New Zealand, Australia meet in trans-tasman Super 12 opener as rain threat looms

SYDNEY: The Super 12 stage of the Men's T20 World Cup will open up with the re-match of the 2021 final at Dubai between Australia and New Zealand at a full-house Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday.

As another chapter of the trans-tasman rivalry awaits cricket fans, the eyes of both Australia and New Zealand will be on the skies apart from the pitch and on-field conditions with 90% rain forecast threatening to disrupt the proceedings.

"We haven't seen the pitch either. It was covered all this morning. We won't confirm an 11 just yet because, if it's short, then it will be likely to change. So we just have to wait and see tomorrow much closer to the match and have a look at the pitch," said New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson on rain being a factor in the pre-match press conference.

As per Australia skipper Aaron Finch, the defending champions' and hosts' might have to rejig their batting strategies if Saturday's tournament opener becomes a truncated affair.

"Probably it's just more shuffling the batting order. We've got some power all the way through our order, so we feel as though you can probably map out how an opposition's going to bowl or use their resources a little bit more so you can try and get the matchups in your favour as much as you can."

"You do put so much time and effort into planning for all scenarios. So, you have to be flexible. And the thing about rain affecting the game, how much is it affected? If it's two overs, it doesn't make that much of a difference. If it's a five over game, that makes a huge amount of difference."

New Zealand, last year's runners-up, enter the competition with some mixed results behind them. After winning three-match away T20I series against the West Indies 2-1, New Zealand were the runners-up in the recent tri-series at home, winning against Bangladesh twice and once against Pakistan, before losing to them in the final.

They will be missing out on Daryl Mitchell for the opening match, due to him still being on path to recovery from broken finger. Fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne were also managed carefully due to them coming back from injuries apart from New Zealand not having won a match in Australia since 2011.

Australia, on the other hand, look in fine shape despite losing the T20I series away to India and at home against England. They have the personnel to defend the title in the likes of Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, Tim David and David Warner. One would hope that the tantalizing clash won't have any rain disruption come Saturday. IANS

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