Australia vs Pakistan | 2nd T20 International - Statistical Preview

Australia - NR-W-W-W-W-W-L-NR-W-L

Apart from the previous match, which was called off, Australia have had a fruitful outing in the shortest format for the past one year. The Aussies have won 6 out of their last 10 matches while losing 2 and the remaining two games yielded no results. While the Australians have each and every trophy in the cabinet and have by far been the most successful team in the modern era, the coveted World T20 trophy is the one which has eluded for a long time. Their best finish at the showpiece event was back in 2010 when they finished as runners-up in the Caribbean. With the 2020 edition set to be hosted ‘Down Under’, Aaron Finch and Co. are going to eye the series as a potential preparation ahead of the tournament.

Although they are the top-ranked T20 nation in the world, the recent 0-3 loss to Sri Lanka at home last month was a bitter pill to swallow for them. The last series win for Pakistan was back in October 2018 when they thumped New Zealand 3-0 in the UAE. Following which, there was not much to talk about. In the last 10 matches, Pakistan have won 3, lost 6 and the other had no result. While the Asian nation were certainly on the verge of defeat in the first T20I against Australia, the match was called off due to rain. The result might have saved them from embarrassment ahead of the 2nd T20 and they will look to start afresh.

Pakistan: 12, Australia: 7, NR: 2

The explosive left-handed batsman has taken power-hitting to a different level after returning to international cricket after a one-and-a-half-year absence. His record, especially in T20Is, has been out of the world and we have enough evidence to back up the claims. In the past 6 matches, the southpaw has scored an astonishing 303 runs at an average of 151.5! The recent 3-0 rout of Sri Lanka saw him score 100, 60 and 57 in the three matches respectively and he was unbeaten in each of those occasions. 

Even when the entire batting line-up collapses, Babar Azam manages to pull his team out of the whole and gain a respective total. That has been the case with Pakistan in recent times, they are privileged to have the top-ranked T20 batsman in the side. One of the few players to average more than 50 in T20Is, the right-hander has been in phenomenal form in the past few years, save the series against Sri Lanka last month. Even in the last T20 against Australia, he top-scored with an unbeaten 59 to guide Pakistan to a competitive total of 107 after the innings was reduced to 15 overs. In a more interesting revelation, the skipper, in the four matches he has played against Australia, has scored 222 runs at an average of 111 which includes three half-centuries. We are expecting him to top the scoring charts for Pakistan on Tuesday, so does .

Key Bowlers

Mohammed Amir

This is the first time that Manuka Oval is going to host a T20I, although nine ODIs and one Test have been played in the ground. The 12,000-seater stadium has staged three matches during the 2015 ICC World Cup but won’t feature in the 2020 World T20. Australia have never lost in this ground. As per the trend in ODIs played in Canberra, teams batting first have won 7 out of 9 times, while the average runs scored in the venue is 544, which is pretty high. It is quite evident that we are in for a run fest in the upcoming fixtures.

Squads

Pakistan

When to watch: November 5,  1.40 PM

Predicted XIs

Pakistan