Strongest T20 team in the world at present

Can Australia win the T20 World Cup 2016?

The 2016 World T20 is fast approaching and teams are gearing up with their preparations for the tournament. Undoubtedly, all the teams would like to form a settled team before the tournament so that they sail through smoothly in the World Cup.

Which is the best T20 team in the world at present? – This is a pretty valid question in the present scenario. To answer this question, however, one must know what the ingredients are that make a good T20 team.

1. An aggressive opener.
2. A strong middle order.
3. One or two good finishers.
4. A couple of good opening bowlers.
5. A good spinner.
6. One or two good death bowlers.

If we have a look at the top T20 teams, one side that satisfies most of the above criteria is Australia. They look a complete T20 team with quality batsmen who are aggressive as well as good bowlers while they have always been a good fielding side.

An aggressive opener

Australia have David Warner and Aaron Finch as their T20 openers. Both of them can decimate the opposition bowling on their day. An aggressive opener can build the team’s momentum early on in the innings and provide the much-needed kick start in the T20 format. Warner and Finch are capable of providing starts like 80-0 in the first six overs which is why they are worth their weight in gold in the Australian lineup.

A strong middle order

Australia have a formidable middle order in the likes of Steven Smith, George Bailey, Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell. Smith is capable of being the anchor in the innings as well as being the aggressor later on while Bailey seems to be the glue in the middle order who can steer the innings. Watson and Maxwell are the powerhouses in the middle order. A 50-ball hundred seems to be an achievable task for both these batsmen.

A combination of aggression and calmness, Australia’s middle order seems a frightening one.

One or two good finishers

Good finishers in the T20s can create the difference between a par score and an above par one which can eventually be the difference between a win and a loss. Australia have enough talent in the lower middle order to destroy the opposition in the latter overs.

James Faulkner is amongst the best finishers in the game. Time and again he has proved his worth in the end overs when he has swung the game in his team’s favour. Australia also have the likes of Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade who can be lethal in the end overs.

A couple of good opening bowlers

A good opening spell can fetch the team crucial wickets upfront and doesn’t allow the opposition to build any momentum. A bad start puts huge pressure on the middle order which can induce mistakes from them.

Australia has a potent new ball attack in Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins/Nathan Coulter-Nile/Mitchell Johnson. Starc swings the ball viciously and is a dangerous bowler in the powerplay overs.

A good spinner

Though Australia lack a match-winning spinner, they have the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar and Cameron Boyce who can do the job of a spinner for them. A good spinner can stall the opposition’s momentum in the middle overs and Australia’s current crop of spinners can do the job, albeit less effectively than some of their competitors.

One or two good death bowlers

Good death bowling can prevent the opposition from reaching a total that is beyond achievable. If a team lacks good death bowlers, the batsmen will have to make up for the extra runs the team concedes at the death.

Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner are amongst the best death bowlers in the world. Starc’s toe-crushing yorkers and Faulkner’s deceptive change of pace are a handy combination to have in the end overs.

So considering the above factors, Australia seems to be a very good T20 side and will go into the T20 World Cup next year as hot favorites because of their star-studded lineup.