Steven Smith of Australia playing a shot (photo - Getty Images)
Australia will face off New Zealand in the first of three ODI matches in Sydney tomorrow.
Australia have had tough time in ODI cricket as they have lost each of their last five ODI matches and their full strength team got whitewashed at the hands of South Africa last week. Now they will look to turn things around in this home series and to do that their top four batsmen David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschange have to big runs and in the bowling Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and spinner Adam Zampa have to do the job. On the other hand, New Zealand is in good touch as they whitewashed India in Tests and ODIs and now will look to repeat that performance in this series. The return of Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson have strengthened them and they will be a tough side to beat.
Match Details :
Match : AUS vs NZ, Australia vs New Zealand, New Zealand tour of Australia 2020
Date : 13 March 2020
Time : 9.00 AM IST
Venue : Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Head to Head :
ODI Matches – 137
Australia won – 91
New Zealand won – 39
No results – 7
Australia is on a five match losing streak in ODI cricket and New Zealand is coming with a series win over India but in these home conditions Australia will be a strong side to beat. Here we’ll analyse both sides’ strengths and weaknesses and will also make cricket match prediction.
Strengths : Australia’s strength is their top four batsmen David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschange who can take match away after getting set and the bowling duo of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. While New Zealand’s strength is their middle order of Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham and the pace bowling attack of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson who were outstanding against India.
Weaknesses : Australia’s weakness is their lower middle order of D’Arcy Short, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey who haven’t score big runs for a long time and the third pacer and second spinner are also not bowling well. On the other hand, New Zealand’s openers are not consistent and also their all rounders de Grandhomme and Neesham aren’t finishing innings on high.
As we have already told Australia is on a five ODIs losing streak while New Zealand is on a three match winning streak but in home conditions Australia is a very strong unit and their batting line up should score big runs on these flat tracks and also their pacers will trouble New Zealand batsmen with their pace and bounce and New Zealand pacers rely more on swing and seam which will be less here so given these factors our today match prediction is that Australia should win this contest.
Following are the odds for this match on two most famous betting sites –
Bet365 : Australia : 1.57, New Zealand : 2.37
Betway : Australia : 1.53, New Zealand : 2.40
On the basis of recent performances (ODI performance in 2020) following players are the good picks for fantasy cricket teams –
Australia :
Steven Smith – 338 runs at 67.60 in 5 innings (1*100, 2*50)
Aaron Finch – 263 runs at 52.60 in 6 innings (1*100, 1*50)
Adam Zampa – 8 wickets in 6 innings
Marnus Labuschange – 249 runs 49.80 in 5 innings (1*100, 1*50)
New Zealand :
Henry Nicholls – 199 runs at 66.33 in 3 innings (2*50)
Ross Taylor – 194 runs at 194 in 3 innings (1*100, 1*50)
Kyle Jamieson – 3 wickets and 25 runs in 2 innings
Australia’s top four batsmen Warner, Smith, Finch and Labuschange all have got one hundred each and are in fine touch with bat while New Zealand’s batsmen also did well against India but Aussie tracks are flat and pacers with good pace and bounce can do well here so for dream11 prediction teams most of the players should be picked from Australia and the likes of Finch, Warner, Smith, Cummins and Starc are must picks and from New Zealand Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Kyle Jamieson and Trent Boult.