Dubai, United Arab Emirates – For Australia to be underdogs in a cricket World Cup semi-final is one thing unparalleled.
However when it meets Pakistan in Dubai within the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup on Thursday, it is going to be the Asian aspect who might be favourites to progress to the ultimate the place New Zealand lies in wait.
Pakistan has received all its 5 matches within the match. Captain Babar Azam sits second on the scorers’ chart. The person-of-the-match awards have been shared and the crew has come by way of a number of checks on the sector.
Australia although has regarded lower than convincing in its run to the semi-final. However leg-spinner Adam Zampa is second on the wicket-takers’ checklist – with a five-wicket haul to his title – and the openers are beginning to click on.
However for both aspect to succeed in the last-four is nothing wanting outstanding.
Current efficiency
Pakistan got here into the match after having their sequence in opposition to New Zealand and England cancelled. The previous pulled out minutes earlier than the beginning of the primary match whereas the latter withdrew three days later.
Previous to that, three of Pakistan’s 4 T20 within the West Indies have been rained off earlier this week.
However all that counted for nothing as Azam’s males stormed into the semi-finals unbeaten, together with a first-ever World Cup win over India who failed to succeed in the last-four.
Australia misplaced its final 5 T20 sequence coming into the match, together with in Bangladesh, and regarded removed from a top-four aspect.
However Zampa and the three-man tempo assault has helped it attain the semi-finals coupled with Warner’s return to kind.
“I believe you possibly can take a look at stats [statistics] and you’ll deep-dive into whether or not you need to be bowling spin or quicks within the powerplay,” stated Australia captain Aaron Finch.
“They’re a world-class trio of fast bowlers and we’ve obtained Kane Richardson there as effectively, who’s arguably among the finest T20 bowlers on the earth who hasn’t featured simply but. We’re actually proud of how that’s gone.”
Head-to-head
It’s Pakistan who leads the head-to-head between the 2 sides, having received 13 of the 23 matches.
The 2 final met in November 2019, with Australia profitable the three-match sequence 2-0 after rain ruined the opening match.
However within the UAE, Pakistan is a formidable aspect, unbeaten in 16 T20s right here since November 2015. Its final T20 loss to Australia within the UAE got here in 2014.
Australia has received all 4 World Cup knockout matches in opposition to Pakistan, together with the 2010 T20 World Cup semi-final the place Michael Hussey’s late onslaught, particularly focusing on Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal, helped the aspect sneak into the ultimate.
Hayden v Langer
The semi-final may even pit Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, certainly one of Check cricket’s most enduring and damaging opening partnerships.
Langer is Australia’s head coach whereas Hayden was employed as batting guide by Pakistan cricket’s new chief Ramiz Raja forward of the match.
“It’s a really uncommon feeling,” stated Hayden. “I used to be a warrior for Australian cricket over twenty years, in order that does give me the advantage of having great insights not solely into these gamers but additionally into the tradition of cricket in Australia.”
They opened collectively for the primary time in 2001 and performed collectively on the Sydney Cricket Floor for the final time in 2007.
In between, the pair amassed 5,655 runs collectively when opening, a stand that features six double-century partnerships.
Sickness worries for Pakistan
Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan, who has scored extra T20 runs than anybody else this yr, and veteran Shoaib Malik sat out the final coaching session with gentle flu.
Each gamers have contributed to Pakistan’s path to the semis so both lacking out on Thursday might be a giant blow to Azam’s hopes of reaching the ultimate.
Rizwan is the Tremendous 12’s third-highest run-scorer whereas Malik, drafted into the squad late, hit the match’s joint-fastest half-century in opposition to Scotland in Pakistan’s ultimate group match.