Australia qualifies for Super Eights, next opponent, standings, fixtures, video, highlights, cricket news

The undefeated Australians are one step closer towards becoming the first nation to unify the three major ICC trophies — but a daunting trial by spin stands in their way.

Having won all four group-stage matches in the Caribbean, Mitchell Marsh’s men have qualified for the Super Eights stage of the T20 World Cup, drawn in Group 1 based on pre-tournament seedings.

Any points and net run rate earned during the group stage do not carry through to the Super Eights, meaning each nation that qualified receives a clean slate.

“If you got through undefeated and have a good net run rate, it doesn’t count for much,” Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood told reporters earlier this week.

“It’s a strange one.”

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Should the Tigers defeat Nepal in Kingstown on Monday morning AEST, Australia will be accompanied in the Super Eights by a trio of south Asian giants — India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Each nation boasts a world-class spin attack that could prove difficult to tame on the West Indies’ dry wickets. Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, who Australia has never faced before, is currently the nation’s leading wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup with seven wickets in three matches. Meanwhile, the Australians will be more familiar with Afghanistan spin trio Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed and Mohammad Nabi, who have each featured in the Big Bash League.

India will then unleash the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav for next week’s blockbuster clash in Saint Lucia, a mouth-watering replay of last year’s World Cup final in the subcontinent.

“A lot of us have prepared for plenty of spin depending on what venue you get to,” Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade told reporters earlier this week.

“We are going to get a heap of spin. The guys have been preparing for that through the IPL into the start of this World Cup, so we expect nothing different.”

Australia realistically only needs two victories during the Super Eights stage to qualify for the semi-finals, and the 2021 champions will feel confident having won seven consecutive T20Is.

However, neither of their upcoming opponents are pushovers — Bangladesh has defeated Australia four times in men’s T20Is over the last three years, while Afghanistan has arguably been the team of the tournament thus far.

Australia will enjoy a five-day break before Friday’s match against Bangladesh in Antigua, but Marsh’s men would need to play five games in ten days to lift the coveted trophy.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were sidelined for Sunday morning’s victory over Scotland in Saint Lucia, while fellow quick Mitchell Starc may be rested for one of the Super Eight matches.

Tasmanian seamer Nathan Ellis will be called upon again should one of the first-choice bowlers miss out due to injury or workload management, while tweaker Ashton Agar is available for when Australia requires a second strike spinner.

“The World Cup kind of starts again now,” Marsh laughed during Sunday’s post-match press conference.

“We’ve made it through to the Super Eights, it’s going to be a busy schedule.

“T20 is a hard format. You can be slightly off and lose to anyone, as we almost saw today.

“We’re excited for what’s to come.”

The lone cause for concern within Australia’s squad remains Glenn Maxwell, who has endured a horror run of form with the bat since the start of the recent Indian Premier League. Since the beginning of April, the Victorian has compiled 91 runs in 12 knocks at 7.58, including five ducks, while on Sunday he was bowled by Scottish spinner Mark Watt for 11 (8).

Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis looms as an early contender for player of the tournament after plundering 156 runs with a strike rate of 190.24 and taking six wickets at 8.66.

Australia will next face either Bangladesh or the Netherlands at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Friday, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEST.

Australia’s Super Eights T20 World Cup fixtures