Australia will take on New Zealand in match number 27 of the 2023 ODI World Cup at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Saturday, October 28. The Trans-Tasman rivals have been among the strongest sides in the competition so far. Australia are fourth in the points table with six points from three matches. They began with losses to India and South Africa but have since registered three wins in a row. New Zealand, on the other hand, are third with four wins and one loss, which came against India in the last match.
In their previous game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the Aussies were all over the Netherlands, crushing the opponents by 309 runs, registering the biggest victory in terms of runs in the ODI World Cup. They batted first and put up a mammoth 399/8 on the board. The bowlers then bundled out the Dutch for 90 in 21 overs. New Zealand’s unbeaten streak against India in ICC events, which went back to 2003, ended in Dharamsala on Sunday, October 22. Team India chased down 274 with four wickets in hand as the Kiwis registered their first defeat of the 2023 World Cup. Here are five player battles to watch out for in Australia vs New Zealand match.
David Warner vs Trent Boult
After a slow start, Australian opener David Warner’s 2023 World Cup campaign has gone into overdrive. He has been exceptional in the last two matches for the team. The left-handed batter smashed 163 off only 124 balls against Pakistan and followed it up with 104 off 93 deliveries against Netherlands. It has been no secret that Warner is among the most destructive batters in world cricket. Following his recent struggles, though, there were question marks over whether he is past his prime. Warner has answered critics in a fitting fashion.
David Warner vs Trent Boult will be one intriguing battle. The latter has claimed six wickets in five matches so far, which includes two-fers against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. He managed only one wicket each in the two big games against England and India, respectively. And so, while he has done a reasonable job, it would be fair to say that he has not totally come to the party yet. Dismissing Warner cheaply could change that perception to an extent.
Devon Conway vs Mitchell Starc
New Zealand opener Devon Conway seems to have gone off the boil after a great start. He has a tendency to begin tournaments with a bang and then lose his way. This has been observed during his stint for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well. He kicked off World Cup 2023 with an unbeaten 152 against England. In the last four games, he has registered scores of 32, 45, 20, and 0. Conway will want to lift his game as the race for semi-final spots heats up.
Aussie left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc will be key to the team’s 2023 World Cup campaign yet again. There has not been a single World Cup game in which he has not picked up at least one wicket, an incredible stat, which proves that Starc is a wicket-taker. In the ongoing competition, he has picked up seven wickets in five matches, including two-wicket hauls against South Africa and Sri Lanka. Starc would look to dislodge Conway early in the game, well aware of how dangerous he can be if he gets his eye in.
Steve Smith vs Mitchell Santner
After a disappointing start to the World Cup, Steve Smith found some much-needed touch in the match against Netherlands. The seasoned right-handed batter scored 71 off 68 balls, hitting nine fours and a six, before falling to a brilliant catch from Roelof van der Merwe. Smith will now be keen to build on his form. Big rivalries always bring out the best in Smith, and the Australia-New Zealand tussle is huge. Can he lift his game against the Black Caps?
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has been a star performer for New Zealand with the ball. In five matches, he has picked up 12 wickets, which includes a five-wicket haul against the Netherlands, a three-for against Afghanistan, and two wickets against New Zealand. He has stood up to a number of challenges over the last few games. The clash with Smith will be another big one. Can he produce the goods, or will Smith dominate this battle? Wait and watch.
Daryl Mitchell vs Adam Zampa
Daryl Mitchell has been in wonderful form for New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup. He notched up a magnificent hundred against India in a losing cause. In four innings, he has 268 runs to his credit at an average of 89.33 and a strike rate of 108.06. Mitchell is striking the ball cleanly and providing impetus to New Zealand’s innings in the middle overs. He would want to carry on in the same fashion.
Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa managed only one wicket in the first two games he played in the World Cup. He has been sensational since then, picking up three four-wicket hauls in a row. He ran through the Netherlands with figures of 4/8 in the last match. Zampa vs Mitchell will be the tussle of two form players. Who will come out on top?
Glenn Maxwell vs Lockie Ferguson
Glenn Maxwell brought the World Cup to life with a sensational 40-ball ton against the Netherlands – the fastest hundred in the history of the ODI World Cup. He broke the record of Aiden Markram, who got one in 49 balls just a little over a fortnight ago. The Big Show’s crazy innings saw reverse hits going for sixes.
Maxwell will be up against the pace of Lockie Ferguson at the end of the innings. Genuine pace is something that has troubled the Aussie big hitter in his career. Ferguson has pace for sure, and the Kiwi pacer would try his yorkers and bouncers against Maxwell. Will the Big Show have answers this time?