FRIDAY’S doubleheader of global T20 cricket action at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead has officially been declared a sell out as cricket enthusiasts the province over scramble to be a part of the action when South Africa take on Australia in the first of three KFC T20 Series encounters.
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Australia will play three T20Is in South Africa as the two teams look to prepare themselves ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 to be held in India next month.
Hussey travels to India next week where he link up with the side following their short T20 series in South Africa, beginning Friday night, as they look to claim a piece of silverware that eluded Hussey four times. South Africa remember beat India in India 2-0 in the T20 series not long ago and will be in good form in their own conditions.
And South Africa paceman Steyn has warned there must be more incentives for young cricketers to take up fast bowling. Both teams will try to get the better of the other and that makes this contest a gripping one for sure!! South Africa have played 15 (with one abandonment) and won nine, which would explain why they are so happy to host Australia for the next ten days.
“It goes without saying that having Dale back is a massive plus for us and creates a buzz around the team and the changeroom”, said Abbott.
“He is desperate to play, desperate to do well, he wants to win a World Cup, he wants to be involved in all formats of the game, so his energy levels are right up there and that bodes really well for us”.
Australia who was the top-ranked T20I side prior to the three-match series against India witnessed a serious downfall in the rankings after the 0-3 loss.
The left-hander was a vital member of Australia’s T20 batting line-up in the 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012 editions of the World T20 and overall played in 39 T20 Internationals, finishing with an excellent average of 38.
South Africa second match of the series is in Johannesburg on Sunday, with the last match in Cape Town on Wednesday. Although Smith has led Australia only in just one T20I, he has enough experience of T20 captaincy, leading Sydney Sixers and Rajasthan Royals in Big Bash League and Indian Premier League (IPL) respectively.
But Maxwell also believes that they have the batting firepower to combat the threat of spin.
Du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla make up the top-order of South Africa.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Abbott said, “I always feel like a bowler that needs to bowl a lot and get into rhythms”.
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Australia: Steven Smith (capt), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, Andrew Tye.
