Australia vs West Indies, AUS vs WI, Today Match Prediction 07 October 2022

aus vs win Match Prediction & Analysis

A short and quick 2-match T20I series just before the start of the T20 World Cup is good practice for both teams. The pitch was a major factor in the first T20I and the hosts struggled in a run chase of a small total. 

Key players from both teams were out cheaply. Maxwell and Tim David, the big-hitting all-rounders in the Aussie lineup were out for a duck. Whereas, Charles, Pooran, and Powell scored just 3, 2, and 7 runs respectively. This is something both sides will be looking to rectify in the 2nd T20I at The Gabba. 

The big positives for Australia going ahead will be the bowling trio of Hazlewood, Cummins, and Starc. For the Windies, their key bowler Joseph continued his form while the debutant Yannic Cariah made a big impact with his leg-break bowling.

With the series on the line and some big-hitting batters in both lineups, we can expect a high-scoring game at The Gabba. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Australia Preview

Soon after this T20I series wraps up, Australia will take on England in a 3-match T20I series at home. With Warner back in the side, Finch decided against replacing Cameron Green and let the all-rounder continue opening the innings for Australia. 

This is a good idea on the captain’s part to test this opening combination. Finch showed his adaptability to any position in the lineup as he scored a crucial fifty at number 4. Mitchell Marsh will be eager to bounce back after his failure to get going in the 1st T20I. Whereas, the wicket-keeper batsman, Matthew Wade, at number 7 showed just why he’s such a crucial part of the Aussie setup.

To have Green in the XI, Steve Smith had to sit out. While Smith is the more experienced player, Green gives Finch an extra bowling option. This T20I and the subsequent T20I series against England will be a testing ground for Australia to try different playing XI combinations. 

What’s fixed is probably the bowling trio of Hazlewood, Cummins, and Starc. These three bagged 7 wickets together in the last match restricting the Windies to just 145 runs.

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

David Warner, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, Aaron Finch (c), Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Timothy David, Aaron Finch, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

West Indies Preview

West Indies would likely make a change in their opening combination and bring in Shamarh Brooks for the 2nd T20I. Brooks has replaced Hetmyer in the West Indies T20 World Cup squad and needs to get some game time in Australia before the start of the tournament. 

Brandon King has been impressive as an opener in CPL and sending him at number 3 doesn’t seem to be a great idea. With Charles and Mayers as openers, the Windies have a right-hand-left-hand combination.

Bowling all-rounder Raymon Reifer made his debut in the 1st T20I against Australia. Batting at number 4 ahead of skipper Pooran, Raymon scored 19 off 23 balls as wickets fell around him. The batting lineup is quite deep with the likes of Powell, Holder, and Odean Smith at 6, 7, and 8.

Two key performances for West Indies were from Odean Smith and Alzarri Joseph. The two continued their form from CPL and while everyone else struggled, these two seemed pretty confident. Odean Smith added a quickfire 27 off 17 balls while batting at number 8 and finished with 1 for 19 in 3 later in the match.

Alzarri was the top bowler for West Indies with 2 for 17 in his 4 overs. Pooran can take these positives going ahead but needs to step up himself and play a captain’s knock in the middle order.

West Indies Predicted Playing XI:

Brandon King, Johnson Charles (wk), Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran (c), Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy

West Indies Actual Playing XI:

Obed McCoy, Brandon King, Akeal Hosein, Nicholas Pooran, Alzarri Joseph, Rovman Powell, Kyle Mayers, Yannick Cariah, Jason Holder, Johnson Charles, Odean Smith

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch at The Gabba in Brisbane has bounce and pace for the fast bowlers and the consistency in this bounce is what the batters can also rely on for playing their shots. The weather is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of 23 degrees Celsius. The overcast conditions may help the swing bowlers with the new ball.

Venue Details

While the average 1st innings score at this venue is 165 runs from 50 BBL games, a total of 23 times a team has crossed the 170-runs mark batting at The Gabba. Only 5 T20 internationals have been played at this venue. The highest score that was chased here on the international stage is 161 runs. 
 

Toss: To Bowl

Teams batting second have won 26 of the 50 domestic T20 matches played at this venue. Given the batting-friendly track here, both teams would prefer to bowl first on winning the toss.