ICC men's T20 World Cup 2020: 3 reasons why Australia will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy

The 2020 ICC men's T20 World Cup will be held in Australia from 18 October, 2020 to 15 November, 2020 with 16 nations will compete for the coveted trophy.

The 2020 edition will be the seventh T20 World Cup and Australia will be hosting the tournament for the first time since its inception in 2007.

West Indies have won the tournament twice whereas India, Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka have bagged the trophy once in the history of the tournament.

Till date, no host nation has won the T20 World Cup and Australia will look to create history by trumping those odds on home soil. Most teams have started their preparations for the T20 World Cup and have begun to identify players who could play a vital role in the tournament.

Australia are on a roll in T20 cricket in 2019 and have not lost a single T20I this year. They are ranked number 2 in the ICC T20 international rankings. The return of Warner and Smith to the team has added the much needed experience at the top of the order. The management is looking to groom young batsmen who have tasted success in the Big Bash League in the middle order and they are starting to make their presence felt in the T20 set up.

The bowling too seems to be in the safe hands of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa who have considerable experience and have collectively led Australia to many wins in the T20 format.

On that note, here is a look at 3 reasons why the hosts Australia will be one of the favourites for the mega tournament:

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#1 Current form and home conditions

Australia have not lost a T20 match in 2019

2019 has been an exceptional year for Australia in T20 cricket. The second ranked team in T20 internationals has not lost a single T20 match in the year 2019. The Aussies, in 2019 have won 7 out of 8 matches with 1 game being abandoned due to rain against Pakistan.

Out of the said 7 wins in 2019, 2 have been against India in India, 3 against Sri Lanka at home and 2 against Pakistan at home. Australia's preparations have been ideal for the upcoming World Cup.

The Aussie players are familiar with the conditions Down Under and have better knowledge and experience in playing at grounds that on an average are bigger than the rest of the world.

#2 Experience and variety in the bowling attack

Starc will look to spearhead the Australian pace attack for the 2020 T20 World Cup

The five frontline bowlers of Australia in T20 internationals namely Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar have an economy of less than 7 in T20Is which has been one of the main reasons for the success of the team.

The trio of Starc, Cummins and Richardson have been exceptional for Australia in the power play and the death overs and they have played the dual role of picking up wickets and controlling the scoring rate in the said overs.

Apart from the above mentioned bowlers, Australia able replacements in Billy Stanlake, Sean Abbott and Andrew Tye who have been impressive in the limited opportunities they have played for Australia.

The spin duo comprising of Zampa and Agar too have been impressive for Australia in the middle overs. The leg spinner Zampa has been used as the attacking option for Australia post the powerplay overs and he bowls economically. An economy of 6.54 in 26 overs in 2019 is testimony to Zampa's role in the team. He has picked up 6 wickets in the said 26 overs at an average of 28.33.

Agar too has done well for Australia in 2019. He has an economy of 5.87 in 23 overs this year which is indeed exceptional. He averages an impressive 19.29 and has picked up 7 wickets in T20 internationals in 2019.

#3 Explosive top and middle-order

David Warner and Aaron Finch have been exceptional at the top of the order for Australia

In David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steve Smith, Australia have three of the most explosive batsmen in the world who can change the momentum of the game any time they one.

Warner has been in exceptional form since his return to the Australian team. In 2019, he averages 287 in T20s in 6 innings and has scored one century and two half centuries and has a strike rate of 145.69. Warner looks to bat through the innings and can be a nightmare to bowl to once he gets his eye in.

His opening partner Aaron Finch complements Warner at the top of the order. The right handed opener averages 35.83 this year in T20 cricket and has a phenomenal strike rate of 158.09.

Smith too has played exceptional cricket since his comeback. Apart from his prolific Ashes, in 3 T20Is, the right handed batsman has scored at an average of 146 and a strike rate of 128.79. The trio of Warner, Finch and Smith have the ability to dominate any bowling attack and are match winners on their day.

Glenn Maxwell is another explosive batsman who can change the course of a match in a couple of overs. Though Maxwell withdrew himself for the series against Pakistan due to personal reasons, he is a vital member of the Australian T20 outfit and Australia will be hopeful of his participation in the T20 World Cup in 2020.

The likes of Ashton Turner, Alex Carey and Ben McDermott have been a part of the Australian setup this summer but have not been able to replicate their Big Bash success in T20Is.

Apart from the above mentioned batsmen, Australia have a big pool of reserves in the likes of Chris Lynn, D'Arch Short and Marcus Stoinis.

Australia is a well balanced outfit comprising of explosive batsmen, dynamic middle order, all round depth and an experienced bowling attack which makes them one of the favourites to lift the 2020 ICC Men's T20 World Cup trophy.