Fantasy Tips

WI vs AUS – 1st T20I – Dream11 Team, Predictions, & Tips

This article will talk about the probable XIs for both teams and continue with the Dream11 predictions and the winning fantasy team for the 1st T20I between West Indies and South Africa that is scheduled to take place on the 9th of July 2021.

Australia’s tour of the West Indies with the 1st of 5-match T20I series at St Lucia on Friday. This will be the 2nd series for the Kieron Pollard side in quick succession after losing the T20I series 3-2 to South Africa earlier in the month. They will look to come back to their winning ways after a disappointing home series against the Proteas.

The Aussies on the other hand will play their first T20I series since their tour of New Zealand 3-2 on March 3-2. They had also lost 2-1 to India in their last home summer. So the new-look side under Aaron Finch sans many first-choice players will look at this as a preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Match Details

Venue: Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia

Pitch and Weather: The average T20 score posted is around 150-160 taking note of the limited T20I games played at this venue. Also, the previous West Indies- South Africa series saw teams scoring in the 160s mark and it proved to be a winning score. So we can expect the scores more or less in that range. The weather is expected to be cloudy on the matchday with temperatures expected to hover around the mid to late 20s.

Date and time: July 9, 2021, 7.30 PM Local, 5.00 PM IST(10th July)

The Probable Playing XIs

West Indies lost the T20I series primarily due to the lack of consistent contributions from the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russel in their middle-order. Though the skipper Kieron Pollard scored a half-century in the series, he was far from convincing in the last T20I. They will also hope the Universe Boss Chris Gayle finds his batting touchback. They might bring back Fabien Allen in place of 5th T20I debutant Akeal Hosein.

Australia led by Aaron Finch will look to use these games to fill the spots which are void in their XI. Daniel Christain is likely to make a comeback to the playing XI with all-rounder Moises Henriques his spot from the India series. Either veteran Matthew Wade or Josh Philippe will be sharing the opening duties with Finch. Alex Carey will be the obvious choice in the middle-order and if not Ben McDermott will feature. Mitchell Starc is expected to spearhead the pace attack that will have Marsh and Andrew Tye.

West Indies: Even Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran(wk), Kieron Pollard(c), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen/ Akeal Hosein, Obed McCoy, Fidel Edwards.

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Matthew Wade, Josh Philippe (wk), Ben McDermott/ Alex Carey, Moises Henriques, Dan Christian, Mitch Marsh, Ashton Agar, Mitch Starc, Adam Zampa, Andrew Tye

Match Prediction  

The series against the Proteas except the final contest was a close one for West Indies. Despite a 3-2 loss, the Windies will into the game as favorites. Also, the visiting Aussie team may need some time to acclimatize to the conditions of the Caribbean. So expect it to be a close contest with the men in maroon prevailing at the end.

Fantasy Tips 

Batsman: Evin Lewis scored 178 runs in the 5 matches he played and was the leading run-scorer for the West Indies, so he is an obvious pick in the fantasy team. Lendl Simmons showed some flashes of good form in the series scoring 47 in one of the games. Aaron Finch is arguably one of the finest T20 players in the world and he should be picked. Likewise, his West Indies counterpart Kieron Pollard too can be selected.

Wicket-keeper: Senior batsman Matthew Wade showed good form in the intra-squad practice game for Australia. So pick either him or Josh Philippe or Alex Carey, all of them who are capable batsmen.

All-rounder: Ashton Agar is proving to be one of the best left-arm spinners going around in the T20I cricket and he even recently took a 5fer in the series against New Zealand. Dan Christian has been in good form in the T20s over the past few seasons in the domestic arena and did well in the tour games. Fabien Allen is also an ideal choice for the all-rounder spot.

Bowler: Mitchell Starc is making his return to the Australian T20 side after a while and can be selected in your dream 11 teams. His wicket-taking ability in white-ball format is second to none and could fetch good points. Obed McCoy had a great outing in the last series picking 9 wickets in 5 games. He can be included along with Australia’s Adam Zampa who can create an impact like Shamsi did for South Africa.

Captaincy Choices 

Fantasy Team: Lendl Simmons, Aaron Finch, Even Lewis(C), Matthew Wade/ Josh Philippe(WK), Kieron Pollard, Ashton Agar, Dan Christian, Fabien Allen, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Obed McCoy. 

Captain: Evin Lewis

The West Indies left-hander has been in fantastic form for them in this format and is the only man to feature in top-10 rankings. He was the leading run-scorer for Windies in the SA series.

Vice-captain: Ashton Agar

The left-arm spinner took a 6fer in the last T20I series against New Zealand and could be a handful in these conditions. So he can be our vice-captain.

Dream11 Team

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