ODI World Cup 2023: Australia's strongest predicted playing XI against New Zealand

Australia (AUS) are ready to face New Zealand (NZ) in the 27th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, scheduled to be held at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on October 28th.

This match could be the deciding factor for the Australian team in the ongoing World Cup on potentially where they could finish in the tournament. Although they are currently in fourth place on the points table, a loss here could leave them in a spot of bother, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan closely behind and ready to seize the opportunity to secure the safer fourth spot.

Australia have participated in five matches in the tournament up to this point, securing victories in three and facing defeats in two. The Men in Yellow have managed to achieve a three-game winning streak. As they prepare for their upcoming match against New Zealand, they must deliver a strong performance. In anticipation of the Kangaroos versus Kiwis showdown, we will explore Australia's anticipated lineup of eleven players for the match.

Here's Australia's predicted XI against New Zealand:

Openers: David Warner, Travis Head

David Warner is set to open for Australia in the ICC World Cup 2023 match against New Zealand. His exceptional recent performances, including two centuries in the last two games, have resulted in a remarkable average of over 60 after five matches. Consequently, he is a strong contender for Australia's playing eleven against New Zealand.

Travis Head will join Warner as the opening partner instead of Mitchell Marsh. Head had been absent due to an injury, and the team management had previously confirmed that upon his return, he would be slotted in as the opener, regardless of the circumstances. Head is still striving to leave his mark in the World Cup.

Middle Order: Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell

Mitchell Marsh is likely to take on the role of the team's number three batter. This right-handed batter has already registered a century and a fifty in the ICC World Cup 2023, with a recent outstanding knock of 121 runs against Pakistan. His presence could further strengthen Australia's middle order.

While Steve Smith has faced challenges in scoring runs in a few matches, he managed to secure a fifty in the recent encounter against the Netherlands, achieving a top score of 71 runs in this tournament. Smith, with one fifty in five matches, is an automatic choice in the middle-order batting lineup.

Josh Inglis will assume the wicketkeeping duties for the team in the match against New Zealand. The right-handed batter showcased his prowess with an impressive innings of 58 runs against Sri Lanka, boasting a batting average exceeding 52. Additionally, Inglis has proven to be a more dependable wicketkeeper than Alex Carey, who struggled to make runs earlier in the tournament.

Glenn Maxwell will be a crucial middle-order batter for Australia. He recently delivered a remarkable century in the match against the Netherlands, setting a record for the fastest century in World Cup history. In addition to his batting prowess, Maxwell's bowling contributions make him a valuable asset in the playing eleven, as he has been their standout bowler with a commendable economy rate.

Also Check: Most Runs in ODI World Cup 2023

All-rounder: Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis will serve as the pace all-rounder for Australia in the upcoming clash with New Zealand. In the previous match against the Netherlands, the team opted to leave Stoinis out, but for the formidable New Zealand side, he is likely to come back, replacing Cameron Green. Stoinis has been a valuable contributor, securing two wickets and delivering rapid runs during the critical death overs.

Bowlers: Pat Cummins (C), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Pat Cummins is enduring a challenging World Cup, especially in his bowling performance. Despite his captaincy, that has led to three consecutive victories, he has struggled to make an impact as a bowler, securing just six wickets in his five appearances. His economy rate exceeding seven runs per over has been a concern, even though he's been instrumental in rallying the team in crucial situations.

Josh Hazlewood is set to contribute as another pacer for Australia. With an economy rate consistently below five, the right-arm fast bowler has been impressive. In a game against India, he secured a three-wicket haul on a pitch favouring spinners, showcasing his ability to extract pace and bounce. Hazlewood, known for his ability to hit the deck hard, is focused on delivering another outstanding performance against New Zealand.

Also Check: Most Wickets in ODI World Cup 2023

Mitchell Starc has maintained an economy rate of 5.48 in the tournament despite occasionally conceding a significant number of runs. The left-arm pacer has taken seven wickets in five games. Although he has had some costly outings, Starc's reputation as a formidable international fast bowler, known for his ability to dismantle opposition batters with his pace, remains intact.

There's no question that in spin-friendly Indian venues, Adam Zampa plays a pivotal role as a bowler for the Australian team. Zampa, a right-arm spinner, has emerged as the team's leading wicket-taker. In the previous match against the Netherlands, he secured a four-wicket haul, playing a vital role in guiding the team to a victory.

Australia Predicted XI: 

David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Also Check: ODI World Cup 2023 Points Table