T20 World Cup 2021: I’m Actually Pretty Optimistic About Australia’s Chances - Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey is “pretty optimistic” about Australia going deep into the upcoming T20 World Cup, despite the team’s poor form in the shortest format.

Australia lost their last five T20I series – played against England, India, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh – with their last bilateral T20 series victory coming in February 2020 in South Africa. Against West Indies and Bangladesh, they were hammered 4-1 each, although they didn’t have their best eleven with a number of key players rested or injured.

Michael Hussey reckons at their full strength the Australian side is a “pretty darn good” outfit. He believes if the players can adjust well to the UAE conditions, they will be able to defeat any opposition.

“I’m actually pretty optimistic about Australia’s chances. I think we’ve got a really good team, a dangerous team. If they can get their confidence up, adapt well to the conditions, then I think it’s a pretty darn good team. Hopefully, they can get on a roll,” Michael Hussey told Foxsports.com.au

Hopefully, Maxwell can carry his IPL form into the World Cup: Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey hailed Glenn Maxwell for his fantastic performances during the IPL 2021. The right-hander, batting in the middle-order for RCB, amassed 513 runs at a strike rate of 144.10 and was instrumental in RCB’s run to the playoffs.

The 46-year-old former batsman is hoping for Maxwell to take his excellent form in the IPL to the World Cup as well.

“He’s been great to watch. He’s been on fire. He’s been confident and the good thing is it’s in those conditions in the UAE. So hopefully he can carry his IPL form into the World Cup because he’s going to be a critical member of the team.

“It’s a tough role to play there in the middle order in T20 cricket so if you’ve got someone who’s in top form and on top of their game then we’ve seen he can be a match-winner on his own,” the left-hander added.

Australia take on South Africa on October 23 in Abu Dhabi. They will then meet England and West Indies and two other teams who will qualify from Round 1 in the Super 12 stage.

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