GameDay Squad Cricket Match Preview: Australia come up against Pakistan in the 18th match of the ICC Men’s World Cup in Bengaluru on the 20th of October.
Australia played Sri Lanka in their third match of the CWC, and Australia won by 5 wickets. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Australia struggled with the ball early as Sri Lanka moved through to 125 without loss in the 22nd over. From this point on it was all about the Australian bowlers as Sri Lanka were bowled out in the 44th over for 209. Australia’s run chase wasn’t off to the best of starts as Warner and Smith were both dismissed in the 4th over. Marsh and Labuschagne steadied the ship and Australia made it through to 81 before Marsh lost his wicket. Australia put together a couple more decent partnerships and chased down their target of 210 in the 36th over.
The top performers in GDS for Australia were.
Adam Zampa – 127 points
Glenn Maxwell – 92 points
Pat Cummins – 78 points
Mitchell Starc – 73 points
Josh Inglis – 73 points
Pakistan played India in their third match of the CWC, and India won by 7 wickets. India won the toss and elected to field first. The Pakistan top order finally found some form and made it tough early on for the Indian bowling attack. Pakistan made it through to 155/2 in the 30th over before India started to take control of the match. Pakistan lost their last eight wickets for 36 runs and were all out in the 43rd over for 191. Pakistan dismissed Gill in the 3rd over with the score at 23 but that was really their only highlight with the ball. India was able to find the boundary on a regular basis and chased down the 192-run target in the 31st over.
The top performers in GDS for Pakistan were.
Babar Azam – 65 points
Shaheen Afridi – 62 points
Mohammad Rizwan – 60 points
Hasan Ali – 57 points
Imam-ul-Haq – 46 points
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and Pitch Information
The pitch at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is expected to be flat with short boundaries. I’m expecting for a lot of runs to be scored but seam bowlers bowling a good line and length might be able to generate some movement, especially under lights.
Australia vs Pakistan predicted XIs
Australia: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz/Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Usama Mir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf
Who to play in your GDS starting XI
Batters
The three batters that I am likely going to start will be David Warner, Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique. Over the CWC these batters average the following points in GDS.
David Warner – 40 points
Babar Azam – 35 points
Abdullah Shafique – 92 points
I think picking the starting batters is the hardest part of setting your squad for this match and my above selections are dependent on the outcome of the toss. Both teams have been struggling for form at the top of the order and the above batters have been the best performing so far in the CWC. Between the batters predicted to play in this match there has only been one 100 and two 50s scored in 17 innings. If Australia bat first, I’m probably going to start two Australia / one Pakistan batters and vice versa if Pakistan bat first.
If you don’t have the suggested three players in your squad, I have ranked the remaining batters for Australia and Pakistan in the following order. Steve Smith, Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel.
All-Rounders
The four all-rounders that I am likely going to start will be Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Mohammad Nawaz/Shadab Khan. Over the CWC these all-rounders average the following points in GDS.
Mitchell Marsh – 25 points
Glenn Maxwell – 73 points
Marcus Stoinis – 20 points
Mohammed Nawaz – 56 points
Shadab Khan – 47 points
In GDS there are nine players combined from Australia and Pakistan that have the all-rounder position designation. Only five of these nine players are predicted to play. Maxwell and Nawaz/Khan are my top two players as they have been best performing all-rounders in the CWC leading into this match. Marsh is the next selected as the pitch is meant to be batter friendly. It’s a coin flip between Stoinis and Ahmed for the last starting spot. Both players haven’t shown great form this CWC and neither bowl many overs. I’m starting with Stoinis for now but if Pakistan bat first, I may change my mind and go with Ahmed.
Bowlers
The three bowlers that I am likely going to start will be Mitchell Starc, Hasan Ali and Josh Hazlewood/Haris Rauf. Over the CWC these bowlers average the following points in GDS.
Mitchell Starc – 88 points
Hasan Ali – 84 points
Josh Hazlewood – 70 points
Haris Rauf – 67 points
The bowlers have been the best performers in GDS for both Australia and Pakistan so far this CWC. I think selecting bowlers for your squad this round may be the difference between finishing at the top of the table or not. There are seven bowlers from these teams that have played all three games and they have all performed at one time or another. Usama Mir looks like he’s set to be selected as well and this will give GDS coaches eight great bowlers to select from. Starc and Ali are my first two bowlers selected and this is because they have been the best two bowlers out of the eight so far in this tournament. I’m starting Hazlewood as my third bowler for now but if Pakistan bowl second, I may change my mind and go with Rauf.
If you don’t have the suggested three players in your squad, I have ranked the remaining bowlers for Australia and Pakistan in the following order. Josh Hazlewood/Haris Rauf, Pat Cummins, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir and Adam Zampa.
Wicket Keeper
The wicket keeper that I am likely going to start will be Mohammad Rizwan. Over the CWC these wicket keepers average the following points in GDS.
Mohammad Rizwan – 111 points
Josh Inglis – 44 points
Rizwan has been one of the inform keepers in the CWC and he is a must start in this match for me. This is because the experience he brings and the form he has shown with the bat so far this tournament.