Australia vs New Zealand, 2nd Match, Group A - Live Cricket Score
While New Zealand have the advantage of playing a few recent games in this format, a majority of Australia's players will be back to this format after close to four months. The conditions and format take some time to adjust to but the team has settled in under the leadership of Steve Smith. The availability of a good, strong pace attack could be Australia's biggest strength. A day before the game, Steve Smith ruled out the possibility of playing all of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Josh Hazlewood. But any combination of the four available will make the attack threatening.
New Zealand too will be faced with a problem of plenty given the options at hand. Luke Ronchi did well in the practice game against India but hasn't had much success in ODIs for a while now. But he, along with Martin Guptill, at the top would make for a formidable opening combination. Tom Latham has done more than a decent job at the top of the order and it will be a tough call to pick either him or Ronchi. The off-colour Corey Anderson too makes for an all-rounder conundrum but New Zealand's biggest worry would be getting to the massive scores that are now the norm in ODIs. Much will depend on the solidity of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor in the middle order. Both men have been in good form and will be burdened with the task of carrying the batting for as long as possible.
That both teams have a problem with picking the right combination is an open secret, and therefore it all the more imperative that the first punt goes right. In a tournament that doesn't allow much breathing space, chopping and changing can become problematic. And so a lot hinges on the decisions made even before the toss for which a lot of head-wracking is bound to be done.
When: 2nd June, 2017 at 10:30 AM Local Time
Where: Edgbaston, Birmingham
What to expect: Predictions are for a gloomy morning, and perhaps even a spot of rain, before the sun gets out in the afternoon. If that holds true, then the toss and eventually the team that chases are in for a distinct advantage from the outset.
Team News:
Australia: Picking the right men from the pace quartet and the right all-rounder from Marcus Stoinis or John Hastings are just some of the worries for Steve Smith and Co. There are no injury concerns that, in this situation, could have made his job a little easier. That said the problem of plenty is always only welcomed by teams. And the right combination is to be decided on the day of the match, depending on the conditions on offer. Mitchell Starc is probably one name that is automatically slotted in but it's toss up between the other three to see who gets to fit in. Given the conditions that are likely to be found, it won't be a surprise if Australia go in without a frontline spinner.
Probable XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Moises Henriques/Chris Lynn, Matthew Wade, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand: The opening combination and the all-rounder worries, along with picking the right pace combination, leave New Zealand with plenty to think about. Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill are probably the only automatic picks in the first eleven. Even leading the side just recently or being in good form might not necessarily warrant a spot for the likes of Tom Latham.
Probable XI: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Neil Broom, Luke Ronchi, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson/Mitchell McClenaghan
Stats and Trivia:
- Australia has a never lost a Champions Trophy game against New Zealand - winning four while one match ended in a no-result.
- David Warner and Steve Smith average 28.16 (SR 76) and 27.90 respectively in ODIs in England. Warner is 54 runs way from becoming the third fastest player to reach 4000 ODI runs.
- Edgbaston has been a high scoring venue with an average of 39.18 and RR of 6.41 in the Royal London Cup 2017. Teams posted 300 batting first in three of the four games while the remaining game saw 284 chased down inside 48 overs.
Quotes:
I didn't know it was his birthday. Hopefully not too many half-volleys. He doesn't need any. He's scoring plenty of runs. So should be a good game. Look forward to it - Kane Williamson, when asked if New Zealand had a birthday present for Steve Smith.
It's very challenging in the nets, particularly if there's a little bit in the wicket. So it's been a great challenge for our batters. It's always nice facing those kind of guys and being challenged. So everyone's a little bit quicker in the nets as well. So when you get out in the middle, things seem a little bit easier, and hopefully it shows when we bat tomorrow - Steve Smith on batting against Australia's pace quartet during practice.
Where: Edgbaston, Birmingham
What to expect: Predictions are for a gloomy morning, and perhaps even a spot of rain, before the sun gets out in the afternoon. If that holds true, then the toss and eventually the team that chases are in for a distinct advantage from the outset.
Team News:
Australia: Picking the right men from the pace quartet and the right all-rounder from Marcus Stoinis or John Hastings are just some of the worries for Steve Smith and Co. There are no injury concerns that, in this situation, could have made his job a little easier. That said the problem of plenty is always only welcomed by teams. And the right combination is to be decided on the day of the match, depending on the conditions on offer. Mitchell Starc is probably one name that is automatically slotted in but it's toss up between the other three to see who gets to fit in. Given the conditions that are likely to be found, it won't be a surprise if Australia go in without a frontline spinner.
Probable XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Moises Henriques/Chris Lynn, Matthew Wade, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand: The opening combination and the all-rounder worries, along with picking the right pace combination, leave New Zealand with plenty to think about. Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill are probably the only automatic picks in the first eleven. Even leading the side just recently or being in good form might not necessarily warrant a spot for the likes of Tom Latham.
Probable XI: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Neil Broom, Luke Ronchi, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson/Mitchell McClenaghan
Stats and Trivia:
- Australia has a never lost a Champions Trophy game against New Zealand - winning four while one match ended in a no-result.
- David Warner and Steve Smith average 28.16 (SR 76) and 27.90 respectively in ODIs in England. Warner is 54 runs way from becoming the third fastest player to reach 4000 ODI runs.
- Edgbaston has been a high scoring venue with an average of 39.18 and RR of 6.41 in the Royal London Cup 2017. Teams posted 300 batting first in three of the four games while the remaining game saw 284 chased down inside 48 overs.
Quotes:
I didn't know it was his birthday. Hopefully not too many half-volleys. He doesn't need any. He's scoring plenty of runs. So should be a good game. Look forward to it - Kane Williamson, when asked if New Zealand had a birthday present for Steve Smith.
It's very challenging in the nets, particularly if there's a little bit in the wicket. So it's been a great challenge for our batters. It's always nice facing those kind of guys and being challenged. So everyone's a little bit quicker in the nets as well. So when you get out in the middle, things seem a little bit easier, and hopefully it shows when we bat tomorrow - Steve Smith on batting against Australia's pace quartet during practice.
Teams:
Australia (From): David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith(c), Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, James Pattinson, Travis Head, John Hastings, Moises Henriques
New Zealand (From): Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Neil Broom, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi(w), James Neesham, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne
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