KARACHI, PAKISTAN - SEPTEMBER 22: Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam of Pakistan touch bats during the 2nd IT20 between Pakistan and England at Karachi National Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Karachi, Pakistan. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
With the Men's T20 World Cup starting on Saturday, we assess the five teams who can knock Australia off its pedestal and win the tournament down under.
In no particular order, these are the nations who will make some serious noise as they look to snatch the title from the hosts.
England have all the ingredients to claim its second T20 World Cup. Coming off a thrilling series win against Pakistan and most recently beating Australia, this side is set to cause havoc.
The batting has tremendous depth with the destructive opening pair of Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, and the recent return of Ben Stokes along with Harry Brook, Moeen Ali and Dawid Malan. This English lineup bats even deeper to the one who narrowly lost the 2016 World Cup final to the West Indies.
In last year's World Cup in the UAE, England had no problems in destructing opponents with the ball as Chris Woakes, Tymal Mills, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan and Adil Rashid were key in its success. In particular in its routings of the West Indies and eventual champions Australia.
During the recent series against Pakistan, England got even contributions with the bat from Harry Brook (238 runs), Ben Duckett (233 runs), Dawid Malan (174 runs) and Philip Salt (167 runs). And with the ball, Sam Curran and David Willey (seven wickets each), Mark Wood (six wickets), and Reece Topley (five wickets) will play important roles.
With a vast array of depth in both the batting and bowling departments, it won't be a surprise to see England advancing past the group stage. Add to this, the quicker Australian pitches should aid the big-hitting of Buttler, Hales, Stokes, and Malan.
For a passionate cricketing nation, India find themselves firmly vying for its second T20 World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 2007. Last year's campaign would be a total disappointment after being comprehensively beaten by Pakistan and New Zealand during the group stage. It would mark the first time India would not advance to the semi-finals since 2010.
Although in the two previous tournaments (not including last year's) India have made a deep run, including losing the 2014 final to Sri Lanka and the 2016 semi-final to the West Indies. Moving forward a year from the campaign, India will bring the same lineup to Australia. Familiar names include captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, former captain Virat Kohli, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin.
In comparison to England, this Indian side possesses substantial depth in the batting and bowling departments. With Sharma and Rahul destructive when on song and the classy Kohli set to ignite, there are going to be plenty of fireworks.
The cog who burst into the Indian T20 lineup last year is Surykumar Yadav. After impressive campaigns in the Indian Premier League, Yadav has been another unheralded weapon India possess and one who can carve opposition bowlers into smithereens. If his nine half-centuries, a century and an important knock of 50 from 33 deliveries in the recent practice match against Australia are anything to go by, then look out.
Although the loss of tearaway fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah with a back injury is a dent to its bowling stocks, it has vast experience to cover for him.
With the tight niggling lines of Bhuveneshwar Kumar, the upcoming Arsheep Singh, the bustling Mohammed Shami, and the twin spin maestros of Ravi Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, India's bowlers will cause inroads.
This arguably has to be one of India's stronger T20 squads and one which should be vying deep into the tournament.
New Zealand heads into the tournament looking to use last year's heartbreak of losing the final to Australia. Since then the Black Caps have swept aside Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands. More recently, the side lost the T20 Tri-Series final to Pakistan. New Zealand will take across the same squad and one which can do major destruction on any given day.
Veteran Martin Guptill and his 3531 runs including 20 half-centuries and 2 centuries is a barometer. One which the side hopes will fire. Other key batting pieces include wicketkeeper Finn Allen, skipper Kane Williamson, the power hitting of Glenn Phillips, Devon Conway and the rise of Darryl Mitchell. It is a batting array of depth to cause tremors amongst opposition bowlers. And one which will suit the Australian grounds, especially the Sydney Cricket Ground - the shortest of all the venues.
Whilst the batting department is loaded, so too is the bowling department. Led by the two ageless veterans Trent Boult and Tim Southee whose swing bowling will be crucial. Both were significant in last year's tournament.
Complementing the duo are the enigmatic James Neesham, speedster Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, and the leg-arm leg breaks of Ish Sodhi. Sodhi's impact will be important after taking nine wickets in last year's tournament, including his brilliant bowling display against India in the group stage.
This team has the ability to claim its maiden T20 World Cup silverware and there's no better way to begin than going up against Australia on Saturday.
The white ball format over the years for South Africa hasn't been kind. Particularly in T20 World Cups. Only once in six tournaments have the Proteas made the semi-final - in 2014 losing to India by 6 wickets. But this campaign feels they are every chance.
With the diminutive skipper Temba Bavuma leading the reigns, the side possesses a combination of power-hitting batsmen and bowlers who tear away at breakneck speed. There are plenty of destructive players within the lineup which includes David Miller, Rilee Rossouw, Quinton DeKock, Heinrich Klaasen, and Rezza Hendricks. All are capable of causing major damage in a short period of time.
With its batting lineup set, the bowling ranks run deep. Led by the express pace of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and the spin combination of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, it is a bowling group not to be underestimated.
The side has had solid results since last year's campaign with a series win over Ireland, beating England in their own backyard, with the only blemish coming against India. If its practice match annihilation of New Zealand is anything to go by, then watch out for the rainbow nation.
For a country used to frustrating its supporters with Jekyll and Hyde results, Pakistan will look to turn around its fortunes. After falling to Australia in the semifinal at last year's tournament, the team will bring the same squad down under.
The squad includes the dangerous Mohammad Rizwan, skipper Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Asif Ali with Azam and Rizwan the first and third leading run-scorers in the UAE tournament respectively. Their contributions will be more important than ever.
With a batting lineup having the potential to match it with the best, the bowling ranks are young, vigorous and energetic. Shadab Khan who is part of the squad was the side's leading wicket-taker with nine scalps, including figures of 4/26 in the semifinal loss to Australia. Alongside him are Haris Raif, Mohammad Hasnain, Nassem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi. Shah and Afridi's speed and height on the Australian decks will present problems for opposition batsmen.
Coming into the tournament, Pakistan has had solid form including winning the Tri-Series over New Zealand and Bangladesh and sweeps of the West Indies and Bangladesh. On top of this a thrilling seven-game T20 series loss to England and losing the Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka.
Given its recent run of results, it would be unwise to write off Pakistan as it seeks to claim the Cup for the first time since 2009.