After two rounds of T20 World Cup games (excluding those you copped the rain) we’re starting to get a read on form and roles, giving you a great opportunity to launch into some of the upcoming Draftstars action led by Friday night’s $12,000 Australia-England slate.
This weekend’s T20 World Cup games include New Zealand-Sri Lanka and India-South Africa, plus a few of the lesser lights face off so there’s going to be some variety in Draftstars selection and we’re here to try help you make the decisive calls.
First things first, the rain continues to be a factor at this T20 World Cup, particularly looking at the forecast for Melbourne over the next week, so make sure you’re monitoring that prior to games starting. You don’t want to be picking an all-rounder batting six or seven who’ll only bowl one or two overs in a rain-shortened game!
The key games
Australia v England, MCG, Friday October 28 7pm AEDT
Form
Marcus Stoinis ($15,300 B|B) stole the show with his blazing knock in Tuesday’s win over Sri Lanka so he’s hard to go past, but Glenn Maxwell ($14,000 B|B) looked like he was heating up, with 23 off 12 (hello strike rate bonus). He also was used with the ball, taking a wicket, so at that price he looks a lock.
Sam Curran ($16,700 B|B) has taken seven wickets in two World Cup games (averaging 116.5 DS points) and he loves the big stage. He also took five wickets in two games against Australia in the recent T20I series and he’s not among the most expensive in this slate, so jump on that. Jos Buttler ($19,600 BAT) hasn’t got going yet this World Cup, but he top scored in that T20I series against Australia earlier this month, with 150 runs from three knocks at a strike rate of almost 175. He’ll open the batting, he likes the Aussie bowlers, he’s due runs, he’s likely to get fielding points but is very pricey.
“Sam Curran has taken seven wickets in two World Cup games (averaging 116.5 DS points) and he loves the big stage. He also took five wickets in two games against Australia in the recent T20I series and he’s not among the most expensive in this slate.”
Injuries
Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade ($8,900 BAT) is in doubt having tested positive to COVID-19, although he may still play as per T20 World Cup rules. Australia have no back-up wicketkeeper in the squad after Josh Inglis’ withdrawal so David Warner ($18,000 BAT) or Glenn Maxwell ($14,000 B|B) may be forced to take the gloves. Adam Zampa ($13,400 BOW) may return after his bout of COVID-19 to replace Ashton Agar ($12,400 B|B).
Roles
Of the cheaper playing contingent, the role just isn’t there for Tim David ($9,500 BAT), Wade ($8,900 BAT) and Harry Brook ($9,200 BAT), but Moeen Ali ($10,300 B|B) could be the one. He’s only bowled once in their past five T20Is, but England may fancy his right-arm offies against Australia, plus he looked in good touch with a swashbuckling 24* from 12 before rain intervened against Ireland. Spinner Adil Rashid ($11,600 BOW) may do some damage too and is pretty cheap.
India v South Africa, Perth Stadium, Sunday October 30 10pm AEDT
Form
This match brings together some of the World Cup’s form batsmen in Virat Kohli, Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw, but the Perth Stadium wicket hasn’t been easy for runs so far. Rohit Sharma ended his seven-game streak without a half-century with 53 against the Dutch but you’d be brave bringing him in.
Rossouw was the second top scorer in this year’s UK T20 Blast and just crunched a 109 from 56 balls against Bangladesh coming in at first drop. De Kock has a World Cup strike rate of 196.64 so far and was the leading run scorer in South Africa’s recent three-game T20I series in India.
Proteas quick Anrich Nortje may thrive in the Perth conditions, fresh from taking 4-10 against Bangladesh and 1-10 in the run-ruined draw with Zimbabwe. Indian left-arm medium-fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has been mighty impressive this tournament, and led the wickets in the aforementioned T20I series against the Proteas.
“In barely 26 overs in the field, Quinton de Kock has already claimed four catches and a stumping (50 DS points).”
Injuries
Nothing of note for either side, beyond those withdrawn prior to the tournament.
Roles
Indian all-rounders Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya offer two modes of scoring but didn’t get a bat against the Dutch. You’d expect against a stronger Proteas bowling attack they’ll get a shot with the bat, so capitalise on those generous prices.
In barely 26 overs in the field, De Kock has already claimed four catches and a stumping (50 DS points). Left-armer Wayne Parnell is South Africa’s pseudo all-rounder, opening the bowler and batting at seven, although he went without a wicket in three recent T20Is against India.
New Zealand v Sri Lanka, SCG, Saturday October 29 7pm AEDT
Form
Both these sides have played Australia, with one winning convincingly and one losing heavily. The Black Caps’ second game against Afghanistan was washed out, so the enduring memory is opening batsman Finn Allen‘s 42-run salvo at a 260+ strike rate. Devon Conway came into the World Cup with excellent form, top scoring in the Triangular Series against Pakistan and Bangladesh and backed that up with an unbeaten 92* from 58 balls against Australia, grabbing a lovely strike rate bonus.
Charitih Asalanka had produced two good cameos in the group stage, scoring 38* from 25 against Australia and 31* from 22 against Ireland. Pathum Nissanka struggled for timing against Australia and has only one half-century in his past six knocks.
“Devon Conway came into the World Cup with excellent form, top scoring in the Triangular Series against Pakistan and Bangladesh and backed that up with an unbeaten 92* from 58 balls against Australia.”
Injuries
Daryl Mitchell, who was a revelation at last year’s World Cup as an opening batsman, is available again after a finger injury and will likely come into the side to replace Mark Chapman.
Sri Lanka have lost left-arm opening bowler Binura Fernando to a tournament-ending hamstring injury from Tuesday’s game against Australia, replaced by Asitha Fernando. The Sri Lankans bowling stocks are fairly depleted with Dilshan Madushanka and Dushmantha Chameera ruled out prior to the World Cup, while and Pramod Madushan has been battling injury too.
Roles
Mitchell‘s return may impact the Black Caps’ top order, so monitor the team sheets at the coin toss for any indications. He has batted as low as six, so given their opening game success, you’d think that’s likely to be repeated. Jimmy Neesham wasn’t used with the ball against Australia and hasn’t bowled in NZ’s past five T20Is. Given the SCG pitch, the Black Caps will likely use the full eight-over spin quota from Ish Sodhi and Mitch Santner too.
Sri Lanka had to shuffle their bowling options against Australia due to Binura’s early injury, so don’t read too much into how their attack was utilized in that game. Australia made leggie Wanindu Hasaranga look average, going for 53 runs from three overs on Tuesday, but he may relish the SCG surface and still has the prime all-rounder role, batting middle order.
Other games
Afghanistan v Ireland, MCG, Friday October 28 3pm AEDT
It’s obvious to say Andy Balbirnie ($15,200 BAT) and Josh Little ($14,100 BOW) will both be on highs after their heroic performances in the shock win over England, tallying 91.5 and 64 DS points respectively. All 10 of Afghanistan’s wickets fell to fast bowling against England, so look to Little and the Irish quicks.
Rashid Khan ($23,800 BOW) only took three wickets in August’s five-game T20I series against Ireland so he may be one to fade. Najibullah Zadran ($15,600 BAT) was the leading Afghan run scorer in that series, with 125 runs and a strike rate of 164.
“Rashid Khan only took three wickets in Afghanistan’s five-game T20I series against Ireland in August so he may be one to fade. In Ireland’s three wins in their 3-2 series win, Rashid only claimed one dismissal too as they successfully saw him off.”
Bangladesh v Zimbabwe, Gabba, Sunday October 30 2pm AEDT
Bangladeshi opening bowler Taskin Ahmed has caught our attention so far, while Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza showed he can match it with the upper echelon of teams with a Player of the Match display against Pakistan on Thursday, taking 3-25 after misfiring with the bat.
Netherlands v Pakistan, Perth Stadium, Sunday October 30 6pm AEDT
The Perth Stadium pitch has proved difficult for big scores so far, with fast bowlers doing plenty of damage, including Pakistan’s Mohammad Wasim who took 4-24 at the venue against Zimbabwe on Thursday.
Pakistan’s World Cup already appears over after two narrow losses, so they’ll be determined to put up a better showing especially highly regarded openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan who’ve misfired so far. Dutchman Bas de Leede bats first drop and usually bowls three overs so target him.
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