Big picture
It’s weird if the two teams don’t want to play the first ever T20I – in Auckland 16 years ago, complete with some dubious hairstyles – and they are a few hours apart that this game will be just the 10th time they have met in form.
Over the next two weeks, there’s a chance to get a little grip on a series of five games – the first time Australia have been so far in T20Is. The visitors come almost straight out of guided solitude on the pitch despite being able to train over the past few weeks. For those in good shape in the BBL (who are in the majority of the squad) they will be hoping they didn’t lose while captain Aaron Finch, who had a competition to forget, hopes to show up update.
New Zealand have already had six T20Is this season against West Indies and Pakistan – in total their summer includes 14 with games yet to come against Bangladesh – though which ranks at No. 6 at the lowest level across all three forms as they build towards the World Cup later this year in India. However, the form of Devon Conway, Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips this season has added a lot of dynamism to their bat.
If the results of the India-England Test series do not go as Australia requires, most of this year is largely based on T20 after the tour of South Africa has been postponed. It should be a valuable trip for the Finch team as they evaluate options for the World Cup: in high – level batting and quick bowling, they have exceptionally good stock.
This opening match of the series in Christchurch is the first international night held at the ground floor that has completed the recent installation of floodlights. The competition comes on the 10th anniversary of the 2011 earthquake that hit the city and the captains and coaches from both teams will lay wreaths at a memorial service throughout the day.
Form instructions
(last five completed games)
New Zealand LWWWW
Australia WLLWL
In mind
There is likely to be a head-to-head between two million IPLs newly infected with Jhye Richardson and Caol Jamieson expect a line-up for their respective sides. For Richardson this was his first international appearance in almost a year and just his second since shrugging his shoulders in early 2019. He joins the series where he is the top wicket catcher in the BBL. Jamieson has only played four T20Is so far but that didn’t stop Royal Challengers from signing for INR 15 crore (USD 2 million around / NZD 2.7 million) in the auction last week.
Australia comes across Devon Conway for the first time. While there is very little mystery in international cricket, and they will be able to do their scouting, it is a bat in a red-hot form. He scored 174 runs in his first four T20I innings against West Indies and Pakistan and enters this series behind 50, 69 *, 91 * and 93 * in the T20 Super Smash. His current T20 average of 43.18 puts him in second place behind Babar Azam for bats to have played at least 50 innings.
Team news
Only fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is missing since New Zealand’s first-choice T20 players would have suffered a back pressure fracture earlier in the season. Martin Guptill has gone through a fitness test and received a vote of confidence in form-wise after a lean season.
New Zealand (possibly) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tim Seifert, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Devon Conway, 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Jimmy Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent Boult
Finch did not confirm anything the day before the game, although earlier in the tour he said the uncapped Josh Philippe would come into the top order. No. 6’s place is still to be caught and it could be a decision between Mitchell Marsh and Ashton Turner first, although the big squad offers plenty of options. The same goes for the bowling attack although the two Richardsons – Kane and Jhye – appear to have been the most likely. If left-back Jason Behrendorff plays this would be his first international since the 2019 World Cup.
Australia (possibly) 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Josh Philippe, 3 Matthew Wade (wk), 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Mitchell Marsh / Ashton Turner, 7 Ashton Agar, 8 Jhye Richardson, 9 Kane Richardson, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Jason Behrendorff
Park and conditions
Hagley Oval hasn’t pitched a single men’s T20I before and this is the center’s first night game, but it’s usually a real surface. The forecast is fairly well set.
Stats and trivia
- In the last two years, New Zealand has a T20I scoring rate of 9.08 from 16 matches. Of the major cricketing nations, only Ireland with 9.67 (from seven games) higher.
- In the nine T20Is between the two sides, Australia lead 7-2. New Zealand won a Super Over victory in Christchurch (at the old stadium) in 2010.
- Australia could be as big as seven changes since the last T20I they played against India.
Quotes
“We know we are up against a strong challenge, no matter what Australian team is put out strong. Most of their regular T20 side is there with opportunity also a lot of youngsters We have been able to do that in the same way throughout our summer so it should be very exciting.
Kane Williamson
“They were a squad we were expecting. A lot of experience there, a lot of world-class players, you have Williamson leading the side with Martin Guptill at the top of the order who is a top white ball player. , then you know Boult, Southee, Santner, Sodhi, Jimmy Neesham too. It ‘s a very calm and familiar side and we have to do our best to win. “
Aaron Finch
Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo