign.
There are concerns of depth on the bowling front, with totals of 225 and 254 leaked against the Kiwis.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Knocked out in the Super 12 stage
Despite a series defeat in their first T20I against India, there should be a quiet confidence in the Proteas camp after they won a T20I series in England recently.
Captain Temba Bavuma is ready after elbow surgery, though Rassie van der Dussen misses the tournament due to a finger injury.
After a lengthy Kolpak absence, Rilee Rossouw has made a stunning return to international cricket, headlined by a knock of 96* off 55 balls in the England series, before an unbeaten century against India. The left-hander is a near guarantee to open the batting in their tournament opener on October 24.
Aiden Markram showed his class at the IPL, as well as young gun Tristan Stubbs who bolts into the squad.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Knocked out in the Super 12 stage
It’s fair to say Sri Lanka were not favourites for the Asia Cup, and the tournament victory only proves the First Round entrants have the ability to push the very best.
The side had three players (Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis) all in the top six run-scorers at the tournament, while Wanindu Hasaranga proves to be a consistent performer near game-on-game.
The side may need to shake the rust of a lengthy absence off the field though, with almost a month separating their final victory over Pakistan and their warm-up matches against Zimbabwe and Ireland.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Knocked out in the Super 12 stage
UAE are in Melbourne preparing for the tournament, enjoying victories over local club sides in the last week in a bid to acclimatise to Australian conditions.
The side will look to bounce back after a below-par Asia Cup campaign, losing to Kuwait and Hong Kong in the tournament Qualifier to finish third. The side had a more encouraging result in their series with Bangladesh, despite losing both matches.
A side from the outside looking like it hasn’t quite decided on an XI for the first game, there have been positive performances from Chirag Suri at the top of the order, with Vriitya Aravind, the Player of the Tournament from their Qualifier campaign, sliding down from No.3 to No.4.
The squad is missing MRF Tyres ICC T20I ninth-ranked all-rounder Rohan Mustafa.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Did not qualify
The men in maroon are desperate to find form in a series against Australia, and showed positive signs despite a first up defeat on the Gold Coast.
The most encouraging signs came from the bowlers, with Alzarri Joseph(2/17 off four overs) and Yannic Cariah (1/15 off four overs) in particular impressing. Kyle Mayersbrought the fireworks he's promised on Australian soil, hitting a freakish back foot cover drive for six in a knock of 39 (36).
For their First Round adversaries, it might be the ideal time to strike, with the absence of Andre Russell (left out of the squad), and Shimron Hetmyer who missed his flight, ensuing sighs of relief.
Fabian Allen and Hayden Walsh Jr are two other players to not make the cut, with the likes of Johnson Charlesand Raymon Reiferincluded,****and Evin Lewisreturning.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Knocked out in the Super 12 stage
Zimbabwe's players have clearly bought into his system of cricket upon Dave Houghton's appointment, and the results reflect it after a series defeat to Namibia back in May.
They hit back with an emphatic Qualifier B campaign, going undefeated, before beating Bangladesh in a three match series.
Sikandar Raza could make a case as the world's form white-ball player, and new skipper Craig Ervine can entrust a bevy of players considering their plethora of bowling options.
Their victory in the third Super League ODI against Australia may have come in a different format, though a win against a strong side in Australian conditions can only be confidence-building one.
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T20 World Cup 2021 performance
Did not qualify