ICC World Cup 2019 Match 4, Australia vs Afghanistan: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Australia have won 8 ODIs on the trot before World Cup 2019, all of them outside their comfort zone – in India, where they came back from 0-2 to win the series, and in the UAE, 5-0 against Pakistan. And they did all this without David Warner and Steven Smith. Then they became the only team to win both their warm-up matches in the lead-up to the tournament.

Have they peaked at the right time? Probably, but then, they have to continue with the momentum over a long tournament without a single weak team, which means they have to maintain this form. But even then, they have will an easy start, against Afghanistan.

True, Warner is not fully fit (he may still play), but so what? Even if he does not play, Australia can play both Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh. Their reserve bench is too strong to bother about an injury or two.

While Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket has been phenomenal, this World Cup is going to be acid test for them. They do not play the major nations frequently, but had beaten Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and tied with India in last year’s Asia Cup, and Pakistan in the recent warm-up match.

It is important Afghanistan back their spinners – Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman – irrespective of the conditions. The tro has been responsible for their glory, and leaving them out for an extra seamer may not be the best of decisions.

And then, there are some of the most destructive batsmen, especially Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai, who can turn any match on its head. Australia are still favourites, but the Afghans are likely to put up serious resistance.

Head to head

The teams have met twice. Australia had won the first, at Sharjah in 2012, by 75 runs despite Nabi’s 2/50 and 46.

The second, in the 2015 World Cup, was a complete rout: Warner slammed 178 in 133 balls and Glenn Maxwell 88 in 39 as Australia piled up 417/6 – still the highest score in World Cup cricket. They won by 275 runs, the second-largest margin in ODI history.

Key players

Steven Smith (Australia): Smith has a stigma to bury and an image to recover, and given the form he is in, that certainly looks on the cards. He was outstanding in all three knockout matches in the 2015 edition; will he continue with that run this time?

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): Rashid has never played an ODI against Australia. However, he has been excellent against every other Test-playing nation, so why should Australia be an exception? The face of Afghanistan cricket has to rise to the challenge if they want to pull off an upset.

Likely XIs

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (vc & wk), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (vc), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa.

Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib (c), Rashid Khan (vc), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hassan.

Prediction

Australia to cruise to a win, Warner or no Warner.