Aussies cop worst Cup slog
DESPITE hosting the T20 World Cup, Australia has been handed the worst travel schedule of all 12 teams competing in the group stages, with the reigning champions set to compile almost 9000km through the air over the next fortnight.
Aaron Finch told reporters last week some players within the Australian camp were battling fatigue on the eve of their World Cup title defence and the team would enjoy “a couple of off-days” before the opener against New Zealand this Saturday to “allow guys to get away and recharge”.
And an analysis of the group stage fixtures suggests Australia is right to be cautious in its pre-tournament managing of players, with the hosts due to fly 8997km to play their five pool games over a 13-day span.
That figure is in stark contrast to some of its key title challengers, most notably Saturday’s opponents New Zealand, who will travel just 3784km over the same period.
In fact, Australia will travel more than 1000km further than any other team featuring in its pool.
The Group A qualification winner – one of Namibia, Sri Lanka, UAE or the Netherlands – will travel 7807km, while Afghanistan and England total 5706km and 4836km respectively.
The major factor is of course the cross-country trips to play in Perth – something New Zealand will avoid doing entirely, with the knockout stages based on the east coast.
The Kiwis also play four of their five group games in the east, while England gets an extra day’s rest over its five-game schedule compared to the rest of its pool.
England, Afghanistan and the Group B runner-up will all play back-to-back games in Melbourne, limiting their travel requirements.
In the other pool, Bangladesh doubles up in Adelaide, while Pakistan will play consecutive games in Perth.
Australia’s gruelling group stage schedule comes off the back of a jam-packed pre-tournament lead-in which included a threematch series in India, before warm-up games against the West Indies and India in Queensland, book-ending a three-game series against England in Perth and Canberra.
A number of key players including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc did not fly to Perth to face England, with Australia rotating its playing squad heavily during the pre-tournament schedule.
Finch cautioned against pessimism after Australia’s winless run of form against England and India, claiming the team’s interest was to peak during the World Cup.