T20 World Cup 2021: I Wouldn’t Be At All Surprised To See Australia Lift The Trophy - Kevin Pietersen

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has picked Australia as the clear favourites heading into the T20 World Cup final against neighbours New Zealand.

A new chapter is going to be added in the trans-Tasman rivalry as Australia, and New Zealand are set to clash in the final on Sunday in Dubai, with both sides eyeing their maiden T20 title.

For Kevin Pietersen, the Australian side have the upper hand over the Black Caps even though Kane Williamson’s team have all their bases covered. He pointed out how Australia comfortably defeated the Kiwis in the 2015 World Cup final and backs them to do it again.

In his blog for Betway, Kevin Pietersen wrote, “New Zealand seem to have all bases covered, but I fancy Australia. History suggests that when you get these two together in a major final, the Aussies blow the Kiwis away. It’s what happened in the 2015 50-over final in Melbourne. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Australia lift the trophy on Sunday.”

In a semi-final of a major tournament, Australia find something extra: Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen asserted that the Aussies step up and find a different spark in themselves often when they’re up in a major tournament.

He cited the example of David Warner, who had been struggling for a while but found his groove in the past few matches.

“It’s the Australian way that when it’s do or die, they do. They’ll just get the job done. That’s why they’ve been a formidable opponent for such a long time. If they get themselves into a semi-final of a major tournament, they’ll find something extra.

“David Warner is a great example of that. People like to cut sportspeople down very quickly after a bad run – and make no mistake, Warner was struggling with Sunrisers Hyderabad during the IPL – but he hasn’t had the success he’s had because he’s a rubbish player.

“He’s shown his class in this competition when his team needed him most. It’s not a coincidence,” the 41-year-old commentator explained.

New Zealand will be without ‘keeper-batsman Devon Conway, who has been ruled out of the final with a hand injury he sustained when he struck his bat after being dismissed during the semi-final against England.

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