AUSTRALIA FOCUS
Captain Steve Smith has admitted he is unlikely to field their âfearsome foursomeâ of fast bowlers against New Zealand in their Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand on Friday.
Injuries have meant the quartet of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson have rarely all been fit at the same time.
It appears Australia have decided itâs too much of a risk fielding all four in the same team, with John Hastings â who has plenty of English county experience â also in the squad.
âI donât think weâll end up going with the four big quicks,â Smith told reporters at Edgbaston.
âWeâve got a couple of options there as all-rounders.
â(Marcus) Stoinis did very well in New Zealand in the last series, and Hastings has done very well for us over in these conditions.
âHeâs a little bit slower than the others and hits the seam and has some good skills throughout the middle as well.â
NEW ZEALAND FOCUS
New Zealand beat Australia in a thrilling pool match in Auckland at the 2015 World Cup only to lose to their trans-Tasman rivals in the final in Melbourne.
Fridayâs encounter at Birminghamâs Edgbaston ground is set to feature several survivors, with New Zealand captain Kane Williamson the star turn in a top order that also includes Martin Guptill.
Blackcaps pacemen Tim Southee and Trent Boult are proven performers in England, but Southee said: âWe know the conditions, but you canât rely on that.
âThe wickets over here are pretty good, and the bowlers are going to have to be at the very top of their game as a result.â
This latest trans-Tasman clash takes place against the backdrop of a bitter pay dispute between Cricket Australia and their players.
DATE, TIME, VENUE INFO
Date: Friday June 2 2017
Time: 13:30 GST
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
WHERE TO WATCH, LIVE STREAMING INFO
TV: UAE â OSN Sports Cricket HD
Full coverage on Sport360.com.
LIKELY AUSTRALIA XI: Warner, Finch, Smith*, Maxwell, Lynn, Stoinis, Wade â , Hazlewood, Starc, Cummins, Zampa
LIKELY NEW ZEALAND XI: Guptill, Latham â , Williamson *, Taylor, Broom, Anderson, Santner, Ronchi, McClenaghan, Southee, Boult
SPORT360 MATCH PREDICTION: Australiaâs preparation for this tournament has been far from seamless where as New Zealand have been more of a collective unit. That said, the Baggy Green should have too much firepower for the Kiwis.