IND v AUS 2020, 1st T20I: Australia's predicted playing XI

Australia enter the T20I series high on confidence after a commanding display in the ODI series.
Australia enter the T20I series high on confidence after a commanding display in the ODI series.

All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Agar

Coming off a breathtaking ODI series performance, Maxwell is the player to watch for.
Coming off a breathtaking ODI series performance, Maxwell is the player to watch for.

Glenn Maxwell should stride into the T20 series high on confidence after striking at close to 200 over the course of the preceding ODI series.

In doing that, he shrugged off his tragic IPL 2020 form, with the contrast providing much chagrin to his IPL skipper KL Rahul who watched from behind the stumps. With the ball, he was economical, as he mostly bowled in periods where the Indian were inevitably rebuilding after the fall of quick wickets.

One of the highest valued T20 all-rounders going around, Marcus Stoinis should walk into the team and is likely to bat above Maxwell (he might even open given his success in the BBL).

If Stoinis is unfit, Australia could look towards Moises Henriques, who is a like-for-like but less threatening proposition, to fill the No. 4 slot like he did in the ODI series. Australia would also want some overs of pace from their fourth seamer depending on the way India negotiates their first line of attack.

The third all-round cog for Australia in the lineup is most likely to be Ashton Agar. A proficient left-arm spinner who can also score quick runs at the death if needed, Agar showed his worth in the final ODI, where he was the pick of the Australian bowlers. The game was also alive till his departure during Australia's chase.


Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Andrew Tye

Aussie quick Hazlewood would look to dent the opposition in the powerplay.
Aussie quick Hazlewood would look to dent the opposition in the powerplay.

Mitchell Starc will look to spearhead the Australian bowling, as one of the most accomplished bowlers in this format. He will first look to fix his radar, which saw him emerge as the hosts' most expensive bowler over the first two ODIs against India.

Adam Zampa, who troubled the Indians right through the ODI series, will continue to shoulder responsibilities as the lead spinner. Australia boast a three-pronged spin attack, with Maxwell and Agar to provide finger-spin support to Zampa's wrist-spin. Alongside Zampa, the accurate and consistent Josh Hazlewood should slot right in as the second pacer for Australia.

The biggest headache for the hosts would be the third seamer's spot. While they have options galore - Sean Abbott, Andrew Tye and Daniel Sams - Abbott was negotiated comfortably by the Indians as recently as the third ODI, while Sams and Tye had limited (or no) impact in the recent IPL season.

Given Tye's past record, for Australia as well as in the IPL, he may just edge out his competition, although his spot looks the most vulnerable.

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