Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign goes back on the line on Monday when it takes on plucky underdogs Ireland at the Gabba (7pm AEDT).
The good news is that the Brisbane forecast looks promising: The Bureau of Meteorology predicts only a 10 per cent chance of rain for the rest of the night.
Brisbane is bracing for a heavy downpour although it’s not expected to hit the Queensland capital until the early hours of Tuesday morning.
It’s crucial for both sides to play — and win — with Ireland sitting in third and Australia in fourth on three points due to England having a better net run rate.
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The loser will hold onto a mathematical possibility of finishing inside the top two, although it would be highly improbable.
If Australia was to lose, for example, it would then need to beat Afghanistan, have New Zealand beat England and Ireland, and have Sri Lanka also beat England — but lose to Afghanistan.
If Sri Lanka lost to England and beat Afghanistan instead, Australia would be tied with England and Ireland on five points with a win in the final match, and would rely on net run rate to go through.
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Sri Lanka would go through with New Zealand instead if it wins its remaining two matches.
If Australia wins both of its remaining matches it could still need to rely on net run rate if England was to win its final two matches as well.
Needless to say, Australia needs to win on Monday first and foremost, but also needs to win big.
That has selectors looking at all possible combinations within Australia’s 15-man squad, captain Aaron Finch said on Sunday.
Finch has been struggling at the tournament and enters the match against Ireland off the back of his scratchy 31 not out against Sri Lanka.
Coach Andrew McDonald has already all-but ruled out Finch being dropped, but there remains the possibility of him sliding down the order.
Finch said that one of the options being looked at is Cameron Green opening the batting, and the captain playing in the middle-order, most likely for Tim David.
Green opening the batting would potentially give Australia more power early on in the innings, which could be crucial when hunting for a big total, or swift run chase, to boost NRR.
Asked about the prospect of Green opening, Finch said: “There’s a possibility and they’re are things we talk about every strategy session.
“We sit down an go through all possible scenarios and how all 15 players in the squad can fit into the side and the different combinations we can go with.
“We will do that this afternoon as well. We never rule any combination out regardless of how the team is functioning.”
It is just the second time Australia and Ireland have met in T20 cricket with the first being at the 2012 World Cup.
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TEAMS
Australia XI (possible): David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Ireland XI (possible): Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie (c), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Fionn Hand, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little
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