By Aidan Smyth
With the warm up games starting to come to an end, and the World Cup just around the corner, we are following on from our outright preview earlier this week, with a team by team guide of the nations already in the Super 12 stage.
Afghanistan
Boasting some of the best spin bowlers in the world, Afghanistan will likely be relying on their bowlers for any success at the tournament.
Rashid Khan is widely seen as the best spinner in the world, and it would be a shock to me if he isn’t the frontline Afghan bowler.
Tip: Rashid Khan top Afghanistan bowler - 15/8
Australia
The holders and this years hosts are expected to go close to winning this tournament. The side has everything, from a powerful batting lineup, to a frightening seam attack, and in Adam Zampa they have a high class spin option.
The four frontline bowlers are all of exceptional class so it’s the batting I am leaning towards for my selection, and my choice would be Mitchell Marsh. With an average of over 30, the man of the match from last years final could be pivotal in firing Australia to another big tournament success.
Tip: Mitchell Marsh top Australia batsman - 4/1
Bangladesh
Bangladesh are probably the biggest outsiders of the teams to start the tournament in the super 12, and they will need a lot to go their way in order to progress.
However, they do have quality in there side and in Litton Das and Shakib Al Hasan, they can score big runs with the bat. In the most recent game vs Pakistan, both these men scored half centuries, with Das impressive 69, almost taking Bangladesh to a winning score.
These two will need to score runs for any sort of success in the tournament, but if the two I am selecting Litton Das to be the top scorer. His steadying influence at the top of the order should give some of the big hitters a license to score quickly, and I’m backing his consistency to give him the slight edge over Shaqib.
Tip: Litton Das top Bangladesh batsman - 10/3
England
Another team we fully expect to see in the latter stages of the tournament in England. With a prolific batting lineup led by Jos Buttler, and some great bowling options, the English will be confident of success in this tournament.
Despite Jos Buttler being a clear favourite to lead the run scoring for England, the competition from Malan, Brook and Hales makes the 13/8 look a bit skinny for me.
Instead I’ve turned my attention to the bowlers where Sam Curran represents incredible value. Curran led the wickets for England in the recent Pakistan series and his 3fer vs Australia has cemented his place in the side. His variations at the back end are proving very difficult for batsman to hit, and if he continues his fine form, he could well be Englands star man with the ball.
Tip: Sam Curran top England bowler - 13/2
India
The Indian side probably boasts the strongest strength in depth in the tournament, despite the injury to star bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who would have been the selection here.
The deep squad India have makes it difficult to select a bowler, as rotation may play a key part, so I am instead selecting KL Rahul as my selection.
The Indian star has gone from strength to strength in recent years, scoring over 600 runs in 4 of the last 5 IPL campaigns, failing to do so only in 2019, where he scored 593, so we will let him off in that year! KL has averaged over 50 in all of these campaigns and is a model of consistency, something which Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have sometimes lacked in recent years.
Tip: KL Rahul top Indian batsman - 9/4
New Zealand
New Zealand have been the dark horses in recent international tournaments, coming close to success in recent 20 and 50 over tournaments, and were cruelly denied only by a fantastic Mitch Marsh innings last year.
The batting lineup is strong again, led by the ever consistent Kane Williamson, and the bowling has great depth, with Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson great pace options, but it is the batting where my selection comes and I’m going for the ever reliable Kane Williamson.
Williamson has struggled to kick onto the big scores in his last few games, but his 31 vs Pakistan and 30 vs Bangladesh showed glimpses that we aren’t far away from seeing the very best from him. The Kiwis will be hoping their main man can find his very best form, and if he does, not only will they be dark horses yet again this time around, but he will be tremendous value to top their run scoring charts.
Tip: Kane Williamson top NZ batsman - 16/5
Pakistan
I think it’s clear to all cricket fans that the chances of Pakistan will be all on the shoulders of the opening batsmen. Rizwan and Babar Azam have been a pillar of consistency for their side, and will have to continue their form in order for them to qualify from the super 12 stage.
13/8 about the pair of openers is fair, but as I can’t choose between the two, my selection is with the ball, and I’m selecting Haris Rauf. Rauf was the top wicket taker in the England series, and would have been even more convincingly had his teammates not dropped some simple catches. He has proven in the Big Bash that he can perform Down Under and the 4/1 on him seems very generous given his experience in Australia.
Tip: Haris Rauf top Pakistan bowler - 4/1
South Africa
Lastly, is my pick for the tournament outright, South Africa. They have a brutal batting lineup, and exceptional bowling to match. With Pakistans over reliance on the opening pair, and India missing their best bowler, South Africa have to fancy their chances of going deep in this competition.
The seamers would be where I’d focus my attention in the bowling market, with the flat pitches maybe not playing into the hands of Maharaj and Shamsi. Nortje had a fantastic World Cup last year, and despite Rabada not being at his best we know how dangerous he can be, but Lungi Ngidi is flying hugely under the radar here. His variations and change of pace can be absolutely devastating, especially when batsman are looking to score quickly against him, and at 6/1 he can be a major player for the Proteas throughout this tournament.
With the bat I believe there is also fantastic value in the form of Rilee Roussow. His 100* the other day showed his class, and could kickstart a run of form which will showcase his talent on the biggest stage. De Kock is the obvious danger in the market, his 140* in the IPL this year showed how destructive he can be, but Roussow also has this ability in his locker, Somerset fans will remember vividly his 36 run over against Derbyshire earlier this year, and on the flat pitches we are to expect in Australia, Roussow could score big runs.
Tip: Lungi Ngidi top SA bowler - 6/1
Tip:Rilee Roussow top SA batsman - 9/2
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