Steve Smith has branded India favourites to win the T20 World Cup, after Virat Kohli’s side outclassed Australia in a warm-up match on Wednesday.
Smith scored a half-century to help Australia post a competitive 152 for five in the tune-up in Dubai, but India’s batsmen mowed down the total with 13 balls to spare to win by eight wickets.
“They’re a terrific side. They’ve got all bases covered and some serious match-winners,” Smith said after his 57 from 48 balls.
“They’ve all been playing in these conditions the last couple of months with the IPL (Indian Premier League). So they’ll be used to that.”
Australia’s bowlers managed only one wicket, with spinner Ashton Agar removing opener Lokesh Rahul for 39. Rohit Sharma retired after a 41-ball 60 to allow Hardik Pandya (14 not out) a bat with Suryakumar Yadav (38 not out).
They’re a terrific side. They’ve got all bases covered and some serious match-winners. They’ve all been playing in these conditions the last couple of months with the IPL. So they’ll be used to that.
— Australian batsman Steve Smith
All-rounder Marcus Stoinis bowled for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury during the IPL, conceding 16 runs from his two overs.
The form of David Warner remains a major concern for Australia after the opener was trapped lbw by Ravichandran Ashwin for one.
Warner, who was dropped by IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad after twin failures with the bat, has managed only three runs from his last four innings.
The lefthander was not alone in his struggles, with Aaron Finch out for eight and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, batting at number three, removed by Ashwin for a first-ball duck.
Smith combined with Glenn Maxwell (37) and Stoinis (41 not out) to rally the Australians.
The former skipper was glad to get runs after being barely used by Delhi Capitals on the IPL’s resumption in the Middle East.
“I feel as if I’ve been hitting the ball really well,” he said. “I haven’t played too many games in the IPL but I’ve spent a lot of time in the nets, working on things and getting used to conditions.”
Meanwhile, Australia’s Pat Cummins believes fast bowlers will need a varied skill set to conquer the “tired” pitches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The pacers will be a worried lot heading into the World Cup, looking for ways to master the dry and slow pitches in the UAE which has split warm-up matches with Oman but hosts the rest of the tournament from Saturday.
The UAE also hosted the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which concluded last Friday, meaning fast bowlers face the prospect of toiling on worn out pitches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
“A couple of wickets have been tired and a couple times you get some really good wickets,” Cummins told a virtual news conference on Thursday.
“In Twenty20, you got to have variety. Bowling with a new ball up front is going to look quite different to how you bowl in the end.
“So you’ve got to be able to adapt and have two or three different spells within the 20 overs.”
The 28-year-old, who is returning to competitive cricket after more than five months, felt conditions in the UAE would significantly differ depending on match timing and bowlers would needed to adjust accordingly.
“The night games tend to be a bit more batter-friendly. There’s a bit of dew around and the ball skids on whereas the day games are a bit drier.”
“I think the biggest difference is when we talk about it being dry. That brings in the slower balls.”
“Night games, if they start sliding on, you’ve got to look at other options. Maybe it’s yorkers, bouncers, and try different deliveries where the pitch is friendly for us bowlers.”
Australia meet SA in their World Cup opener in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. (Start: 12 noon, SA time)
— Reuters
