'It's a tough group, you've got to play really well' - Aaron Finch on Australia’s T20 World Cup 2022 fixtures

With the International Cricket Council (ICC) announcing the schedule for the eighth edition of the T20 World Cup, the hosts Australia are all set to face New Zealand in the first match of the Super 12 stages of the tournament. Both these teams made it to the final of the ICC T20 WC 2021, with Australia winning it.

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However, just like the previous edition, the Aussies have been placed in a tough group this time around as well. The defending champions are placed in Group 1, along with England, New Zealand and Afghanistan. Thus, their limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch felt that they have to play really well.

"Our planning was ultra-detailed last time and knowing what the groups look like nine months out is really helpful because it can help your level of detail in that planning phase more and more," said Aaron Finch in a Cricket Australia (CA) release. He also mentioned the fact that with teams like West and Sri Lanka in the qualifiers, it isn't going to be easy.

There will be enough cricket in the T20 space: Aaron Finch

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"It's a tough group though, and when you throw in qualifiers like the West Indies and Sri Lanka, you've got to play really well to get out of that group stage," he added. It is to be noted that during the ICC T20 WC 2021, Australia had England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa in their group during the Super 12 stages. Thus, Finch went on to reflect his team's journey during the T20 WC 2021 in UAE.

“In the lead-up, there will be enough cricket in the T20 space. A lot of the guys will be at IPL as well. It’s about making sure you are fresh. We got that balance really right in the lead-up to the last World Cup with the right amount of preparation and rest, that was really important to be mentally and physically fresh for the tournament," he said.

Thus, the ICC T20 WC 2021 shall commence on 16th October 22, and will conclude on November 13th November 2022. The semi-finals will be played at the SCG and Adelaide Oval on November 9 and 10 respectively. The final of the T20 World Cup 2022 will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on November 13.

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Australia's ICC T20 WC 2021 fixtures

Oct 22: vs New Zealand, SCG

Oct 25: vs Group A winner, Optus Stadium

Oct 28: vs England, MCG

Oct 31: vs Group B runners-up, Gabba

Nov 4: vs Afghanistan, Adelaide Oval