After managing to get only 199 in six-wicket loss to India in their World Cup opener, Australia want batsmen to fire against a big-hitting South African side
Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne during a practice session before the match against South Africa in Lucknow yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
Smarting from their opening game defeat against India, a determined Australian team will be aiming to put up a much better batting performance with a rejigged playing XI against an upbeat South Africa in a World Cup encounter here on Thursday.
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The five-time champions’s World Cup campaign was off to the worst possible start as they were handed a six-wicket drubbing by hosts India.
SA high on confidence
The Proteas will head into the contest high on confidence, having thrashed Sri Lanka by 102 runs in their opener. With the win, the South Africans announced themselves as contenders.
It is not so much the defeat, but the manner in which Australia conceded the game that will certainly be a headache for the team management.
The batting lacked aggression as they posted just 199 runs. Apart from David Warner and Steve Smith, no one breached the 30-run mark as they once again lost wickets in clutches.
The Australians struggled against India’s quality spin attack on a slow Chepauk turner and lack of a second frontline spinner to save Adam Zampa also compounded their problems.
To add to their woes, Mitchell Marsh, who generally has a safe pair of hands, dropped a simple catch (of Virat Kohli) that could have potentially changed the complexion of the game.
Glenn Maxwell will continue to share the spin bowling duties with Zampa, the latter will certainly be under pressure to deliver with no alternative available.
Also Read: ICC World Cup 2023: Is World Cup 'physically taxing' for bowlers? Pat Cummins thinks so
Stoinis likely to play
Marcus Stoinis has recovered from hamstring injury and looks set to replace Cameron Green. The all-rounder is a proven match-winner and is also familiar with the ground, having played for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. He will assist Australia’s fearsome three-pronged pace attack of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, which will look to cause maximum damage.
The South African team, on the other hand, boast of a trio of centurions, who decimated Sri Lanka in their first game.
The destructive Quinton de Kock, who like Stoinis, plays for LSG in the IPL and understands the surface as well as the Australian does.
Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram, who scored the fastest-ever ton in the World Cup, are two gun batters who can change the course of any game.
New pitch at Ekana
After facing much criticism during the IPL, the wicket at the Ekana Cricket Stadium has been re-laid. No one knows how it will pan out. If it aids spin and given Australia’s struggle against the slow bowlers, South Africa will be tempted to bring in wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.
They already have a weapon of destruction in Keshav Maharaj, who is a left-arm spinner and can ask probing questions.
South African batters themselves have no such troubles while facing spin.
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