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Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg is hopeful that India and Australia will cruise through the Super Eight stage and meet again in the final of the T20 World Cup. The two teams will first face off in the Super Eight stage on June 24 in St. Lucia.
The Aussies beat India twice last year in the final of two ICC events - the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. A dangerous Afghanistan side will join the two teams in their Super 8 group.
Speaking to Star Sports, here's what Brad Hogg had to say about India and Australia:
"In the Super 8s, Australia and India have got Bangladesh (yet to qualify) and Afghanistan and you expect both teams to beat Afghanistan and Bangladesh and move through to the semi-finals, hopefully, that does happen. It sets it up for the possibility of Australia and India in a grand final which I’d absolutely love to happen."
While Hogg mentioned Bangladesh as the fourth team to join that group in the Super Eight, it is not certain as both the Netherlands and Nepal have a shot at finishing second in their group with South Africa sealing the top spot.
Australia favorites against India in Super 8 fixture: Brad Hogg
Brad Hogg believes Australia will go into their Super 8 fixture against India as favorites as they have been playing in the West Indian conditions and know what to expect from spinners. India, on the other hand, have played in New York and in conditions that have been helpful for the quicker bowlers.
On this, here's what Brad Hogg stated:
"That first game between Australia and India in the super eights, the advantage would have to be to Australia because they’ve been playing in the West Indies where it’s been difficult, it’s been slow. Whereas the Indian team has been playing in New York where there’s been some seam movement, the batters haven’t been able to get their rhythm and also they’re coming from IPL where they were playing on a lot of flat wickets."
However, Hogg also predicted the potential India vs Australia final to be an evenly matched contest as he believes the Men in Blue would have gotten used to the West Indian conditions by then.
