ICC World Cup 2019 Match 37, Australia v New Zealand: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Australia are through to the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup. New Zealand are not there yet, but a win – even a tie or a washout – will see them through. In other words, there will be little tournament pressure on the sides when they take field at Lord’s for what will also be a one-off Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

But then, the Australia-New Zealand rivalry has goes down deep, so this is likely to be a contest as intense as any. New Zealand will definitely want to avenge their defeat in the 2015 World Cup final.

The Australian batting has relied heavily on Aaron Finch, David Warner, and Steven Smith in this tournament. Finch and Warner have, in fact, put up three century partnerships at the top. While Finch has been the more aggressive of the two, Warner has shown excellent temperament to play for the long innings with an uncharacteristic approach.

Smith has not scored as heavily, but he has held the middle order together. And Glenn Maxwell has struck at 200 this time.

Jason Behrendorff has been an excellent addition to Australia’s fast-bowling attack, one that had depended largely on Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the early stages of the tournament. Their spinners have not delivered, but they are likely to take field at Lord’s under lights.

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, followed by four all-rounders (Tom Latham, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, and Mitchell Santner), have more than made up for the failure of their opening pair, but the openers do need to regain form at some point.

Their bowlers, especially Trent Boult, Matt Henry, and Lockie Ferguson, have been in excellent form, and their failure to separate Babar Azam and Haris Sohail should not bother them too much.

Head to head

Australia’s massive 90-39 lead comes down to 9-7 in this decade. However, they still hold a 9-7 lead in World Cups including 4 wins in their last 5 encounters.

Australia also have a 1-1 head-to-head on English soil, winning in the 2004 Champions Trophy after the 1999 World Cup defeat. Their last two matches here – in Champions Trophy 2013 and 2017 – were abandoned midway.

Key players

Jason Behrendorff: Behrendorff was not an obvious selection in Australia’s first XI, but he is now. Given how he ripped through England in his last match – also at Lord’s – New Zealand will keep an eye on him. The extra height is often too difficult to handle.

Jimmy Neesham: Given how he had started the year, there was little doubt over his form. With 173 runs at 57.67, a strike rate of 86, and 8 wickets, Neesham has emerged as probably New Zealand’s most important man of the tournament in multiple roles, from dropping anchor to slogging to bowling at death to breaking partnerships.

Likely XIs

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummns, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff.

New Zealand: Colin Munro, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

Prediction

Australia to win.