ICC World T20: The strongest playing XI of all the teams

The Super 10s of the 2016 edition of World T20 is just days away from getting kicked off as all the participating teams are in India playing thewarm-up and qualifying matches respectively.Some teams will have their combination fixed with the progression of the tournament while some come into the tournament without a proper combination. Remarkably, hosts India, New Zealand and England are the only teams to have their combinations sorted out coming into the tournament.Let us take a look at how all the eight teams in the super 10s of the tournament should line up.

#1 Australia

Australian cricket team pose with the trophy

Australia come into the World T20 after beating South Africa 2-1 in their own backyard and in the series, the concerns over the playing XI in the World T20 might have been solved. With four openers in the team, the Aussie team management were scratching their head in picking the right combination.

But the series against South Africa made sure that there are no further doubts regarding the Australian batting order. After his 100 against India in the third T20I, Shane Watson cemented his place as an opener and for the role of his partner, David Warner, Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja were competing.

But after Warner’s heroics in the middle order, the pocket dynamo will be batting at number 4 and Aaron Finch will be opening with Watson. Finch, Watson, Smith, Warner and Maxwell complete the batting order and following them, Mitch Marsh and James Faulkner come into bat.

As far as their bowling department is concerned, John Hastings is a definite starter and considering the T20 record, Andrew Tye might get the nod ahead of Josh Hazlewood in the XI. Ashton Agar will be the lone spinner in the XI.

Australian XI: Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner, Peter Nevill, Ashton Agar, John Hastings, Andrew Tye

#2 England

The English cricket team pose for a photo ahead of a warm-up match

England, the 2010 champions are on a rampage in the limited overs format since the end of 2015 World Cup. The have a completely new team and their approach towards the format has changed.

As far as the team combination is concerned, they have a settled line up. In-form Alex Hales will open with Jason Roy with their best batsman Joe Root coming in at number 3 and skipper Eoin Morgan at 4. Ben Stokes, who had a great tour of South Africa will come in at five followed by the dangerous Jos Buttler.

All-rounder David Willey, who has a T20 100 to his name comes in at number 8. As far as their bowling is concerned, the Poms have Topley, Plunkett, Rashid, Willey and Moeen Ali as an all-rounder.

England XI: Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Reece Topley

#3 India

The members of the Indian cricket team celebrate after taking a wicket

The tournament favourites have a tried and tested line-up for the World T20. Rohit Sharma will open the batting with Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli will walk in at the fall of the first wicket. These three will be expected to do the majority of the batting for the men in blue.

The middle order comprises of experienced Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni. Hardik Pandya, who can score some quick runs and bowl medium pace will come in at 7. As far as the bowling department is concerned, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will be the frontline spinners and Jasprit Bumrah will take care of the pace bowling department.

Ashish Nehra and Mohammad Shami will fight for the remaining one place and it is likely that Nehra will be included in the playing XI ahead of Shami.

Indian XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra

#4 New Zealand

The Kiwis pose with the trophies after beating Australia in the ODI series

New Zealand come into the tournament without Brendon McCullum as he announced his retirement just before the World T20. In his absence, Kane Williamson will be leading the Kiwis in the World T20. But as a batsman, McCullum is very hard to replace.

In the absence of McCullum, Williamson and Guptill will open the innings followed by Colin Munro, Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott. Corey Anderson will be their pace bowling all rounder while Mitchell Santner will be adding some value to the team with his slow left arm spin and handy batting.

Nathan McCullum will be the frontline spinner with Tim Southee and Trent Boult taking care of the pace department.

New Zealand XI: Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

#5 Pakistan

Pakistan team after losing to New Zealand in the ODI series

Unpredictable- Just like their performances, their playing XI is also unpredictable. After announcing the World T20 squad before the Asia Cup, the PCB has made few changes to the squad for the World T20 after their poor performance in the Asia Cup.

Opener Ahmed Shehzad comes in for Khurram Manzoor and the right-hander is likely to open alongside Mohammad Hafeez. Pakistan’s best batsmen in the Asia Cup Sarfaraz Ahmad, Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal will be batting in the middle order followed by all-rounders Shahid Afridi, Imad Wasim and Anwar Ali. Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan will be the three pacers in the XI.

Pakistan XI: Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmad, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan

#6 South Africa

South African players celebrate after taking a wicket during the second T20I against Australia

Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers- three in-form batsmen vying for the opener’s slot will be a big headache for the team management. In spite of skipper Faf du Plessis confirming that de Villiers will open the batting in the World T20, Amla and de Kock might go to bat ahead of Faf and de Villiers.

AB de Villiers opening the batting is a big gamble as if he gets out early, it takes a big toll on the middle order to resurrect the innings. So it will be a good move by the selectors if de Villiers bats at number 4. Faf du Plessis will be batting at 3 with Duminy and Miller finishing the top 6.

Chris Morris and David Wiese will be the two all-rounders while Imran Tahir, Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada will be the three frontline bowlers.

South Africa XI: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, David Miller, Chris Morris, David Wiese, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott, Imran Tahir

#7 Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan players offer prayers before flying to India

Defending champions Sri Lanka have a lot of issues to address coming into the World T20. The team is without their batting stalwarts Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. Adding to this, their lethal weapon Lasith Malinga dropped a bombshell before the tournament by resigning from captaincy. Though he is in the team, his inclusion in the playing XI remains uncertain.

As far as the batting is concerned, openers Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan and skipper Angelo Mathews have a lot to contribute. Their bowling is their strong zone as they have the likes of Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera and Rangana Herath.

Sri Lankan XI: Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Snehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dasun Shanaka, Sachitra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera

#8 West Indies

West Indian players celebrate after taking a wicket during the warm-up match against India

When it comes to World T20, West Indies are a completely different side as they go into the tournament as favourites. Though they will be missing the likes of Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine, they look a formidable side that has the best T20 batsman Chris Gayle open the batting with Johnson Charles.

They have enough firepower in the XI courtesy Marlon Samuels, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy. These players can not only bat, but can also contribute with the ball. Samuel Badree will be the frontline spinner and he will be backed by Ashley Nurse and pacers Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor.

West Indies XI: Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Ashley Nurse, Jason Holder, Samuel Badree, Jerome Taylor