Clash of the hosts

After hosting the game for two weeks, the hosts themselves come face to face. Being the host, both of them have the home advantage and with the kind of cricket that they are playing in the recent times, they are the favourites to win the title as well. But when they face each other on Saturday (February 28) afternoon, the home advantage would be with New Zealand.

This match could as well be the dress rehearsal for the semi-final or final they may meet each other again. Being the tournament favourites, the result of the match will not have any impact on their progressing to the next stage (of course their recent form is testimony to that). However, the result would definitely decide who will be the pool topper, assuming both these team win all their subsequent matches. The pool position will not just decide who they will be playing from the other group in the quarter-finals but will also have bearing on where will they play in case they meet each other again in the semi-finals. Team at the higher position gets the home advantage. 

In the last two weeks, all the matches where both the opponents were full members, were one sided affair. Only those matches where the associates were involved evoked excitement. When it came to pushing the full memeber, it was only the associates who were in front, be it Ireland pushing West Indies or UAE pushing Zimbabwe or Afghanistan almost pulling it from Sri Lanka or Scotland giving a scare to New Zealand. Even the two nail biters were contested among the associates. With the form these two teams are in, there will be a huge expectation that it would be a neck to neck contest. Anything less than that would be a disappointment.

Both Australia and New Zealand have won all their five previous games that they have played. New Zealand played 3 matches in the first week, won all and is coming from a one week break whereas, Australia after playing the tournament opener will be playing only on Saturday i.e. exactly two weeks later. Their second match against Bangladesh was washed out and they had won their first game. This break has done them any good or bad, will be known only after the game.

Australia have problem of plenty when it comes to selection. Michael Clarke returns to the team after injury. It will be interesting to see, if Shane Watson is retained. If they decide against Watson, then he could make way for Clarke, else it will have to be George Bailey. Bailey had scored 55 in the tournament opener. Mitchell Marsh who played in Faulkner's absence, took 5 wickets and will retain his place. It is being talked that Josh Hazlewood would make way for Pat Cummins. 

As far as New Zealand is concerned, they have tested their combination in three matches and there seems to be no issues with that except for Ross Taylor's form. When other ten are doing very well, they can allow Ross Taylor to be part of XI, knowing how valuable the player he is. 

If at all there is any weakness in Australia, it is their middle order. It is not the quality of the players but the form, especially Watson and Smith. Even Clarke is coming in from injury and has played only 2 ODIs in last 12 months. If the trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Adam Milne can get the Australian openers cheaply or even early, then it would be really a mouth watering contest. Otherwise both the teams match each other on every aspect.

This will be the first match in Auckland. 

*Image: courtsey Star Sports