Australia have enough depth to outclass South Africa

Australia and South Africa will set the Super 12s ball rolling in the ICC T20 World Cup today.

South Africa are in the process of rebuilding the side with a bunch of youngsters under their first black captain Temba Bavuma.

The one to catch the eye has been left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. He and Keshav Maharaj will share the spinning duties, and hence their performances will be critical to the side’s fortunes on UAE pitches. Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi make for a potent pace pack. The team’s gelled well and three T20I series wins are ample proof.

Aaron Finch’s Australia is filled with quality players.

Josh Hazlewood’s incisive spells for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL will warrant selection alongside Pat Cummins. Spin is secure in the hands of leggie Adam Zampa and left-armer Ashton Agar. And Glenn Maxwell’s efforts for the Royal Challengers wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. Marcus Stoinis was in good touch in the warm-up game against India.

The match also flagged Australia’s middle-order fragility. Still, there is enough depth and experience to quell the Proteas’ challenge.