Aresurgent Australia will be out to build on their resounding return to form, while New Zealand can put one foot in the semi-finals with a win over their arch-rivals.

Date and Venue

Saturday 28 October, HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

Summary

Familiar foes Australia and New Zealand meet with both teams riding high in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 standings and starting to eye a spot in the semi-finals.

But neither team has yet locked in a top-four finish after Australia made a slow start to the tournament with two crushing losses, while New Zealand were gradually overrun by India in their most recent match.

Australia have since rediscovered something resembling their top form with some devastating batting against less-fancied opponents and a win here could see the five-time champions climb above their Trans Tasman rivals.

New Zealand will want to bounce back quickly from their loss to India as they look to secure a top-four spot even before their captain Kane Williamson returns from injury.

The Black Caps’ have been able to turn to emerging gun Rachin Ravindra, while Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway are also proving reliable contributors of runs.

An intriguing side battle will see a pair of spinners in Adam Zampa (13 wickets) and Mitch Santner (12) on opposite sides and among the leading wicket-takers so far at the tournament.

Zampa has taken four scalps in each of Australia’s three consecutive victories, while Santner has been almost as damaging in familiar conditions, and both are likely to be pivotal to their team’s chances in this encounter.

Squads

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.

New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.

Key players

Australia – Glenn Maxwell

The Australia dynamo lit up the Cricket World Cup with an incredible innings against Netherlands that smashed the record for the fastest-ever century at the event.

Maxwell clubbed a ton off only 40 balls to set a new benchmark while sending a warning shot across the tournament of his ability to turn a match on its head in the space of a few overs.

New Zealand will have plans to contain the heavy-hitting right-hander but little can stop Maxwell when he is in full flight.

Before his heroics against Netherlands, Maxwell had arguably been even more impactful for Australia with his off-spin that will likely be useful again in the New Zealand middle overs.

New Zealand – Matt Henry

The consistent and canny pacer has been crucial to the Black Caps’ strong start to the tournament and will be a key to their chances against Australia.

Henry has 10 wickets at the Cricket World Cup to be only one scalp behind the leading quicks from each team’s opening five matches.

The right-armer has combined well with veteran Trent Boult as usual, and the duo will now want to target the Australia top order that has started to find form and set the tone for their resurgence.

Removing the likes of David Warner, Mitch Marsh or Travis Head, if he is recalled, cheaply would put New Zealand well on the path to victory over their arch-rivals and within reach of a semi-final berth.