Can Glenn Maxwell go to the well one more time to produce a stunning World Cup for his nation? Given he turns 38 this year, it seems unlikely that he will play another one for Australia, having already retired from ODI cricket. But since a match-winning 62 not out against South Africa last August, he has had a very lean run in all T20s. In eight innings in the BBL when he got past 3 he remained unbeaten, but that only happened three times with a highest score of 39 not out. His bowling will also be vital in the tournament as he will likely be the lone spinning allrounder in the top seven for most of the event.

Ireland need skipper Paul Stirling to set the tone at the top of the order, particularly against an inexperienced new-ball attack for Australia. His returns have also been lean in recent times with scores of 21, 29, 38, 0, 23, 45, 8, 14, and 6 in his last nine T20Is, striking at just 125.17. His 6 off 13 against Sri Lanka was not the start to the tournament he or Ireland were hoping for.

Australia appear set to play two specialist spinners in Matt Kuhnemann and Zampa. It will mean one of Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis will miss out. There is another option Australia could take with Cooper Connolly playing at No. 8 to lengthen the batting, but that appears unlikely based on form. David’s absence will likely give Matt Renshaw a chance in the middle order. The combination of the top seven is likely to be fluid with the potential of elevating Maxwell early against spin.

Australia (probable): Travis Head,  Mitchell Marsh (capt), Cameron Green,  Josh Inglis (wk), Matt Renshaw,  Glenn Maxwell,  Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett/Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis,  Matt Kuhnemann,  Adam Zampa

There could be a temptation to bring in left-arm seamer Josh Little, who bowled very well against Australia four years ago, but he has gone wicketless in his last four T20Is. Ireland will more than likely remain unchanged given catching was the major issue against Sri Lanka.

Ireland (probable): Paul Stirling (capt),  Ross Adair,  Harry Tector,  Lorcan Tucker (wk),  Curtis Campher,  Ben Calitz,  George Dockrell,  Gareth Delany,  Mark Adair,  Barry McCarthy,  Matthew Humphreys

[Cricinfo]

Ayub made an instant statement of intent by skipping down the pitch and trying to launch the first ball of the match back over Saurabh Netravalkar’s head for six. He only connected with thin air, but successfully cleared the long-on boundary two balls later to kickstart a boundary-laden opening stand with Farhan.

It was Farhan who made most of the running. He hit three fours in the space of four balls from USA debutant – and nine-cap former Pakistan international – Ehsan Adil, and took 16 runs from offspinner Milind Kumar’s over to leave Pakistan 54 for 0 after five overs, despite chewing up 18 dot balls.

Van Schalkwyk’s slower balls proved effective again, producing two wickets in the final over of the Powerplay: Ayub sliced a catch to short third reaching for a wide one, and Salman Agha was tucked up as he looked to give himself room, heaving a cutter straight to deep backward square. It prompted a period of consolidation, with a single boundary in the next five overs.

Babar ground his way to 15 off 17 balls before switching gear in the 13th over, launching Harmeet Singh’s left-arm spin over midwicket for six then hitting back-to-back boundaries, the second a rifled cut shot from a low base. He was well caught by Milind at long-on soon after drinks for 46 off 32, eventually showing signs of rhythm after a scratchy start to the World Cup.

Farhan, who had powered to a 27-ball half-century, was well caught by Sanjay Krishnamurthi on the long-off boundary in Harmeet’s final over, and Pakistan reshuffled their batting line-up after a partnership worth 81 in 53 balls. Usman Khan slid down to No. 8, below Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab and Faheem Ashraf, and Shadab made the most of his promotion.

He belted Netravalkar’s slower ball for six, then took Adil for three consecutive fours on his way to 30 off 12. His dismissal, splicing a catch behind off the impressive van Schalkwyk, was the first of five wickets to fall in the final 10 balls – including two run-outs in the final over – but Shaheen’s late blow dragged Pakistan up to 190.

Jahangir replaced Saiteja Mukkamalla at the top of the order and made a fast start. He whipped Shaheen through midwicket for four, rocked back to heave Ayub over wide long-on, and dumped Abrar Ahmed back over his head to take USA to 50 in the powerplay, for the loss of Andries Gous, caught at mid-off off Nawaz.

But they got bogged down by spin through the middle of the innings, with Monank Patel mistiming a slog-sweep back to Shadab for a painstaking 3 off 10. Jahangir launched Nawaz through long-off for four to end a 28-ball stretch without a boundary, but mistimed Shadab’s wrong ‘un to long-on to fall one run short of a first T20 World Cup half-century.

Milind and Ranjane added 54 off 35 for the fourth wicket, but could not prevent the asking rate spiralling out of control. Usman Tariq, who replaced Salman Mirza to leave Pakistan with a single frontline seamer, had Milind caught on the edge of the ring, then struck twice in two balls to finish with 3 for 27 in his first match at an ICC event.

Brief scores:
Pakistan 190 for 9 in 20 overs (Saim Ayub 19, Sahibzada Farhan 73, Babar Azam 46, Shadab Khan 30;  Saruabah Netravalkar 1-40, Shadley van Schalkwyk 4-25, Mohammed Moshin 1-27, Harmeet Singh 1-41) beat USA 158 for 8 in 20 overs (Andries Gouse 13, Shubnam Ranjane 51, Shayan Jahangir 49, Milind Kumar 29; ShaheenShah Afridi 1-42, Abrar Ahmed 1-30, Mohammed Nawaz 1-21, Usman Tariq 3-27, Shadab Khan 2-26) by 32 runs

[Cricinfo]