Australia have axed veteran Brad Hogg for three-game rookie legspinner James Muirhead in their must-win World Twenty20 clash with the West Indies.
Australian captain George Bailey won the toss and elected to bat in searing Dhaka heat, with temperatures expected to soar to 39 degrees.
Hard-hitting paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile has also paid the price for Australia’s first up loss to Pakistan last Sunday, with combative allrounder James Faulkner returning from injury in his place.
The 43-year-old Hogg had a disappointing night against Pakistan, taking 0-29 off three overs while also grassing a simple outfield chance offered by Umar Akmal, who went on to score a match-winning 94.
Muirhead, a 20-year-old Victorian who made his T20 debut for Australia against England this summer, is a big-turning legspinner who officials believe has a huge future in the international game.
Coulter-Nile can feel a touch unlucky, after being Australia’s best performed bowler against Pakistan where he claimed 2-36 – but his role as a bowling allrounder with big-hitting potential is effectively filled by Faulkner.
Faulkner’s inclusion gives Australia a three-pronged pace attack of left-armers, with Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Starc expected to take the new ball.
The loser of this match faces an almost impossible task of reaching the semi-finals, barring a series of upset wins to lowly Bangladesh.
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey (capt), Brad Hodge, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, James Muirhead, Doug Bollinger. 12th: Nathan Coulter-Nile.
West Indies: Dwayne Smith, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo, Dinesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy (capt), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree, Krishmar Santokie.