Twenty20 / Andy Morris / 05 May 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Bangladesh are seeded for the ICC World Twenty20s and Australia are not. Regardless, Andy Morris believes it would take a brave punter to lay the Aussies in their second group stage match.

This is not only because the seedings are just plain wrong - there is no way in any competition that Bangladesh should be regarded as favourites against Australia. But rather because Australia started so well against Pakistan, and look in ominously good form.

They posted the highest score of the tournament so far, 191, in seeing off Pakistan relatively easily. But for their late and unbelievable collapse, they would surely have broken the 200-run barrier.

It is not in Australia's sporting psyche to take pity on opposing teams, particularly with a place in the Super Eight at stake. If the Aussies lost this game, it would mean that net run-rate would decide who progresses from the group.

Last year's World Twenty20 in England was a disaster from the Australian point of view as they failed to make it through the group stages, but that was when they were placed in a group along with the West Indies and Sri Lanka, who would go onto win the event.

The 34-run win over Pakistan showed that Michael Clarke's team are definitely up for this tournament, and that they still have the wood over Pakistan in notching up their ninth consecutive win over them.

It was not only a successful batting performance as pace pair Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait each took three wickets and they are yearning to get at the Bangladesh attack.

Nannes was a little expensive, going for 10.25 per over, but Tait frightened the life out of Pakistan as he collected three for 25, while Mitchell Johnson had a good day as he took two for 21.

Look out for Dave Warner to let loose again from the start. He won't have liked the fact that he missed out on a big innings when caught off Mohammad Sami for 26, and then had to watch Shane Watson and David Hussey plunder half centuries.

The only thing that would have concerned the Australian camp was that ridiculous last over when they lost five wickets for no runs. Surely there can be no repeat this time as they look to push on and secure their passage into the next phase.

Going into this tournament, it seemed like spin was going to be the best policy, but Australia are relying on pace and it is working so far.

Expect them to brush aside Bangladesh even without having to get into top gear.