Australia surging into contention for World T20

After an awful start to the World T20, things are starting to fall into place for Australia, with their batting line-up now better balanced and key players James Faulkner, Steve Smith and Shane Watson all finding form.

The Australians were poor in their first two matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh but results have fallen their way and they now have the opportunity to knock India out of the competition today.

India entered the tournament as raging favourites but have been poor so far, suffering an upset loss to the Kiwis and then being outplayed by Bangladesh. Only wild panic by the Bangladesh batsmen with three balls remaining allowed India to snare a win from the clutches of defeat.

India beat the Australians 3-0 in their T20 series Down Under in January. Not much should be read into that result however, as the Australians were messing around fielding experimental sides, while India took that series very seriously, desperate for rare success in Australia.

In the ODIs and T20s in Australia, India’s batting was imperious. Now, however, it looks decidedly vulnerable. In all three of their World T20 matches so far, India’s batting line-up has been shaky, to put it lightly.

They were humiliated by New Zealand in their opening fixture, reduced to 7-43 before managing to scratch to a total of 79 all out. Next up against Pakistan they collapsed to 3-23, with superstar Virat Kohli having to rescue them.

Then they were tied up by a greatly weakened Bangladesh side, missing two of its key bowlers, sliding to 6-117 before finally posting a below par 146. Opener Rohit Sharma has gone from flaying Australia in their home conditions to barely being able to hit the ball off the square.

His opening partner Shikhar Dhawan has been similarly stuck in mud. Combined, Sharma and Dhawan have made just 63 runs at an average of 11, at the horrendous strike rate of 85. Indian number four Suresh Raina also has been struggling for touch and long has been unconvincing against Australia in all three formats.

Amid the core of India’s batting line-up, only Virat Kohli looks at the peak of his powers.

That’s not to suggest that India will be weak opponents as, on paper, they remain the best team in this tournament and could easily explode on Australia.

The difference is that, where just two weeks ago India looked a far better T20 side than Australia, now today’s match is too close to call.

Australia will be delighted with the way in which Faulkner, Smith and Watson surged back into form in the clinical win over Pakistan on Friday.

Five-wicket hero Faulkner has been in a year-long form trough in this format, battling to rediscover his match-winning best. With his left-arm angle and array of clever changes of paces, Faulkner adds invaluable variety to a weakened Australian attack.

Fellow all-rounder Watson was colossal with the blade against Pakistan, slamming 44 from 21 balls to vault Australia to a giant total. Just as valuable as his runs was the manner in which Watson was able to slot seamlessly into the number six role, a move which allowed Australia to bring back star opener Aaron Finch and greatly improve team balance.

Meanwhile, skipper Smith finally produced exactly the sort of bedrock innings which his side so desperately requires. As I flagged in the lead-up to the Pakistan match, Smith needed to bat in the middle order and concentrate on turning over the strike to the ballistic hitters around him like Watson, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell.

Smith did this wonderfully well, allowing just four dot balls from the first 40 deliveries he faced en route to 61 from 43 balls. Australia do not need Smith to take attacks apart – the rest of their top seven specialises in doing just that.

With Finch back opening and Smith moving into the middle order, Australia’s batting looks both more potent and better rounded. Their bowling has exceeded expectations, although it must be conceded that the bar had been set low. Australia are, however, lacking in variety of back-up bowling options due to the one-over mauling of Ashton Agar against the Kiwis.

The lack of faith in Agar’s bowling shown by Smith against New Zealand suggests he is unlikely to be selected again in the tournament. So Australia look set to be stuck with just one specialist spinner on tracks which favour the slow men.

Fortunately for them, that one spinner is having a tremendous impact. After bizarrely being given only one over against the Kiwis, conceding just three runs, leg spinner Adam Zampa has been pivotal against Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Not only has he taken the figures of 5-55 from his eight overs in those two matches, but all of his wickets have been top five batsmen. Since making his international debut in New Zealand last month, Zampa has continually impressed with his control, subtle variations and, perhaps most of all, his unflappable temperament.

He has a massive role to play against India, who struggled somewhat against the wrist spin of Cameron Boyce in January. Australia look to be gelling just at the right time.