Okay folks, this is the BIG one. Australia versus New Zealand. Neighbors, friends and political allies. But on the cricket field – bitter rivals, who completely hate each other. A wonderful day of cricket awaits us tomorrow as these two enemies face each other in a gruesome battle.
A lot will be at stake – national honor, individual prestige, neighborhood bragging rights – as the neighbors take on each other in a global tournament for the first time since 2010. While we consider Australia to be slight favorites for this clash, you never know, because New Zealand are in such awesome form that they are fully capable of demolishing any side – with the bat or with the ball.
So who is going to prosper in the battles between Warner against Southee and Boult, and McCullum against Johnson and Starc. Really, it’s been a while since we have had something so exciting in cricket. A mouthwatering contest, indeed. This clash has the entire populations of both New Zealand and Australia gearing up for the battle.
The captains are very much keyed up.
Brendon McCullum: “We’ve earned some respect around the world in the last 12-18 months with the way we’ve played but also the way we’ve carried [ourselves]. You can’t win every game, but you can control what you bring to the table. So long as we see a team that is desperate [to win], then we’ve got a good chance.”
Michael Clarke: “Through my career I can’t remember an easy game against New Zealand, whether you have played them in Australia or over here. They are a really tough opposition.”
Michael Clarke, Australia’s captain, comes back after a prolonged injury spell, and he replaced George Bailey, who captained the side in his absence. We expect Pat Cummins to replace Josh Hazlewood. Cummins is much faster and presents a potent threat.
New Zealand have arguably their ODI team in their history, and certainly the same side will play again. “It’s hard on the guys not playing but they are completely committed and at some point they will get a game,” says captain Brendon McCullum.
The Teams
New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum (capt), 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori, 9 Adam Milne, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult
Australia: 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Steven Smith, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Mitchell Marsh, 8 Brad Haddin (wk), 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Pat Cummins
Match Conditions
We expect the pitch at the Eden Park in Auckland to be a batting paradise, but with enough pace and carry for the bowlers. The weather hasn’t been perfect for the past week in Auckland, but it has been improving, and fingers crossed, we will have a weather befitting the brilliance of the occasion.
Watch the match live on Star Sports from 6:30 AM this Saturday!
