He had one of the fiercest opening combinations in Test cricket with Australia winning literally every game he played. Come Thursday, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer will be planning each other’s outfit collapse in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
only unbeaten team
While Hayden, in his first assignment as a member of Pakistan’s coaching staff, has been instrumental in Pakistan being the only unbeaten team in the tournament so far, he would have known that his boys’ work was cut short against their home team. Langer is in charge.
Furthermore, the semi-finals could be seen as a curtain-raiser for Australia’s first tour of Pakistan in 2022 after more than two decades, which were announced a few hours ago.
Once Aaron Finch and Babar Azam walk out for the toss, however, Hayden and Langer will step away from the limelight and bite their nails into the dugout, in the hope that their respective teams will continue their stellar run so far in the tournament.
humminger
It has a humming potential, as the teams and their line-ups go by.
Finch and David Warner are the closest competitors to Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the race for the best opening combination of the tournament.
Same with Australia’s Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood and the pace trio to choose between Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali of Pakistan, all of whom have left their footprints in the last three weeks.
Revelation
In such a situation, the battle of spinners can prove to be decisive. Adam Zampa has been a revelation to Australia, becoming the joint-highest wicket-taker in the Super-12 stage with 11 scalps.
Conversely, despite their ability to suppress batsmen, neither Shadab Khan nor Imad Wasim have been consistently between the wickets.
If Zampa revolves around a terrifying middle and late-middle-order from Pakistan, young Asif Ali joins old warriors Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez, Australia vying for mediocre returns in the biggest stage of the shortest format. hoping to end his run. ,
On the other hand, if Pakistan can stop Zampa’s dream in the middle overs, Hayden can really hope to wear a bigger smile than his left-arm opening partner.
teams
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shoaib Malik.
The match will start at 7.30 pm Indian time.
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