Any game between Australia and New Zealand is going to be a competitive game. What this game also offers is that some of the best and most explosive batters will be on show. Both teams are packed with players that have starred in both the Women’s Big Bash and the Women's Cricket Super league.
Australia have got off to the perfect start to the ICC World T20. Wins against Pakistan and Ireland have come in comfortable fashion. With a top seven that also include 7 batters of such quality that it isn’t always easy to give them all a bat. Where do you bat Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry when you have Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner at the top of the order?
Despite their early wins, there are still questions on the depth of Australia’s bowlers. New Zealand have the batters to seriously question them. Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine are big hitters and have experience of playing in the WBBL as well as at international level. If they get in, New Zealand can beat anyone. Add to Bates and Devine, Amy Satterthwaite has enough quality to add to any bowler’s pain.
New Zealand lost their first game to India but there were signs that they can turn some patchy recent form around and cause an upset.
Players to watch out for:
Meg Lanning
Australia’s toughest challenge so far should see the best of Lanning. Having missed the previous Australian summer, Lanning has yet to find a permanent place back in the batting line-up. If Australia lose a couple of early wickets it could be the chance for Lanning to show her pure class.
Leigh Kasperek
On low and slow pitches, it could be the ideal surface for Kasperek. While New Zealand have more high-profile players, Kasperek is a consistent bowler who makes it difficult for batters to free their arms and score big.
Conditions:
Expect it to be slow and low, but with some of the players on show that shouldn’t matter too much on what will still be a good surface to bat on.
Numbers to look out for:
Ellyse Perry is 94 runs away from 1000 T20I runs.
Suzie Bates needs 1 more wicket to have taken 50 wickets in T20 internationals.
Who said what:
“We just have to go into this game backing ourselves and being confident that we can beat the Aussies. They are a great side, but we’ve got some big-match players that can take games away.” - Amelia Kerr
“It was lovely to have a small opportunity in the middle, but I think even more impressive was Alyssa Healy's batting today.” - Ellyse Perry
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