The second round of matches has opened up Group 1, giving Australia a chance to reach the semi-finals. Six teams play in Group 1 for two positions in the final four of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. We examine the current situation of affairs.
Australia vs England – Friday 28 October
It doesn’t get any larger than this. Any meeting between Australia and England is significant, but the MCG is set to host a genuinely pivotal match in the context of this tournament. A loss for either team would necessitate a miraculous escape to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2022. Recent results aren’t looking well for the home team. England won the pre-tournament warm-up series in Australia 2-0, and it appeared like a clean sweep was on the way until rain halted the third and final match in Canberra.
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Australia has won just one of the past seven completed men’s T20I matches between these two countries. When these two sides faced in the Group Stage of the last T20 World Cup , Jos Buttler propelled England to a crushing triumph after Australia was bowled out for 125, with England chasing down the mark in only 11.4 overs.
But history is just that: history. Australia will try to knock out their old rivals on Friday night in Melbourne, while England appears to have lost its swagger at the start of the Super12 stage of the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – Sat 29 October
By the time of New Zealand’s match against Sri Lanka on Saturday, the composition of Group 1 will be more apparent. The Asia Cup 2022 Champions are hoping to surprise everyone and finish in the top two in this group of T20 World Cup 2022. However, they will very certainly need to defeat at least one, if not two, of the teams, rated higher in the MRF ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings.
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Sri Lanka has already come out on the losing end of a game against the tournament hosts and cannot afford another defeat. However, they are up against a powerful foe in New Zealand. As seen by their huge win over Australia earlier in the competition, the 2021 T20 World Cup champions have a well-balanced attack and a potent batting combination.
With their point from the rained-out Afghanistan match, as well as their superior Net RR, another win for New Zealand would put them in command of the group.
Remaining Group 1 Fixtures
- Friday 28 October: Afghanistan v Ireland, MCG, Melbourne
- Friday 28 October: Australia v England, MCG, Melbourne
- Saturday 29 October: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, SCG, Sydney
- Monday 31 October: Australia v Ireland, The Gabba, Brisbane
- Tuesday 01 November: Afghanistan v Sri Lanka, The Gabba, Brisbane
- Tuesday 01 November: England v New Zealand, The Gabba, Brisbane
- Friday 04 November: Ireland v New Zealand, Adelaide Oval
- Friday 04 November: Australia v Afghanistan, Adelaide Oval
- Saturday 05 November: Sri Lanka v England, SCG, Sydney