T20 World Cup: Old enemies England and Australia headline Group 1

Matthew Storey

LiveScore

Jos Buttler will spearhead England's bid to win the T20 World Cup with the bat

Four powerhouses of international cricket meet in Group 1 of the Super 12s.

Both of the 2016 finalists feature in England and the West Indies, while Australia and South Africa also qualified automatically for this stage.

They are joined by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who already have three games under their belt after successfully navigating the first round.

England

Squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Best T20 World Cup finish: Winners (2010)

Star player: Jos Buttler — one of the most destructive white ball batsman in the world, there is extra pressure on Buttler due to the absence of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.

Expectations

England are one of the premier white ball sides in the world and will be expected to challenge for the title as such.

Buttler is joined by Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, skipper Eoin Morgan and Liam Livingstone in a stacked batting line-up that can plunder 200 on any given day.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid will be the key cog in the bowling line-up, while the raw pace of Mark Wood and Tymal Mills means England have every base covered.

Australia

Squad: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Kane Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson

Best T20 World Cup finish: Runners-up (2010)

Star player: Glenn Maxwell — still seemingly underrated by those in the Australian side, Maxwell’s ability to score all around the ground will be crucial for an Aussie side lacking a sprinkle of star dust.

Expectations

It is rare for the Aussies to head into the tournament not expecting to win it, yet on this occasion, getting out of the group will constitute a decent month for Justin Langer’s side.

The coach is not universally popular in the dressing room and with David Warner horribly out of form, there is real pressure on the likes of Aaron Finch and Steve Smith to perform.

Though they have a strong pace attack and Adam Zampa is an experienced spinner, how second and third tweakers Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson go will determine how successful this side can be.

South Africa

Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, Wiaan Mulder, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Bjorn Fortuin, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi

Best T20 World Cup finish: Semi-final (2009, 2014)

Star player: Quinton de Kock — The only truly world class batsman in the South Africa line-up. If wicketkeeper de Kock does not fire, it could be a harrowing stint in the UAE for the Proteas.

Expectations

South African cricket has not been a happy camp over the past couple of years and as a result, they are not really expected to contend.

There is little doubting that their pace-bowling armoury is world class with Kagiso Rabada spearheading an attack that includes Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada.

Though the likes of skipper Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen are talented, they lack the depth of the best sides.

West Indies

Squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Lendl Simmons, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Fletcher, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Roston Chase, Ravi Rampaul, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr., Obed McCoy, Akeal Hosein

Best T20 World Cup finish: Winners (2012, 2016)

Star player: Chris Gayle — the Godfather of T20 cricket, Gayle is quite simply the best batsman in the history of the shortest format. He may be past his best now, but in what is likely to be his final tournament, expect fireworks from the universe boss.

Expectations

The sheer weight of match winners in the Windies squad mean they have to be considered contenders.

Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo are three of the bigger names, while the exciting Nicholas Pooran is quickly establishing himself as a star.

A lack of spin bowling options and their batsmen’s sometimes sketchy record against slow bowling could prove their Achilles’ heel in a tournament expected to be dominated by it.

Bangladesh

Squad: Mahmudullah (c), Naim Sheikh, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nurul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shamim Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam

Best T20 World Cup finish: Super 8s (2007)

Star player: Shakib Al Hasan — Despite his two-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code, all-rounder Shakib remains Bangladesh’s best and most important player.

Expectations

Navigating a tricky path through the First Round was the main aim for Bangladesh — not that it came without a bump against Scotland.

That defeat shows their limitations and a lack of big-hitters puts pressure on Shakib, Liton Das and even 34-year-old Mushfiqur Rahim.

Bangladesh’s spin department should stand up and be counted on turning pitches but outside of Mustafizer Rahman and Shoriful Islam, there is little in the way of pace options.

Sri Lanka

Squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando

Best T20 World Cup finish: Winners (2014)

Star player: Kusal Perara — One of only two survivors from the side that won in 2014, Perara is one of few recognisable names in the Sri Lanka side and the third-highest T20 run scorer in the country’s T20 history.

Expectations

This Sri Lanka team is a far cry from the sides that used to have world class batsman at the top of the order.

After breaking bubble rules in England, the trio of Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella remain unselectable and have shorn the side of three members of their first choice batting line-up.

It means they will rely on their bowling and Wanindu Hasaranga is the player to watch in an exciting spin group, while Dushmantha Chameera and Chamika Karunaratne give them two genuine pace options.