Photo by Zaczac157 / CC BY-SA 3.0
The cricket season has ended in Australia, but the Aussie team won’t get much time to rest as they fly over to New Zealand for five matches against the Kiwi’s. The first match is a One Day International on February 3rd which will take place in Auckland. Australia will take a fairly similar squad over to New Zealand, with only one new name in leg spinner Adam Zampa replacing Joel Paris. Looking at recent form, the Australians defeated India comfortably in four out of five ODI’s, cruising to a series victory. The Australians chased multiple record totals in the 300’s with relative ease, showing their batting line-up can chase any target set for them.
Captain Steve Smith was the standout batsman for Australia, with an average of 63 across the five matches. Aaron Finch missed the final T20 game against India due to a hamstring injury, but the Victorian is adamant he’ll be available for the first ODI against New Zealand. John Hastings made the most of his late inclusion to the squad, taking 10 wickets, the most of any bowler in the series.
Hastings, Richardson and Faulkner will probably be the three fast bowlers who get first crack at New Zealand based on their form against India, but Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland could also be called upon. With the likes of Mitchell Starc, Patrick Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff injured, the Australian’s bowling depth will be heavily tested in this series.
New Zealand have dropped BJ Watling from their squad, but are otherwise unchanged from their recent series against Pakistan. New Zealand were also victorious in that series, meaning both sides come into this match with form. Martin Guptil and Kane Williamson loom as the dangerous batsmen for the home side with both making big scores in the most recent ODI against Pakistan. Trent Boult remains the Kiwi’s number one bowler in the absence of Tim Southee, taking six wickets from two games against Pakistan.
Predicted sides:
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Matt Henry and Trent Boult.
Australia: David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith, George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson