AUS vs SA Dream11 Prediction for T20 World Cup 2021: Playing XI, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Team, Weather Updates and Pitch Report
Preview for AUS vs SA Dream11 Contest:
Australia will be taking on South Africa in the opening match of the Super 12 round of this year’s T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi on Saturday (October 23). The team from Down Under will be hoping to make a winning start to their quest to achieve a maiden T20 World Cup trophy.
For South Africa, who have a talented but inexperienced squad up their sleeves, it becomes doubly important to make a successful start so as to keep their heads high going deeper into a tournament where they’ll also lock horns with England, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in their Group 1.
Probable Playing XI
Australia – David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
South Africa – Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Bjorn Fortuin, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje
Weather Update: sunny/clear skies; 36 degrees C; wind 12 km/h, Humidity 41%
Pitch report: The surface in Abu Dhabi has played dry but true enough to enable scores in excess of 160 in the T20 World Cup so far. The track is expected to play drier and more spin-friendly as the tournament goes on but for now, it is offering decent pace and bounce to not make the toss a decisive factor, especially with some dew around during the second half.
AUS vs SA Dream11 Prediction
AUS vs SA encounter is a very close affair where the Australians are only slightly ahead with their batting.
Since the end of last T20 World Cup, Australia and South Africa have come up against each other only four times in T20Is, with a levelled 2-2 record. Overall, there has not been much to separate between the two teams in this period. Australia have had a win-loss record of 1.074 while the South Africans are only slightly ahead with 1.173.
In a battle of the equals in neutral conditions, it is very difficult to pick a likely winner. But the Australians do look the stronger of the two batting sides and that gives them an edge.
AUS vs SA Dream11 Captaincy Picks
1. Glenn Maxwell – the form that he has shown since the beginning of the IPL 2021 makes Glenn Maxwell a very strong captaincy picks for all contests. Maxwell is heading into the T20 World Cup after his best IPL season since 2014. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the aggressive right-hander made 513 runs at a strike-rate of 144.10 while averaging 42.75.
2. Aiden Markram – Markram’s form has been magnificent for South Africa since the start of the year. The undoubtedly talented right-hand opening batter seems to be coming of age in 2021. Markram is averaging 40.80 with a strike-rate of 150 in T20Is from January. His tally includes four half-centuries. Markram also got the chance to get used to the conditions in UAE prior to the ICC event via his maiden IPL stint with Punjab Kings (PBKS).
3. Quinton de Kock – De Kock may have not had the best of IPL 2021 for Mumbai Indians (MI). But the experienced South African opener has been prolific in T20Is this year. Since the start of 2021, De Kock has made 455 runs from his 10 T20Is for South Africa with a strike-rate of 135.82 while averaging 56.87. As Proteas eye their maiden T20 World Cup title, they need De Kock to be at his best in challenging conditions.
AUS vs SA Dream11 Budget Picks
1. Tabraiz Shamsi – talking of South Africa’s best T20I performers for the year, one can’t look too far beyond wristspinner Shamsi, whose 17 T20Is have seen him take 28 wickets while going for only 5.53 runs per over. Shamsi has been instrumental to Proteas’ success right throughout the year and is expected to play a key role in the T20 World Cup as well with his skiddy nature and ability to turn the ball both ways. He is available for 8.5 credits.
2. Pat Cummins – Right through the UAE leg of IPL 2021, we saw that pacer with high-arm release and express pace are the ones making a huge impact on dry, uneven decks. Had Cummins been available to KKR, the Aussie pacer was also expected to dominate. Nevertheless, after an extended period spent recharging his batteries, Cummins will be back in the thick of the action and could prove to be a real handful for the Aussies on those tracks. He is available for 8.5 credits.
3. Marcus Stoinis – Stoinis was at the sidelines for the majority of the UAE leg of IPL 2021 because of an injury but he has happy memories of the Middle East from last year. The Delhi Capitals (DC) allrounder had an impactful IPL 2020, scoring 352 runs at a strike-rate of 148.52. He also took 13 wickets and chipped in with tight overs as the sixth bowler whenever DC required. Stoinis will be hoping to replicate the same for Australia in this ICC T20 World Cup. He is available for 8.5 credits.
Mega League Team for AUS vs SA Dream11 Contest:
Quinton de Kock (c), David Warner, David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen (vc), Aiden Markram, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Anrich Nortje
Small/Head to Head Team for AUS vs SA Dream11 Contest:
Quinton de Kock, Steve Smith, Aaron Finch, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (vc), Glenn Maxwell (c), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje