AUS vs SA: Match Preview– ICC World Cup 2023, Match 10

AUS vs SA: Match Preview– ICC World Cup 2023, Match 10. The AUS vs SA ICC World Cup 2023 match will be played in Lucknow on October 12, Thursday. The match starts at 2 pm IST and is the second for both teams in this campaign. This is the first of five World Cup games at this venue.

Australia will be led by Pat Cummins who endured a loss in his opening game against India as Australia’s World Cup captain. The team with five World Cup titles will now face South Africa who are perhaps the strongest team in the competition from when measured from every aspect of the game. The Aussies now have an uphill task as they face South Africa who recently beat them in an ODI series.

South Africa will be led by Temba Bavuma. They won their first game emphatically against Sri Lanka. As a side, it will be important for them to adjust to the different surfaces they will play throughout the competition. They have players who are well acquainted with Indian conditions. Quinton de Kock who plays for the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL will be a very important player for South Africa in this game.

South Africa have won 54 out of the 108 ODIs played against Australia who have won 50. In six World Cup games, Australia have won three while South Africa two with one tied game. The surface in this game will be of particular attention as it is very different from the natural style of play of both teams.

The Ekana pitch is a turning track and there was a lot of spin on offer during the IPL games played earlier this year. It will be interesting to see how the picture plays out. Both teams have a good set of spinners, However, with Ashton Agar missing, Australia are just light on that front.

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AUS vs SA: Match Preview– ICC World Cup 2023, Match 10

Australia

Despite the loss against India, Australia should ideally persist with the same side. They have injury and unavailability concerns of key players. Travis Head who is treating an injured left hand will miss a few more games while Ashton Agar is ruled out of the tournament as said earlier. How Australia manages its spin attack will be an important observation. They could not make the most of the conditions in the last game against India and against South Africa need to be at the top of their game if they want to win the match.

Their batting also needs to be better after being bowled out for just 199 against India. The top-order needs to give their team a good start and the middle order needs to cash in. Australia’s batting depth will be tested in this game. David Warner, and Steve Smith being the experienced batters in these conditions need to do much of the scoring. Batters will also need to perform a lot better than they did in the first game.

Australia Squad

Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc

South Africa

After South Africa’s big win against Sri Lanka, they will need to counter the conditions in Lucknow and play accordingly. Three of their batters scored centuries as they plundered the Lankan bowlers to pile up 428/5. The surface in Lucknow will provide a different challenge to their batters.

The bowling attack was expensive overall in their first game. Despite the team winning by 102 runs all of their bowlers conceded close to an economy of 10 per over. South Africa played with just one spinner Keshav Maharaj in the last game. They should bring in Tabraiz Shamsi for one of the pacers. South Africa will miss Anrich Nortje as he has been ruled out of the tournament.

South Africa Squad

Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams

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