As the Cricket World Cup progresses, Australia will face a major challenge in their upcoming match against Afghanistan. Both teams are looking to secure a victory, as it would give them a significant boost in the points table and improve their chances of making it to the semi-finals. For Australia, it would be the Confirmation of their qualification.
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Australia: Five-time champion, requires only one more win to qualify for the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup. Despite starting with two defeats, they came back by winning five consecutive matches. Australia has been competitive throughout the tournament and lived up to its reputation. Although they haven't showcased their ruthless side yet, they hope to win their sixth title this year.
In their last game against England, Australia played without Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell. However, their absence didn't hurt them much as they won the game easily. This time, they face a tougher challenge, as Afghanistan has been performing well, beating England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. Although Australia won the last two encounters against Afghanistan in the World Cup easily, they will have to hustle for a victory this time. The only thing favoring Australia is that the Wankhede stadium won't assist spin bowlers much.
Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell are set to return in this game, but Steven Smith's fitness is doubtful. They will need to come up with a solid game plan and execute it flawlessly to ensure a win against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Afghanistan is no longer considered an underdog and is determined to prove themselves as a formidable opponent. While their spin bowling has been the talk of the town, their batting performances have also been impressive. The opening duo of Gurbaz and Ibrahim, followed by not-so-veteran Rehmat Shah, has given them a solid start in previous matches. Captain Shahidi has played the anchor role in the middle overs, and the all-around abilities of Azmatullah Omarzai have helped balance the team's lineup.
Afghanistan's bowling has always been their strength, and they will be looking to exploit Australia's weaknesses in this area. However, the conditions in Mumbai may not be as favorable to spinners, which could work in Australia's favor. Additionally, the cancellation of matches by the Cricket Australia board due to political reasons earlier this year remains front of mind for some of the Afghanistan players, which could give them extra motivation to perform at their best.
Playing 11:
Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh/Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rehmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil(wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Fazal Haq Farooqi
Stats:
- Head to Head 3 odis
- Australia won all 3 matches.
- In the World Cup 2 times they faced each other and Australia won both matches.
- David Warner's best World Cup score of 178 came against Afghanistan at WACA.
- David Warner is 45 runs away from 18000 across all forms of international cricket as an opener.
Pitch and conditions:
The Wankhede has been a batting paradise in the World Cup so far with first innings scores of 399, 382, and 357 posted already in the tournament.
Weather would be very hot with temperatures touching 37 degrees, and the air quality will also be a concern.
Date and Time-
7th November 2023, 2 PM Onwards
Venue- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Live Streaming- Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar
Dream XI Team-
