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Australia are gearing up to face New Zealand in a three-match T20I series starting on September 19. All matches will be held at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, setting the stage for a crucial contest as both teams seek to fine-tune their preparations for upcoming international tournaments.
Australia’s return to action after March tour of Bangladesh
Australia last played an international series in March 2023 when they toured Bangladesh. In the T20I leg of that series, they dominated, securing a comprehensive 3-0 victory. The hosts will look to build on that momentum as they return to action after a six-month break from international cricket. As defending T20 World Cup champions, Australia will be eager to showcase their prowess and continue their winning run on home soil.
New Zealand in struggle mode with consecutive losses
New Zealand, in contrast, find themselves on the verge of an unwanted record. They have lost their last seven T20Is, equaling their longest losing streak from 2018. The Kiwis’ recent outings have been challenging, including a 0-5 whitewash against England in July and a 1-4 series loss to the same opposition at home in March. Since the start of 2023, New Zealand has only managed seven wins from 23 T20I matches, including a historic series loss to Pakistan. They will be desperate to break this losing streak and regain their form.
Last meeting of Australia and New Zealand
The last time these two sides met was in the opening match of the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa, where Australia secured a dominant 97-run victory over New Zealand. However, the upcoming series marks their first bilateral T20I encounter since March 2021, when the series ended 1-1 after the third match in Auckland was washed out. With both teams not having faced each other in over two years, this series presents a fresh challenge for both sides.
A crucial series for both teams
For Australia, this series is an opportunity to reaffirm their position as one of the world’s top T20I teams, while for New Zealand, it’s a chance to turn the tide and avoid setting a new unwanted record. As the teams gear up for a thrilling contest, fans can expect a fiercely competitive series between two of the most exciting teams in world cricket.
Also READ: AUS-W vs NZ-W 2024: Australia’s best XI for the T20I series against New Zealand
New Zealand Women’s top-choice playing XI for the T20I series against Australia:
1. Suzie Bates
- Role: Opening Batter
- Strength: Experience, strokeplay, and consistency. Bates is known for her aggressive opening style, ability to anchor innings, and her leadership qualities, having captained New Zealand previously.
- Expectations: Bates is expected to provide stability at the top of the order, setting the foundation for the middle order to capitalize on. Her ability to convert starts into big scores is crucial for the team’s success.
- Impact: With her wealth of experience, she acts as a guiding force for younger players. Bates’ runs at the top are key in setting up competitive totals and successful chases.
2. Georgia Plimmer
- Role: Top-order Batter
- Strength: Youth, energy, and potential. Plimmer is known for her fearless approach and technical soundness, making her a player to watch for the future.
- Expectations: Plimmer is expected to continue developing her game while contributing with vital knocks in the top order. She’s seen as a future anchor of the batting lineup.
- Impact: As a young player, her impact lies in providing momentum during the early stages of the innings and learning from experienced campaigners like Bates and Devine.
3. Amelia Kerr
- Role: All-rounder (Leg-spinner, Middle-order Batter)
- Strength: Versatility with both bat and ball. Kerr’s leg-spin is highly effective in breaking partnerships, while her batting prowess makes her a dependable middle-order option.
- Expectations: Kerr is expected to be a game-changer in both departments. With the bat, she’s looked upon to stabilize the innings or accelerate, while with the ball, she must provide key breakthroughs.
- Impact: As one of the best all-rounders in the world, Kerr’s impact is massive. Her ability to perform under pressure with both bat and ball gives New Zealand flexibility in various match situations.
4. Sophie Devine (C)
- Role: All-rounder (Captain, Opening Batter, Medium Pace Bowler)
- Strength: Power hitting, leadership, and bowling versatility. Devine is a destructive batter, capable of taking the game away from the opposition with her aggressive style, while also being a useful bowler.
- Expectations: As captain, Devine is expected to lead from the front with her all-round abilities. Her role as a finisher and strike bowler makes her crucial in both batting and bowling strategies.
- Impact: Devine’s captaincy and all-round contributions can single-handedly influence the outcome of matches. Her leadership is vital in rallying the team, and her big-hitting can turn games in a matter of overs.
5. Brooke Halliday
- Role: Middle-order Batter
- Strength: Grit and stability in the middle order. Halliday is known for her ability to handle pressure and anchor the innings when needed.
- Expectations: Halliday is expected to stabilize the middle order and provide partnerships when the top order fails. Her contributions are essential in building or maintaining momentum in the middle overs.
- Impact: Halliday’s ability to bat through tough phases makes her a key component in ensuring the team doesn’t collapse in challenging situations.
6. Maddy Green
- Role: Middle-order Batter
- Strength: Adaptability and finishing ability. Green is a versatile batter capable of accelerating when required or holding the fort during collapses.
- Expectations: Green’s role is to provide stability in the middle and serve as a reliable finisher when New Zealand is chasing or setting a target. She’s expected to rotate strike and increase the run rate in the latter stages of the innings.
- Impact: Green’s impact is felt in close chases or pressure situations where her calm demeanor helps the team maintain control and push for victory.
7. Isabella Gaze (wk)
- Role: Wicketkeeper-batter
- Strength: Sharp wicketkeeping skills and ability to score lower-order runs. Gaze provides balance to the team with her agility behind the stumps and her ability to chip in with useful runs.
- Expectations: Gaze is expected to be a reliable wicketkeeper, minimizing errors, and contributing valuable runs in the lower-middle order.
- Impact: Her glove work behind the stumps is vital in close matches, while her ability to score quick runs lower down the order provides depth to New Zealand’s batting.
8. Lea Tahuhu
- Role: Fast Bowler
- Strength: Raw pace and aggression. Tahuhu’s ability to bowl at express pace makes her a threat to any batting lineup, particularly in the powerplay and death overs.
- Expectations: Tahuhu is expected to provide early breakthroughs with the new ball and contain runs in the death overs. Her experience in crucial match situations is invaluable.
- Impact: Tahuhu’s pace and wicket-taking ability make her the spearhead of New Zealand’s bowling attack, often changing the course of games with her fiery spells.
9. Molly Penfold
- Role: Fast Bowler
- Strength: Young, fast, and aggressive. Penfold is emerging as a bright prospect for New Zealand’s pace attack, with her ability to generate pace and bounce.
- Expectations: Penfold is expected to be a key supporting bowler to Tahuhu, providing wicket-taking options in the middle overs and maintaining pressure with her pace.
- Impact: Her impact lies in her ability to take crucial wickets during the middle overs, disrupting partnerships and applying pressure on the opposition.
10. Eden Carson
- Role: Off-spin Bowler
- Strength: Accuracy and consistency. Carson’s off-spin is highly effective in keeping runs down while also chipping in with vital wickets.
- Expectations: Carson is expected to control the middle overs by maintaining tight lines and offering a wicket-taking threat, especially against right-handers.
- Impact: Carson’s ability to apply pressure through economical bowling helps New Zealand strangle the opposition, especially in the middle phase of the game.
11. Fran Jonas
- Role: Left-arm Spinner
- Strength: Variety and control. Jonas brings in the left-arm orthodox spin option, creating variety in the bowling attack and making her a tricky bowler to face for batters.
- Expectations: Jonas is expected to tie down one end with her accurate bowling, taking crucial wickets in the middle overs while maintaining a low economy rate.
- Impact: As a left-arm spinner, Jonas adds diversity to the attack, making her a vital weapon in the middle overs when partnerships need breaking or runs need to be restricted.
