Less than 12 months after Australia lifted their first Twenty20 World Cup trophy high into the Arabian sky, they are back to defend their title on home soil.
For the first time since the competition’s inception 15 years ago, Australia will play host to what is its eighth edition.
And while the Aussies are slight favourites to become the first country in history to win back-to-back tournaments, and the second to clinch two championships, along with the West Indies, they will have their work cut out for themselves to repeat their heroics in the UAE last November.
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England and India have brought very strong squads Down Under, and are right in the mix to break their 12- and 15-year T20 World Cup droughts respectively.
While the likes of Pakistan, South Africa and last year’s runners-up New Zealand can never be fully discounted either, especially the latter two countries who are still chasing their maiden T20 trophies.
The 2022 competition has already begun in Geelong and Hobart, with the first round kicking off last Sunday.
Group A teams Namibia, Netherlands, Sri Lanka and UAE, and Group B sides Ireland, Scotland, West Indies and Zimbabwe, are battling for the final four Super 12 spots.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the next phase of the World Cup.
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The Super 12 stage begins on Saturday, and the eight teams who automatically qualified were Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa.
The final 12 teams are split into two groups of six, with each team playing rival members of their group once.
After each team has played their five round-robin matches, the top two from each Super 12 group progress to the semi-finals and a champion will be crowned on November 13 in the final at the MCG.
The West Indies are the most successful team in the history of the tournament, having triumphed twice in three editions in 2012 and 2016.
But after suffering a stunning upset loss to minnows Scotland on Monday, the Windies are in a battle just to make it to the Super 12s, let alone dream of an unlikely third title.
The other massive upset so far took place in the opening match when Namibia shocked Sri Lanka by 55 runs.
Although the Sri Lankans recovered on Tuesday with a thumping 79-run victory over UAE to get their campaign back on track.
Besides the West Indies, other past winners include Australia, India, England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
After enduring the biggest gap between tournaments last year (five years, 2016-2021), this year saw the shortest gap since the 2009 and 2010 competitions in England and the Caribbean respectively were separated by just 10 months.
SUPER 12 GROUPS
Group 1: Afghanistan, Australia, England, New Zealand, Group A winner, Group B runner-up
Group 2: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Group B winner, Group A runner-up
‘Just get off the field, you’re out!’ | 01:28
SUPER 12 FIXTURES (all times local)
Sat, Oct 22: Australia v New Zealand, SCG, 6pm (Group 1)
Sat, Oct 22: Afghanistan v England, OS, 7pm (Group 1)
Sun, Oct 23: Group A winner v Group B runner-up, BA, 3pm (Group 1)
Sun, Oct 23: India v Pakistan, MCG, 7pm (Group 2)
Mon, Oct 24: Bangladesh v Group A runner-up, BA, 3pm (Group 2)
Mon, Oct 24: South Africa v Group B winner, BA, 7pm (Group 2)
Tue, Oct 25: Australia v Group A winner, OS, 7pm (Group 1)
Wed, Oct 26: England v Group B runner-up, MCG, 3pm (Group 1)
Wed, Oct 26: Afghanistan v New Zealand, MCG, 7pm (Group 1)
Thu, Oct 27: Bangladesh v South Africa, SCG, 2pm (Group 2)
Thu, Oct 27: India v Group A runner-up, SCG, 6pm (Group 2)
Thu, Oct 27: Pakistan v Group B winner, OS, 7pm (Group 2)
Fri, Oct 28: Afghanistan v Group B runner-up, MCG, 3pm (Group 1)
Fri, Oct 28: Australia v England, MCG, 7pm (Group 1)
Sat, Oct 29: New Zealand v Group A winner, SCG, 7pm (Group 1)
Sun, Oct 30: Bangladesh v Group B winner, Gabba, 1pm (Group 2)
Sun, Oct 30: Pakistan v Group A runner-up, OS, 3pm (Group 2)
Sun, Oct 30: India v South Africa, OS, 7pm (Group 2)
Mon, Oct 31: Australia v Group B runner-up, Gabba, 7pm (Group 1)
Tue, Nov 1: Afghanistan v Group A winner, Gabba, 2pm (Group 1)
Tue, Nov 1: England v New Zealand, Gabba, 6pm (Group 1)
Wed, Nov 2: Group B winner v Group A runner-up, AO, 2:30pm (Group 2)
Wed, Nov 2: Bangladesh v India, AO, 6:30pm (Group 2)
Thu, Nov 3: Pakistan v South Africa, SCG, 7pm (Group 2)
Fri, Nov 4: New Zealand v Group B runner-up, AO, 2:30pm (Group 1)
Fri, Nov 4: Afghanistan v Australia, AO, 6:30pm (Group 1)
Sat, Nov 5: England v Group A winner, SCG, 7pm (Group 1)
Sun, Nov 6: South Africa v Group A winner, AO, 10:30am (Group 2)
Sun, Nov 6: Bangladesh v Pakistan, AO, 2:30pm (Group 2)
Sun, Nov 6: India v Group B winner, MCG, 7pm (Group 2)
Wed, Nov 9: Semi-final 1, Group 1 winner v Group 2 runner-up, SCG, 7pm
Thu, Nov 10: Semi-final 2, Group 2 winner v Group 1 runner-up, AO, 6:30pm
Sun, Nov 13: FINAL, SF1 winner v SF2 winner, MCG, 7pm
*Key: AO = Adelaide Oval, OS = Optus Stadium, BA = Blundstone Arena
Powell launches it OUT OF THE GROUND! | 00:29
ODDS
Australia $3.75
England $4
India $4.25
Pakistan $8
South Africa $8.50
New Zealand $11
Sri Lanka $34
West Indies $67
Afghanistan $81
Bangladesh $251
Scotland $501
Netherlands $501
Zimbabwe $501
Ireland $1001
Namibia $1001
UAE $2001
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