T20 World Cup: Team-by-team guide and predictions before Super 12 begins

Just tuning into the Men's T20 World Cup? Where person you been?

Can England travel bully erstwhile it matters? Will location vantage assistance Australia support their rubric 12 months on? Or tin India bounce backmost from their aboriginal exit past clip to triumph the title?

Take a look astatine BBC Sport's predictions below, with a usher to each team's array of large hitters and world-class bowlers.

England

Ranking: Second. 2021 result: Semi-finals. Form (most caller first): WWWWLLWLW

Power, accomplishment and pace. On insubstantial astatine least, England person it all.

A caller T20 bid triumph successful Pakistan has boosted their hopes aft a hard twelvemonth successful white-ball cricket. For 4 years, they were the world's ascendant limited-overs squad but this summertime were beaten by some India and South Africa arsenic the post-Eoin Morgan epoch began slowly.

Still, they person a line-up arsenic beardown arsenic any. Captain Jos Buttler is arguably the champion white-ball batter successful the satellite portion Mark Wood returned from an elbow wounded successful Pakistan and reached speeds of 97mph, thing which could beryllium important successful Australia - fittingness permitting.

An already almighty batting line-up has been improved by the emergence of dazzling 23-year-old Harry Brook and the instrumentality of Ben Stokes, backmost successful the T20 broadside with the purpose of putting close the wrongs of the 2016 T20 World Cup last defeat.

The nonaccomplishment connected the eve of the tourney of left-arm bowler Reece Topley, England's signifier T20 bowler this year, is simply a large blow, however.

Prediction: Runners-up

Australia

Ranking: Sixth. 2021 result: Winners. Form: LLWWLLWLWW

Will location vantage assistance Australia spell back-to-back? Possibly. They stay among the favourites contempt a caller bid nonaccomplishment to England.

Few expected Aaron Finch's broadside to situation successful past year's World Cup but they ended up going each the way.

Their gait bowling onslaught - satellite fig 1 Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc - is acquainted and fearsome. So excessively are different regulars, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade. Wade is 1 of the signifier 'finishers' astir and memorably took Australia to triumph implicit Pakistan successful past year's semi-final by hitting 3 consecutive sixes successful the penultimate over.

Explosive middle-order batter Tim David, a prima of the home franchise leagues and erstwhile Singapore international, adds a spot of X-Factor to their side.

Prediction: Winners

New Zealand

Ranking: Fifth. 2021 result: Runners-up. Form: LWWWLLWWWW

Just a twelvemonth ago, New Zealand reached the last of the T20 World Cup but, erstwhile again, spell into a tourney with fewer talking up their chances.

The stalwarts stay - skipper Kane Williamson, seamer Tim Southee and left-armer Trent Boult, contempt his determination to beryllium released from his New Zealand contract.

Adam Milne and, successful particular, Lockie Ferguson supply other firepower with the shot and Glenn Phillips is the signifier middle-order player.

There remains a feeling they are a broadside coming to the extremity of a cycle, however.

Prediction: Super 12

Sri Lanka

Ranking: Eighth. 2021 result: Super 12s. Form: WWLWWWWWLW

After a astonishment decision successful the archetypal crippled of this World Cup against Namibia, Sri Lanka recovered to suffice for the Super 12 with 2 comfy wins.

In September, they shocked everyone by beating some India and Pakistan to triumph the Asia Cup and are an improving broadside nether erstwhile England manager Chris Silverwood.

Wanindu Hasaranga could easy assertion to beryllium the champion leg-spinner successful the world. He is Sri Lanka's standout subordinate but assertive left-hander Bhanuka Rajapaksa - helium deed 71 not retired successful the Asia Cup last against Pakistan - and Dasun Shanaka, present Sri Lanka's captain, supply middle-order threat. Opener Pathum Nissanka hit a important 74 against the United Arab Emirates connected Tuesday too.

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled retired with a calf injury, nevertheless - a important lack which leaves them lacking gait bowling threat.

Prediction: Super 12

Afghanistan

Ranking: 10th. 2021 result: Super 12s. Form (most caller first): LLLWWLWWLL

For the 2nd twelvemonth successful a row, Afghanistan qualified straight for the main signifier of the T20 World Cup but they are yet to execute a connection triumph astatine the planetary showpiece successful their abbreviated planetary history.

Once again, leg-spinning sensation Rashid Khan is their prima subordinate and volition beryllium backed up by 2 much prime spinners successful Mujeeb ur Rahman and Qais Ahmad. Rashid is the astir palmy overseas bowler successful the past of the Big Bash, truthful knows conditions well.

Mohammad Nabi is the captain, aged 37, successful a much-changed squad. Wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the signifier subordinate astatine the apical of the bid aft bully campaigns successful the Caribbean Premier League and Asia Cup.

Afghanistan's Asia Cup run showed signs of committedness erstwhile they bushed winners Sri Lanka and Bangladesh earlier a dramatic, one-wicket nonaccomplishment to Pakistan.

Prediction: Super 12

Ireland

Ranking: 12th. 2021 result: First radical stage. Form: WWLWLLWWLL

Ireland's ascendant triumph implicit West Indies connected Friday secured their spot astatine the main table.

Opener Paul Stirling needs small introduction. He has regularly taken down bowling attacks successful region cricket successful caller years.

All-rounder Curtis Campher is simply a lesser-known subordinate but 1 arsenic arsenic important. He smashed a stunning 72 from conscionable 32 balls successful the dramatic triumph implicit Scotland and is besides a bully seamer.

Keep an oculus connected 22-year-old left-armer Josh Little, who made his Ireland debut aged 16 and earlier this twelvemonth took 5-13 successful The Hundred - the tournament's champion figures to date.

Prediction: Super 12

Bangladesh

Ranking: Ninth. 2021 result: Super 12s. Form (most caller first): LLLLWWLLLW

Shakib al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman are the large names successful a Bangladesh squad it is hard to spot being competitive.

This clip Shakib volition juggle the captaincy with his crafty left-arm rotation and stylish batting portion left-arm seamer Mustafizur volition look to bamboozle with his breathtaking tricks and variations.

The Tigers exited the Asia Cup without winning a lucifer and person mislaid bid to Zimbabwe and West Indies this year.

Former skipper Mahmudullah has been near retired of the squad portion underrated wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim has retired from T20s.

Prediction: Super 12

South Africa

Ranking: Third. 2021 result: Super 12s. Form: WLLWWWWLLL

If each sporting tourney needs a acheronian horse, past South Africa whitethorn beryllium conscionable that for the Men's T20 World Cup 2022.

They impressively bushed England successful the UK successful the summertime and person the champion bowling onslaught successful Australia. Fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada, 2 of the quickest around, are electrical and Tabraiz 'the magician' Shamsi is an effectual wrist spinner.

Rilee Rossouw and David Miller person deed T20 hundreds this month, some scored against India, portion explosive batter Tristan Stubbs, already known to England fans aft smashing a 28-ball 72 successful Bristol, could go a planetary star.

There are distracting doubts, however, astir their skipper Temba Bavuma portion injuries to middle-order stone Rassie van der Dussen and canny all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius should not beryllium dismissed.

Prediction: Semi-finals

India

Ranking: First. 2021 result: Super 12s. Form (most caller first): LLWWWWLWLL

India person an astir endless proviso of white-ball players to take from but no-one rather similar superstar bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled retired of the tourney with a backmost injury.

The nonaccomplishment of Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja means India - present captained by Rohit Sharma, who replaced Virat Kohli following past year's astonishment group-stage exit - abruptly bash not look arsenic strong.

But Kohli has recovered form, ending statement astir his spot successful the broadside with a T20 period successful the Asia Cup, portion thrilling batter Suryakumar Yadav could rival Buttler for champion T20 batter successful the satellite and galore would prime Hardik Pandya arsenic the champion all-round cricketer successful the format.

Hardik volition person a cardinal relation volition some bat and ball. How the bowling attack, apt Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal copes without Bumrah volition determine their chances.

Prediction: Semi-finals

Pakistan

Ranking: Fourth. 2021 result: Semi-finals. Form (most caller first): LLWWLWLLLW

Another broadside who could triumph it.

The question with Pakistan is whether their afloat XI is beardown enough, extracurricular their well-known superstars.

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam showed against England they are an opening brace for the ages, susceptible of winning matches connected their own. Their unbeaten concern of 203 successful the 2nd lucifer of the bid was their 5th basal of 150 oregon more, the astir by immoderate brace successful men's T20s.

Left-armer Shaheen Afridi is simply a accelerated bowling sensation portion determination are fewer quicker than Haris Rauf, who made his sanction successful Australia successful the Big Bash.

Pakistan accidental Shaheen is fit, which is simply a large boost, arsenic helium has been sidelined with a genu injury.

But the bid against England showed if opponents get Babar and Rizwan early, determination is not a batch of batting elsewhere.

Prediction: Super 12s

Netherlands

Ranking: 17th. 2021 result: First radical stage. Form: LWWLLLWWWW

The lowest-ranked broadside successful the competition, who pipped Namibia to suffice with Sri Lanka from Group A successful the archetypal phase.

All-rounder Bas de Leede, 22, has been the Netherlands' standout subordinate truthful acold with a bully proviso of runs and 7 wickets courtesy of his right-arm seam.

Long-haired opener Max O'Dowd deed 71 not retired from 53 balls and volition person an important relation to play for a broadside utilized to upsets. They person beaten England successful this contention twice.

Prediction: Super 12

Zimbabwe

Ranking: 11th. 2021 result: Did not play Form: WLWWLWWWWW

Zimbabwe were not capable to play astatine past year's World Cup due to the fact that of a suspension but this twelvemonth person made it done to the 2nd signifier for the archetypal clip successful their history, breaking Scottish hearts successful the process.

Their standout subordinate is undoubtedly all-rounder Sikandar Raza - truthful overmuch truthful the International Cricket Council billed him arsenic the signifier subordinate successful the satellite earlier the tournament.

He was the highest scorer successful the archetypal radical stage, including an 82 against Ireland, and has besides taken 5 wickets with his off-spin.

Captain Craig Ervine, 37, is an experienced person - his 58 helped them borderline implicit the enactment against Scotland - portion 6ft 8ins seamer Blessing Muzarabani is an breathtaking gait bowler, but the Super 12 signifier could beryllium a struggle.

Prediction: Super 12