Who: New Zealand vs Australia
When: Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 7:10pm (06:10 GMT)
The place: Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
With lower than 4 months to go till the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the finalists of the 2021 version and trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand will meet in a three-match sequence as they appear to form up their closing squads for the event in the summertime.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has brushed apart the discuss of his group being the “underdogs” in opposition to the present 50-over world champions Australia, and believes they are going to put up a powerful struggle within the sequence starting on Wednesday.
The 2021 champions Australia will area a full-strength squad, boasting the likes of veteran limited-overs specialists Mathew Wade, Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa. They will even have the providers of David Warner, who has retired from all different codecs of the sport to solely deal with T20 cricket within the run-up to the World Cup within the Caribbean and the USA in June.
“We’re in all probability underdogs however we’re used to that tag and don’t suppose a lot of it,” Santner mentioned in his pre-series information convention on Tuesday.
“It’s at all times a reasonably cool time when the Aussies come over. You at all times wish to problem your self in opposition to one of the best on the planet, they usually’re up there for positive.”
Ngā mihi to Te Āti Awa for the nice and cozy welcome to Wellington for each groups forward of the opening T20I at @skystadium on Wednesday. #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/nVJyRc0tMY
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 19, 2024
Warner ready for hostile farewell
Warner, who was a key a part of Australia’s World Cup-winning squad in India late final yr, will play his final bilateral sequence in opposition to the regional rivals.
The 37-year-old has mentioned he isn’t anticipating a heat farewell in New Zealand.
“Over right here, it’s at all times the cruel actuality that we’re neighbours, in sport we wish to beat one another,” Warner informed reporters.
“From that perspective, we’re going to expect the group to return at us as laborious as they arrive.”
The explosive opener stirred an argument eight years in the past when he termed the Kiwi crowd “derogatory and fairly vulgar” after a sequence in 2016, when he was on the receiving finish of abuse from the spectators.
“The gang, yeah, they acquired private. In the event that they need to get private, that’s their character. I simply go about my enterprise,” he mentioned.
“That’s upon every particular person. In case you pay your cash to return and abuse individuals, then you must return and lie in your individual mattress.
“We’re simply right here to play the sport we love and put bums on seats to maintain the sport going.
“As we at all times say, it’s ‘in a single ear, out the opposite’, if I truly hear something. I take pleasure in taking part in right here.”
Type information
Australia come into the sequence on the again of a 3-0 house T20 sequence win over West Indies. Nevertheless, the 50-over champions misplaced to India 1-4 in an away sequence shortly after the World Cup in November and December, albeit with a depleted squad.
In the meantime, hosts New Zealand emerged 4-1 winners in final month’s sequence in opposition to Pakistan regardless of some shut finishes.
Australia: W W W L L
New Zealand: L W W W W
Head-to-head document
New Zealand received within the neighbours’ final assembly in internationals on the 2022 World Cup, the place they received 89 runs, however Australia maintain the higher hand within the total document with 10 wins.
Matches: 16
Australia received: 10
New Zealand received: 6
Australia have been compelled to make a couple of late adjustments to their T20I squad for the New Zealand sequence 👀
Particulars 👉 https://t.co/6NgWeTbz2y#NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/GTi6baXidb
— ICC (@ICC) February 19, 2024
Group information
Australia have named a full-strength squad of their final T20 sequence earlier than the World Cup and can look to offer a run to most of their gamers.
Australia: Tim David, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Quick, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
New Zealand have rested their common captain Kane Williamson following his historic century that took his facet to a primary Check sequence win over South Africa.
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Will Younger, Mitchell Santner (captain), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee