The T20I series begins in Brisbane on Thursday as the Aussies will be looking to bounce back from an embarrassing ODI series defeat. Will Pakistan’s pace attack continue to dominate? Or will Australia find some form?
Australia vs Pakistan: 1st T20I Preview & Betting Tips
Gabba, Thursday 14th November, 7:00pm AEDT
Australia
Squad: Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Philippe, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Tim David, Nathan Ellis and Xavier Bartlett join the Australian squad for the Test series, with the inclusions of David and Ellis crucial given the lack of experience in the squad. Bartlett makes his return after suffering a side strain during Australia’s white ball tour of the UK in September. Josh Philippe was given a late call up to the squad after Cooper Connolly fractured his hand in the third ODI. Bartlett will form a series pace duo with Spencer Johnson that will challenge the Pakistan batting unit.
Australia will be desperate to bounce back after a horror final two games of the ODI series that saw Pakistan win their first series in Australia since 2002. Australia’s over aggressive nature will likely be more successful than it was in the 50 over format, however there will be a lot of pressure on Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short to perform given their lack of runs in the ODI series.
After a disappointing exit in the Super 8 stage of the T20I World Cup in June, Australia have won four of their last five T20 Internationals, with a 3-0 series win over Scotland and a 1-1 series against England. It is forgotten that Australia are currently ranked 2nd in the T20I rankings, and have won 12 of their last 15 T20I matches.
Pakistan
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan, Abbas Afridi, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan
Pakistan have some new faces for their squad that didn’t feature in the ODI series with pace bowlers Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, batsmen Omair Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan and leg spinner Sufiyan Muqeem. Given the success of Pakistan’s all pace attack in the ODI series, it’s difficult to see any new inclusions with the ball.
Pakistan had a horror T20I World Cup campaign, failing to progress out of the group stage largely thanks to a shock loss against the USA. Pakistan haven’t played a T20 International since the World Cup, however their side will likely enjoy Australian conditions in comparison to what they saw in the USA and Caribbean.
Pakistan will take plenty of confidence out of what Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah produced in the ODI series. Rauf took 10 wickets at an average of 12, Afridi took 8 wickets at 12.62 and Shah took 5 wickets, they were the leading three wicket takers of the series.
Match Prediction
The young Australian group that featured in the 3rd ODI and this upcoming series will be much more suited to the T20 format, where an over the top aggressive approach is more likely to succeed. Tim David will provide some much needed power and experience that was missing in the middle overs during the ODI series, while the bowling attack of Bartlett, Johnson and Ellis is well equipped for T20 cricket.
This is more of a specialist T20 side which Australia haven’t tended to select in recent years, so there’s plenty for Australian fans to be excited about on Thursday night. Australia have won four straight T20I’s against Pakistan and will be eager to bounce back after the last two games of the ODI series.
Australia
$1.60 (1.5 Units)
Prop Bet
New Australia captain Josh Inglis has played a career high 11 T20I’s in 2024, and has continued to deliver for his country. Inglis has scored 292 runs at an average of 36.50, with a strike rate of 162.22. Inglis’s last three T20I innings have produced returns of 42, 37 and 103.
Josh Inglis Australian Top Run Scorer
$4.40
