T20 World Cup 2021: Team-wise one backup opener in the tournament

Having runs on the board is one of the most crucial aspects in the shortest format of the game. No matter how they come, they are always going to be handy. Thus, batters need to always have a positive approach while batting in a T20 game. This is one of the major reasons why your best batsman must always bat at the top of the order. The more balls your best batters get to face the better it is for the team. Thus, the openers are generally the best batters in the XI during a T20 game. However, every team must have a proper backup opener. Just in case the opener of the team gets injured or abruptly loses his form. Going into the 2021 T20 World Cup, every team has a backup opener. Today we shall be taking a look at- One backup opener for each team in the T20 World Cup 2021 1) Australia: Matthew Wade Matthew Wade. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Matthew Wade has transformed his T20 game big time. Gone are those days when he use to get a chance in the XI only because of his keeping abilities. His fireworks in almost every season for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL has helped him work on his game in the shortest format. He has scored 655 runs in 39 T20I innings. His average and strike rate are 19.26 and 123.82 respectively. However, his record as an opener in T20Is are much better. He has scored 375 runs in 16 innings. His T20I average and strike rate as an opener are 23.44 and 144.79 respectively. All his T20I fifties have come as an opener as well. 2) England: Jonny Bairstow Jonny Bairstow. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images) Jonny Bairstow is currently one of the most explosive T20 players going around. Not many batters can match his muscle power. As a matter of fact, he would have been a permanent opener in any team. It’s just that England have Jason Roy and Jos Buttler who are best when they open and thus, he has to play as a middle-order batter. However, the keeper can be a superb backup opener if Roy or Buttler do get injured midway during the tournament. The English batter has scored 376 T20I runs as an opener. His average and strike rate as a T20I opener are 25.07 and 137.23, respectively. This includes 3 fifties as well. 3) India: Ishan Kishan Ishan Kishan. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images) Ishan Kishan is currently one of the most talented Indian players. His potential is unimaginable. This is one of the major reasons why he was selected in India’s T20 World Cup squad ahead of several stalwarts. However, with KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Rohit Sharma around, it is really hard for him to get a game. Nevertheless, he isn’t just the backup middle-order batter but also the backup opener. As a matter of fact, he is at his best when he opens the innings. His best performance in T20Is came when he was an opener as he scored 56 against England. The fact that it also happened to be his international debut was the icing over the cake. His record as an opener for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL is commendable as well. 4) New Zealand: Devon Conway Devon Conway. (Photo Souce: Getty Images) Cricket pundits have got tired of praising him. It is safe to say that he is one of the most exciting cricketers right now. New Zealand will have a lot of hopes for him to come good during the T20 WC this time around. He is at his best as an opener. However, Martin Guptill and Tim Seifert are New Zealand’s regular openers. Thus, he will be batting at 4. Nevertheless, he can always open the innings if either Guptill or Seifert get injured or lose their form. That happening could be a blessing in disguise for the Kiwis. Besides, the more balls the aggressive batter faces, the better it is for his team. 5) South Africa: Reeza Hendricks Reeza Hendricks. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images) Reeza Hendricks has been one of the brightest prospects for South Africa of late. Despite being inconsistent, he has managed to impress the cricket experts in patches. He has scored 993 T20I runs in 36 games so far. His batting average and strike rate in this format are 28.37 and 122.9, respectively. He is at his best when he opens the innings though. However, Quinton De Kock and Aiden Markram have already booked their spot as an opener. Thus, he is on the team as a backup opener. He has scored 945 T20I runs as an opener. The Proteas batter has a batting average and strike rate of 29.53 and 124.34 respectively. 6) Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman Fakhar Zaman of Pakistan. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Fakhar Zaman is unarguably one of the most explosive batters Pakistan has right now. His ability to hit the ball a long way is a rare talent. His ability to perform under pressure is something that will come really handy in a big tournament like the T20 WC. He happens to be a regular opener and loves batting at the top. However, with the way Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been playing, they look all set to be Pakistan’s openers in the marquee event. Zaman was a late addition to the squad owing to his mediocre T20 form. Thus, won’t be a regular in the XI. He has scored 812 T20I runs as an opener. This includes 4 fifties as well. 7) West Indies: Andre Fletcher Andre Fletcher. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images) West Indies have a list of explosive batters. In a XI full of talented top-order hitters, Andre Fletcher is their backup opener. His performances in the CPL have been superb, to say the least. When it comes to T20Is however, he has scored 595 runs in 34 innings as an opener. His batting average and strike rate as a T20I opener are 19.83 and 118.06 respectively. This includes 4 T20I fifties as well. The Windies however already have 3 world-class openers. Them being the Universe Boss Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, and Lendl Simmons. Thus, Fletcher will only get a game if either of them gets injured or lose their form. 8) Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad Mohammad Shahzad. (Photo Source: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images) Mohammad Shahzad is one of the most charismatic cricketers from Afghanistan. He also happens to be one of the most entertaining batters from Asia. His batting has earned him a cult fan following. Despite his fitness issues, he has been a swashbuckling opener, to say the least. He has scored 1523 runs as a T20I opener. His T20I batting average and strike rate are 30.46 and 140.11 respectively. This includes 8 fifties and a hundred as well. Despite the superb numbers, it is really difficult for him to start in the XI. This is mainly due to the fact that he hasn’t had any match practice of late and might be rusty.

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