In the ongoing 2023 Cricket World Cup, Australia and New Zealand, the finalists from the 2015 edition, are gearing up to face each other. The match is slated for Saturday, 10:30 am IST, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala.
Australia had a shaky start, facing losses early on. Their first game against India in Chennai was a letdown, and they faced a tough game against South Africa soon after. With five matches down, they’re now sitting at fourth place on the leaderboard, having six points in their pocket. While their bowlers have been inconsistent, Adam Zampa has been grabbing wickets, making a difference for the team. Their batting line-up, led by David Warner’s fantastic form, seems strong with players like Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell chipping in.
New Zealand, on the other hand, began with a strong performance. They stood tall at the top until a match against the hosts pushed them down a spot. Most of their players have been in form, contributing in different matches. Their captain, Kane Williamson, showed his class against Bangladesh, but an unfortunate injury during the game could be a concern. Tim Southee’s absence from the playing XI is another talking point for the Black Caps.
Looking back, Australia entered the World Cup after facing difficulties against South Africa and India. The very teams caused trouble for them in the World Cup too. Their first win came against Sri Lanka, and following that, they had two more victories against Pakistan and the Netherlands. Warner and Marsh’s contributions in the Pakistan match were noteworthy.
New Zealand started by defeating the reigning champs, England, with significant innings from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. They continued their winning streak against the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before stumbling against India. Their batting seemed good at 178-2 at one point, but disciplined bowling by India restricted them.
Historically, out of 141 ODI matches between these two, Australia has triumphed 95 times, leaving New Zealand with 39 wins, and seven games didn’t produce a result.
Key Players to Watch:
David Warner (Australia) has been exceptional this World Cup. His form is evident with 332 runs in five innings, and a notable strike rate nearing 110. His recent performance surely puts him among the top batters in the world.
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand) stands out in the bowling department. The spinner has claimed 12 wickets in five matches with an impressive economy rate. His performance against the Dutch was memorable.
Probable Teams:
Australia: David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand: Will Young, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson
Prediction:
Australia has been building momentum, but New Zealand, despite their recent loss, appears slightly more settled. It might be a close contest, but the Kiwis seem to have a slight advantage.
