(Cricket news) The current World Test Champions and the 5 time World Cup winners Australia will fight it out in the Trans-Tasman rivalry to win their first T20 World Cup. Interestingly neither teams were touted as the pre tournament favourites to reach the final, however both the teams have played some quality cricket and deserve to reach the finals. Both have endured heavy losses against Pakistan and England but have bounced back by playing exceptional cricket against top quality opposition.
Australia over the tournament have discovered a winning combination not only with the bat but also with the ball. Warner in this tournament has shown that class is permanent and form is temporary as he has been on fire scoring crucial runs especially in the last two matches, on the other hand, Finch’s form going into in the final is not great but he has scored 251 runs against New Zealand in T20’s and will be hoping to add to that tally. Glenn Maxwell has been an integral cog in the team as Australia have moved away from their bowling heavy approach to play Mitchell Marsh instead of Ashton Agar, Glenn Maxwell now has to bowl four overs and act as a finisher in the squad also.
Australia’s pace trio have picked up 11 wickets in the powerplay which is the joint second highest in the tournament and will be interesting to see how the New Zealand opening batsman tackle the pace attack. Adam Zampa has slowly gone about his business in this tournament, he is the leading wicket taker in the middle overs since the super 12 and holds a massive threat for the New Zealand middle order.
New Zealand will be without Devon Conway in this clash as he is ruled out with a fractured hand, the main question will be who will replace him. Whether New Zealand would replace him with another leftie in Mark Chapman or will they go for Seifert will be the lone selection dilemma. Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell are probably the two most in form batsmen of the team and will be looking to continue the same, Guptill holds an exceptional record against Australia in T20’s as he has scored 435 runs in 12 innings. Kane Williamson and Jimmy Neesham will have an integral part to play in the middle overs especially with Devon Conway out. Kane Williamson needs to be wary of his poor record against the Australian spinner, he has a poor head-to-head against both Zampa and Glenn Maxwell in T20 cricket: 38 balls, 37 runs, two dismissals vs Zampa and 10 balls, six runs, two dismissals vs Maxwell.
Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santer have provided the team with the right balance between spin and pace, against Australia they have a top six where only Warner bats left-handed while the rest matchup poorly against the New Zealand spin duo as both of whom turn the ball from right to left. Tim Southee and Trent Boult will hold the key for New Zealand as they are the second most economical team in the powerplay with conceding only 5.89 rpo.
Head to head: Australia 9 – 5 New Zealand (In T20 World Cups, New Zealand 1-0 Australia)
Pitch and weather report: The “ring of fire” over the past few matches have produced some batting belters, Spinners can come handy in the middle overs while there is very little margin of error for the death bowlers. Dew factor will play a massive role in the finals as well. The captain winning the toss always looks to bowl first and the trend will likely continue in the finals as well. The weather in Dubai will remain hot as the temperature will hover around 28°C on the matchday with 54 % humidity and 14 km/hr wind speed. There are no chances of precipitation during the game.
Interesting facts:
- Aaron Finch needs 25 runs to become the second Australian and sixth player overall to complete 10,000 T20 runs
- David Warner needs 4 sixes to complete 100 sixes in T20’s
- Guptill also needs 49 runs to go past Brendon McCullum’s tally of 637 runs and become New Zealand’s leading run-scorer in T20 World Cups
- Glenn Phillips has scored 1376 T20 runs this year, third-most by any player in 2021.
- Australia have five wins winning the toss and only lost the toss once when they lost to England
Probable XI for Australia:
David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Probable XI for New Zealand:
Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Tim Seifert (wk)/Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
