AUS vs NZ Dream11 Match Prediction: The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground will be the venue where the boxing day Test between Australia and New Zealand will take place as the Kiwis look for redemption after a heavy 296 runs defeat. Marnus Labuschagne continued his consistent run in red-ball cricket and scored a hundred followed by a fifty in the first Test.
However, it was Mitchell Starc who stole the show by bagging nine wickets at Perth which earned him the player of the match award. New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson could opt for a few changes particularly in the batting department as the visitors weren’t able to even get past a score of 200 in both innings.
Match Details
Date- Thursday, December 26 | Time- 5:00 AM (IST) | Venue- Melbourne Cricket Ground
Australia
Tim Paine should go in with a similar playing eleven but will be without Josh Hazlewood who’s out due to injury. Peter Siddle has been called up to the squad as a result of Hazlewood’s omission but might not get to feature in the team due to James Pattinson and Micheal Neser being more prominent options. There is a possibility of Travis Head settling for the sidelines in case the Aussies want an extra pacer.
New Zealand
Jeet Raval failed to impress at the top and could make way for Tom Blundell to open the innings with the bat. Fast bowler, Lockie Ferguson has also been ruled out for more than a month due to injury. With Ferguson out, there a chance of Kyle Jamieson making his international debut.
AUS (Expected Playing 11)- D Warner, J Burns, M Labuschagne, S Smith, M Wade, T Head, T Pain (C), P Cummins, M Starc, N Lyon, J Pattinson
NZ (Expected Playing 11)- T Blundell, T Latham, K Williamson (C), R Taylor, H Nicholls, BJ Watling (WK), C D Grandhomme, M Santner, T Southee, N Wagner, K Jamieson
Marnus Labuschagne has been one of the standout players for Australia ever since making his debut. Labuschagne has scored 1103 runs in just 12 Tests with an average of 58.05. The frontline batsman has six fifties and three, hundreds under his belt.
Veteran New Zealand batsman, Ross Taylor has featured in 97 Tests and has scored 11851 runs with an average of 46.57. Taylor has 33 fifties, 19 hundreds and three double tons under his belt in his long career.
Front line pacer, Mitchell Starc will be a major threat with the red ball in hand. Starc has 238 wickets to his tally from 55 Tests for Australia with an economy of 3.37.
Tim Southee similar to Starc bagged nine wickets in the first Test and will be eager to get more. Southee has featured in 70 Tests for New Zealand and has 267 wickets under his belt with an economy of 3.02.
Australia having momentum in their hands will always be a tough team to beat at home. The hosts are the favourite to win the second Test and seal the series in the process.
Team 1
Wicketkeepers- T Blundell, T Paine
Batsmen- T Latham, R Taylor, S Smith, D Warner
All-Rounder- M Labuschagne (C)
Bowlers- N Wagner, T Southee, P Cummins, M Starc (VC)
Team 2
Wicketkeepers- T Paine, M Wade
Batsmen, K Williamson, R Taylor, D Warner (C)
All-Rounder- M Labuschagne
Bowlers- N Wagner, T Southee (VC), T Boult, N Lyon, M Starc
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