James Richardson takes a look at all eight of the automatically qualified Super 12s teams taking part in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Super 12s Group 1
Australia 28/10
Playing at home, Australia are solid favourites to win the tournament even if they recently gave up a home series defeat to England.
Counting against Australia is that they haven’t quite settled what their best top order is and who should fill key roles.
Versatile all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell give Australia a great deal of flexibility with both capable of being top-order batters or finishers.
It is the bowling attack that Australia will back to get them home, and in contrast to their batting, the roles are pretty clearly defined.
When Australia’s pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are on fire, leg-spinner Adam Zampa becomes a luxury but the diminutive wrist-spinner is also a legitimate wicket threat.
The threats to their progression will come from a tough opening three matches when they have to face New Zealand, possibly Sri Lanka and then England.
A poor start could completely rule Australia out of the running at home but if they start well they will be hard to stop.
Verdict: Semi-finalists
The Aussies are a good outfit, but may struggle to go beyond the semi-finals.
Mitchell Starc taking fifers for fun!
— OneCricket (@OneCricketApp) July 21, 2021
Great signs for Australia ahead of the all-important T20 World Cup!
Starc would prove to be a force to reckon with!#MitchellStarc #WIvAUSpic.twitter.com/03ja3zMoC9
England 28/10
Another of the tournament favourites, England will take their lessons from last year’s tournament where they looked nailed on to win until a loss to South Africa caused a stumble and a semi-final defeat followed.
England will be out to be as close to perfect as they possibly can be and if they execute that they are likely to walk away with the trophy.
They are probably the team that feels like the big favourites, with the only question mark being how much of a lottery T20 cricket can sometimes be on certain surfaces.
In this format, England might not miss Jonny Bairstow given that they have top-order men like Alex Hales, Phil Salt and skipper Jos Buttler who is unmatched in T20 cricket.
Death bowling is a big weakness for England but they usually make up for any faltering by Chris Jordan and the Three Lions army of left-arm quicks.
Adil Rashid has somehow once again become an underrated talent when it comes to winning matches because England has been able to bat teams out of matches.
Also drawn alongside New Zealand, Australia and Afghanistan, England can’t afford to drop their level.
Verdict: Winners
England are tipped to go all the way this year.
Go down the track, smash it for four and turn your back on it.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 10, 2021
Hello, Phil Salt.#ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/kU8KiPYyK4
New Zealand 9/1
New Zealand’s ability to compete will depend on their ability to out-team their opponents.
Their explosive batters haven’t always fired recently which has left Kane Williamson in a tricky position and he would love to prove a few critics wrong in Australia.
South African-born batting star Devon Conway could be key to New Zealand upsetting expectations and reaching the last four.
Trent Boult and Tim Southee have bags of experience, and their cool heads will be so valuable to New Zealand.
The surprise package for New Zealand could be a pair of veterans still capable of turning a match in the form of Jimmy Neesham and Martin Guptill.
They aren’t expected to take home the trophy but a strong start against Australia could set them on the path to success.
New Zealand at least finish their Super 12s sequence against the team likely to be their weakest opponents.
Verdict: Out in the Super 12s
The Black Caps don’t appear in any shape to compete with the likes of Australia and England in this group. I reckon they’ll bow out in the Super 12s.
A classic shot by Devon Conway. pic.twitter.com/z0KsKyV22N
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 6, 2022
Afghanistan 50/1
They are definitely the dark horses of the tournament but discount Afghanistan at your peril as they have a few key men with a lot of experience in the Big Bash.
Skipper Mohammad Nabi is one of the players with BBL experience and he is one of the most well-travelled cricketers out there.
Nabi also has the ability to call on both Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman to give him four overs of brilliance each.
Teams have found ways to bat around Rashid Khan and Afghanistan need to find ways to keep the pressure on when the all star spinner is not in the attack.
Afghanistan have probably asked too much of Hazratullah Zazai as their most explosive batter and he hasn’t been able to consistently destroy top attacks at international level.
They open their tournament with the toughest of matches in Perth where England lay in wait.
They have quite the travel schedule as well opening in Perth before repairing to Melbourne and then the Gabba in Brisbane. Their final match of the Super 12s will be against hosts Australia, a match that could figure heavily in the outcome of the tournament even if Afghanistan are out of the running by then.
Verdict: Out in the Super 12s
They’re full of heart and could spring a surprise, but I don’t think they’ll be able to advance.
Rashid Khan pic.twitter.com/eYchGSwP0U
— siyarkhan (@siyarkh68994366) October 15, 2022
Super 12s Group 2
Bangladesh 200/1
Bangladesh are lucky to be in the Super 12s given that their seeding is based on an old ranking and they have lost 18 of their last 20 T20Is.
The Tigers’ presence in Group 2 makes it arguably the more attractive group for the other three top eight sides.
Bangladesh are now very familiar with how Pakistan and India play though and have also posted recent white-ball wins over South Africa so none of the sides in Group 2 should underestimate them.
They are led by veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan but the star man has appeared reluctant to turn out for his country in 2022.
Yasir Ali Chowdhury brings some much-needed power to the Bangladesh batting.
A raft of all-rounders and part-time spinners means that Bangladesh are unlikely to want for options while bowling.
Bangladesh will be out to upset all the big names but they will have to play above themselves to get that job done.
Prediction: Out in the Super 12s
This format hasn’t been kind to them of late. There’s no chance they’re getting out of this group.
🏏
— The Cricket Wire (@TheCricketWire) March 24, 2021
Shakib Al Hasan 🎂
One of the best in the world! 🌏 pic.twitter.com/LjHUkC9mfi
India 7/1
India are the group favourites and possibly among three teams that are really on the inside track when it comes to taking the trophy home.
The loss of Jasprit Bumrah will be a huge blow despite India’s fantastic depth in fast bowling stocks because the unorthodox quick is one of the toughest to get away in this format.
Suryakumar Yadav is the form batter in this India squad despite being the junior member of the team.
In Australia, Virat Kohli might be the best choice for India as an opening partner to skipper Rohit Sharma.
Hardik Pandya being fit again is a huge boost for India as he has been one of the standout players in all of T20 cricket in 2022.
Bumrah’s absence could give young quick Arshdeep Singh the chance to write his name large in India’s cricket history.
India face arch-rivals Pakistan in the opening match and must guard against making this their big focus allowing one of the other dangerous opponents to get one over on them.
Verdict: Runner-up
I reckon this side should top the group and get to the final where they’ll likely fall to England.
Suryakumar Yadav All Sixes in T20Is pic.twitter.com/u7H0wQ529k
— Anand singh (@Anandsingh0510) October 15, 2022
Pakistan 9/1
Pakistan had the ideal preparation for the T20 World Cup, playing tournament cricket in New Zealand and winning the final.
They blew their shot at a double T20 championship when they lost the Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka after beating India in an earlier match.
Much like India they risk making the clash against their great rivals their main event.
Pakistan’s key batters are well-known to be skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan but they really need backup.
Shaheen Afridi hasn’t found his best form after returning from injury but he usually plays well against India which could set him on the right path.
Pakistan looked good in the Super 12s last time out but were ultimately derailed by a faltering semi-final performance.
They are outsiders to win the whole thing but Pakistan are probably odds on to reach the semi-finals.
Prediction: Semi-finalists
Pakistan will likely just pip South Africa to the other semi-final spot in this group.
98 seconds of aesthetically pleasing babar azampic.twitter.com/aZLZ3ptmjU
— Ahmed. (@ahmixdd) October 14, 2022
South Africa 7/1
South Africa have suffered from their captain’s struggles away from the pitch and on it. Questions remain of whether Temba Bavuma is the best man to lead the team.
They won’t be confident of defeating either India or Pakistan and could have trouble if the West Indies land up in this group as they are expected to.
David Miller finding his best form could well propel the Proteas into the latter part of the tournament but they will need to bowl very well.
Australian wickets should offer a little for the South African quicks to work with but in a big tournament like this, the pitches will tend towards batter-friendly.
A late change sees Marco Jansen come into the squad for Dwaine Pretorius which could be a statement about the young left-armer’s burgeoning batting skills or an indictment of the lack of quality allrounders in South Africa.
The return of Rilee Rossouw adds power and experience to the top order and he too, could be a massive difference-maker.
Tristan Stubbs is an exciting young player who should be unleashed pressure free with plenty of old heads around him.
Prediction: Out in the Super 12s
Pakistan and India should prove too strong for the Proteas in this group. I reckon they’ll bow out in the Super 12s.
Tristan Stubbs 🥵 pic.twitter.com/iuRPf9YYrD
— KAK🔺️ (@_khalixdd) July 30, 2022
