The hosts, battling for a win on the eve of the T20 World Cup, will still enter the Super 12 stage as favorites as they look to extend their surprise maiden T20 World Cup win in the United Arab Emirates last year.
In men’s cricket history, only the great West Indies team of the 1970s and the all-conquering team of Australia since the turn of this century have achieved the feat in the 50-over game.
Despite tournaments being played more regularly and the theoretically lower turnover among teams between tournaments, none have done so in the T20 format.
Aaron Finch’s men entering the tournament are still only 5th in the world, with last year’s success in Dubai coming after years of under-performing in the format.
But despite a tight lead earlier this summer, pacer Pat Cummins insisted the team is now in a better position after defying the odds to win last year’s title.
“I think in some ways we are even better prepared,” Cummins said.
“We’ve played a lot and we’ve drawn from the experiences of the past year.
“Having said that T20 is a very fickle format. You look around and there are probably four or five teams that can realistically win it.”
Australia have only one change from the group that won the World Cup last year, with Tim David set to play a role in the middle order and Mitchell Swepson left out of the 15-man squad.
Pat Cummins is among the seven remaining players in Australia’s squad after the success of the 2015 ODI World Cup at home, becoming the only Australian player to play two home World Cups.
But most players are also well aware that this will be their last match, with Australia not due to host another global men’s event until 2028.
Captain Aaron Finch (35) has already announced his retirement from ODIs, while David Warner (35), Matt Wade (34), Glenn Maxwell (33) and Steve Smith (33) have named 11 players over the age of 30. list has been created.
England are the biggest challenger to Australia, who have dominated white-ball cricket for the past six years but have claimed just one major trophy so far.
New Zealand are also a constant threat in global tournaments, with Australia, England, Afghanistan along with the Black Caps and two qualifiers in Group One and only two to advance.
This makes Australia’s first-up game against their Trans-Tasman rivals crucial at the SCG on Saturday night, with the loser likely to win four matches to qualify for the semi-finals.
India and Pakistan will be potential favorites to progress from Group B, with South Africa as the second major threat in their pool.
“(Saturday) is going to be huge,” Cummins said.
“There are only five rounds of play so you can’t start slow.
“I believe it’s about a sell-out and a home game for a lot of us Sydney guys.
“Playing on the world stage at the World Cup is one of those moments where you can only get one chance in a lifetime.”