In the high-stakes encounter between Australia and Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium on November 7, all eyes were on Steve Smith, the Australian vice-captain, whose health became a matter of intense scrutiny. Smith had recently disclosed his struggle with vertigo, raising concerns about his availability for this pivotal match. Throughout the day’s training session, spectators and the media closely monitored every move he made. Smith initially seemed in good form as he batted and even ran up and down the stadium steps. However, things took a turn when he left the net, appearing unwell and eventually lying down on the grass with his eyes closed for about ten minutes. While he later left the field, questions lingered about his readiness for the upcoming game.
Simultaneously, the attention was also drawn to the presence of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar at his home ground, where his statue had recently been unveiled. Tendulkar engaged with the Afghanistan players, spending time interacting with the team, including one-on-one chats with Rashid Khan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and other members, accompanied by a flurry of selfies.
With both teams eyeing a win, the practice sessions exuded intensity, setting the stage for a crucial contest. A victory for Australia would secure their spot in the semifinals, while Afghanistan, in fine form, aimed to continue their impressive run and potentially upset the five-time champions, similar to their close encounter during last year’s T20 World Cup.
Match Details:
- Date: November 7
- Time: 14:00 hrs Local Time
- Location: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Weather and Pitch Conditions: Mumbai’s weather remained hot and humid, with a typical Wankhede pitch boasting a reddish tinge. While practice pitches displayed significant turn, actual match surfaces have favored batsmen, except when the Indian fast bowlers took charge. Australia’s confidence would have been boosted by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s performance against Sri Lanka.
Team Updates:
Australia: The Australian team faced an unexpected hurdle with Steve Smith’s vertigo issue, potentially impacting their lineup. His participation depended on his condition on match day. Glenn Maxwell participated in batting practice, and Mitchell Marsh returned to India after a family loss.
Tactics & Strategy: Australia’s strength lies in setting high totals when batting first, although they must contend with Afghanistan’s spin threat. The effectiveness of their bowlers, particularly Adam Zampa, will be crucial.
Probable XI: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith/Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Afghanistan: Afghanistan is likely to maintain their spin-heavy bowling attack, despite pitch conditions. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi remained tight-lipped about specific tactics, particularly concerning using spinners against Australian power hitters.
Tactics & Strategy: Afghanistan is banking on a potent spin attack in the powerplay, with multiple new-ball options, including Mujeeb-ur-Rahman.
Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad
Key Stats:
- Afghanistan has recorded eight 50+ partnerships in their last three matches.
- Adam Zampa has secured 16 middle-over wickets in this World Cup, the most by any bowler.
- David Warner is one century away from matching Rohit Sharma’s record of seven World Cup centuries.
Quote of the Day: “In such a short time, we achieved a lot compared to other countries. As a team also, we are happy for that. But I think as a captain, it’s not enough for me, looking forward for the other games. Tomorrow is one of the important games for us. And we will not relax until we sit back and plan and go back to the country, until that we will fight as a team. We are here to fight, and we will try our best.” – Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan captain
