Australia
Australia will look to resurrect their T20 form ahead of the ICC World T20 2016.Reuters

While all the focus is on Asia Cup T20 2016 at the moment, there is another series starting Friday, March 4, between South Africa and Australia.

These two will also join the list of favourites along with India, in winning the ICC World T20 2016, which is very much in sight.

While South Africa have been in good form in the shortest format of the game, Australia will look to recover from their 3-0 drubbing in the hands of India at home.

One will agree to the fact that India were playing a depleted Australia squad in that T20 series, but at the end of the day, a loss is a loss.

The Aussies will look to bounce back as quickly as they can and get back to winning ways ahead of the big-ticket tournament, which will be held in India.

South Africa have a full strength squad for this series so that their players get some match practice ahead of the World T20. Australia too are a strong side and they will be a team to beat if they play cohesive all-round cricket again.

Australia captain Steve Smith had mentioned about how strong South Africa are at their own home conditions. The Aussies' primary priority alongside winning the games will be to stop AB de Villiers.

On the other hand, South Africa will look to exploit Australia's problem in playing spin bowling. Spin, which is going to be a crucial factor in the Indian sub-continent during the ICC World T20, will be one of the weapons that the Proteas are going to use against the Australian hard-hitting batsmen like Glenn Maxwell, David Warner, Shane Watson and others. 

Maxwell has already issued a warning to his teammates regarding the brilliance of Imran Tahir and has urged his teammates to be careful while playing against him. 

"He has been very successful and he played really well in the IPL last years, said. I think that was a big thing for him and for his confidence. I think he has been riding that since. He seems to grab the momentum back for South Africa every time he comes on," Maxwell was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.

"Our record hasn't been great in the subcontinent, especially playing excellent spin. You've only to look back at our last performance in the World T20 in 2014 in Bangladesh: Ajmal, Afridi, Narine, we struggled against."

Maxwell feels that Australia have a good strong side to face in the upcoming T20 series. They do have talented players in their ranks and the Aussies are going to put up a tough challenge in front of the home side. 

"If you look at our batting order, it's suited to combat that. We've got excellent players of spin in our team and guys that have got international experience in India. It's going to be key for us to have those guys perform well for us. It felt like the Indian series we were trying a lot of players," Maxwell added. 

"We didn't play our main team at any stage. It's an exciting that we can get better from that. Hopefully when we hit Durban on Friday night we can show that with our No. 1 side."

Meanwhile, Dale Steyn has recovered from his injury and is raring to go against the Aussies in the forthcoming series. An in-form Steyn is always a plus point for South Africa and a threat for the opponents. 

"A hungry, fit, energised Dale is a massive plus for us. He is desperate to play, desperate to do well, he wants to win a World Cup, he wants to be involved in all formats of the game, so his energy levels are right up there and that bodes really well for us," South Africa coach Russell Domingo was quoted as saying by the official website of Cricket South Africa. 

Meanwhile, Aaron Phangiso has been banned from bowling in domestic circuit and he will not be considered for the first T20 against Australia as well. The Proteas is yet to name a replacement. 

South Africa vs Australia T20 series: Complete schedule:

South Africa vs Australia 1st T20:

Venue: Kingsmead, Durban.

Date: March 4, Friday.

Timings: 6 p.m. local time, 4 p.m. GMT and 9:30 p.m. IST

South Africa vs Australia 2nd T20:

Venue: The Wanderers, Johannesburg.

Date: March 6, Sunday.

Timings: 2:30 p.m. local time, 12:30 p.m. GMT and 4 p.m. IST

South Africa vs Australia 3rd T20:

Venue: Newlands, Cape Town.

Date: March 9, Wednesday.

Timings: 6 p.m. local time, 4 p.m. GMT and 9:30 p.m. IST

TV listings: India: Ten Cricket and Ten HD, Australia: Fox Sports 1, South Africa: SuperSport 2 and CSN, UK: Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports HD 3, US: Willow TV.