T20 World Cup - "Finisher" Matthew Wade Key To Australia's Chances: Michael Bevan

Australia have a "solid chance" of retaining the T20 World Cup with home advantage, said former white-ball specialist Michael Bevan, who believes "finisher" Matthew Wade can be a key player. Aaron Finch's Australia open their campaign against New Zealand, who they hammered in the final last year, in Sydney on October 22. It was a first T20 crown for five-time 50-over World Cup winners Australia, and they have largely retained the players from that winning team. "I think they are good enough. They have got plenty of skills floating around," the 52-year-old Bevan, a two-time World Cup winner, told AFP in an interview.

"They are defending champions, they have got the home ground advantage.

"I would say they are enough positives for me to be able to say Australia have a solid chance of winning this World Cup," added Bevan, one of world's finest 50-over batsmen before his retirement in 2004.

Bevan was renowned as a supreme "finisher" at the end of an innings and said wicketkeeper Matthew Wade was the ideal man for that role in this Australian side.

A year ago, the left-handed Wade coolly smashed Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi for three sixes in the 19th over to seal the memorable semi-final win.

"He has had some really good innings under pressure in that role," said Bevan.

"Hopefully this will be the role that the Australian selectors see him in -- there are really good signs about Matthew Wade and the Australian batting line-up with him in that position."

India and England also have "strong chances" of a tournament that will end with the final in Melbourne on November 13, said Bevan.

England beat Australia on Sunday by eight runs in the first of three warm-up T20s.

Bevan, who averaged more than 53 in 232 ODI