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AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

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Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs New Zealand 1st ODI Dream11 | AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Key Players | SCG Pitch Report

It is a blast from the past, as the retro ODI shirts make an appearance in an otherwise strangely scheduled ODI series.

Rugby League Football kicked off in rugby league heartland, Sydney, on Thursday. Couple this with this series being behind a Paywall puts it as significant risk of low awareness, as was the case in the T20Is to kick off the Australian international season back in October.

After a long BBL season and tours to India and South Africa, Australia are back at home for a series in March. ODIs don’t take the main priority in a T20 World Cup year, but the Aussies will want to arrest a slide that consists of five straight ODI defeats. They now play a side that recently arrested their own slide, which increases the challenge further.

That side is New Zealand. The Black Caps were on a run of eight straight losses across formats, including a 3-0 series loss in the Tests against Australia. They arrive with a full-strength squad with the target of becoming the first New Zealand team to win an ODI series (consisting of more than one match) in Australia.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • David Warner had an under-par ODI series in Australia. He returns to Australia as the highest run-scorer at the SCG among active players (734 runs, avg. 56.46, SR: 103.23).
  • Also, Warner averages 45.58 vs NZ in 12 ODIs (547 runs).
  • Ross Taylor was superb vs India recently. Also, he has the most runs in AUS-NZ ODIs among active players (1,003, avg. 38.57).
  • Steve Smith was Player of the Match in New Zealand’s last ODI at the SCG (2016). Smith scored 164 (157).
  • Martin Guptill hit 114 (102) in the same game. He is the second-highest run-scorer in AUS-NZ ODIs (785, avg. 34.83), and is coming off two half-centuries in the recent three-match ODI series vs India.
  • But, the rock of New Zealand’s batting is Kane Williamson. He has a solid record vs Australia: 456 runs, avg. 41.45.
  • Marnus Labuschagne is coming off his first ODI century – a special effort in Potchefstroom last week.
  • Trent Boult vs Mitchell Starc will be a great battle. Both have great records in AUS-NZ ODIs: Boult has 29 wickets in 11 ODIs at 17.96; Starc has 23 wickets in nine ODIs at 16.08.
  • Pat Cummins vs New Zealand: nine matches, 15 wickets, avg. 24.13.
  • Lockie Ferguson is expected to return for New Zealand. He was superb at last year’s World Cup, finishing second behind Mitchell Starc with 21 wickets.

Stats and Facts

  • Outside of World Cups, the last time an ODI was played this late in an Australian season was a one-off ODI between Australia and New Zealand to raise funds for a bushfire appeal in 1983.
  • New Zealand have not won an ODI at the SCG since 2002 (six straight losses).
  • Aaron Finch crossed double-figures in each of his six innings in South Africa. He crossed the 50-mark twice, but will want a big score.
  • Mitchell Santner enjoys playing Australia. He has 13 wickets in nine matches against them.
  • The team batting first has won the last four ODIs at the SCG: Average first inns score: 316.75 vs second inns score: 265.75.

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Possible Playing 11

D’Arcy Short showed some positive signs in South Africa recently, so he could be persisted with. Australia do have the option of Ashton Agar on a late-season SCG pitch.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Steve Smith, 4. Marnus Labuschagne, 5. D’Arcy Short, 6. Alex Carey (wk), 7. Mitchell Marsh, 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Josh Hazlewood, 11. Adam Zampa

New Zealand are largely settled, but it remains to be seen if they pick a second spinner or have room for the in-form Kyle Jamieson.

New Zealand: 1. Martin Guptill, 2. Henry Nicholls, 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Tom Latham (wk), 6. Jimmy Neesham, 7. Colin de Grandhomme, 8. Mitchell Santner, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Lockie Ferguson, 11. Trent Boult

SCG Pitch Report and Conditions

The Aussie Rules Football season begins next week, so as soon as the second ODI on Sunday is over, the groundstaff will be working to transform the ground into a football oval.

After so much cricket on the SCG square over the summer, a slow track is expected for this match. The weather forecast for Friday is 24 degrees and mostly sunny.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs New Zealand 1st ODI Dream11 | AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Key Players | SCG Pitch Report
AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Preview Dream11

Option 2:

AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs New Zealand 1st ODI Dream11 | AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Key Players | SCG Pitch Report
AUS vs NZ 1st ODI Preview Dream11

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Match Prediction

A tough match to call.

Much could depend on the mindset of the weary Australians, who have just arrived back from South Africa. New Zealand have also had a long summer, but some of their players, including Williamson and Boult, have had injury breaks.

There is no better opportunity for New Zealand to break their poor run at the SCG. Heart says Australia, but head says New Zealand will win.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Is cricket blogging something you are looking to pursue more of in 2020? Download my free E-Book for tips!

Charbel Coorey
Charbel Cooreyhttps://cricblog.net
Charbel is the owner & founder of cricblog.net, based in Sydney, Australia. He started the website to fulfill his love for the game of cricket. Charbel has been featured on other publications including OP India, Times of India, and The Roar, among others. He is also a keen fantasy sports player. Charbel has also had the privilege of interviewing cricketers on the CricBlog TV YouTube channel, including James Neesham, Rassie van der Dussen, Andrew Tye, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat and Saurabh Netravalkar: https://www.youtube.com/@cricblogtv For any story tips or questions, you can contact Charbel at charbelcoorey@cricblog.net.

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