Afghanistan vs Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Today Match Prediction 01 Jun 2019

afg vs aus Match Prediction & Analysis

Reigning Champions Australia will be looking to get off to a good start when they face Afghanistan in the 4th game of 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in Bristol on Saturday.

Aaron Finch and co. have been in decent form in white-ball cricket and notched up victories over England and Sri Lanka in the warm-up games. The side will be looking to produce a dominant performance with the bat and ball in their opening game against Afghanistan.

On the other hand, Afghanistan will be looking to do well in their opening fixture. Gulbadin Naib will be hoping that the side can deliver a decent show in this game.

In their previous meeting in a World Cup, Australia registered a comprehensive 275-run win over Afghanistan in a game played at Perth.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Afghanistan Preview

The side suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of England in their last warm-up game. Gulbadin Naib will be hoping that the side can deliver an improved batting performance against Australia.

In the batting department, the side will be depending on the likes of Mohammad Shahzad, Hazratullah Zazai and Hashmatullah Shahidi to put the bulk of runs on the board. Wicket-keeper Mohammad Shahzad will be looking to get fit in time for this game. The 27-year old suffered a hamstring injury in the warm-up game played against Pakistan. Noor Ali Zadran might replace Shahzad if he fails to recover from injury.

Hazratullah Zazai is an aggressive player for the side at the top of the innings. He will be looking to make an impression with the bat in this opening game.

Middle-order comprising of Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Asghar Afghan also chipped in with decent scores in the warm-up game. The batting trio will need to come to the party in this game if Afghanistan wants to post a competitive score on the board.

Afghanistan Predicted Playing XI:

Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Hazratullah Zazai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Afghanistan Actual Playing XI:

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Hamid Hassan, Gulbadin Naib, Hazratullah Zazai, M Shahzad, N Zadran, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Dawlat Zadran

Australia Preview

Aaron Finch-led unit will be high on confidence after registering victories over England and Sri Lanka in the warm-up games. The side seemed to have covered all the bases for this World Cup and will be keen to get off to a good start in their opening game against Afghanistan.

In the batting department, the side will be relying on the likes of David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steven Smith to do the bulk of the scoring. Captain Aaron Finch perished for low scores in the two warm-up games played against England and Sri Lanka. The opener has shown excellent form this season in white-ball cricket and scored 634 runs at an average of 52.83.

David Warner also looked in good touch with the bat against England and scored 43 off 55 balls with the help of five boundaries. The left-hander will be looking to make an impact in this opening fixture against Afghanistan.

Steve Smith was the standout player for Australia in the warm-up game played against England. He scored a century to help the side post a competitive total on the board. Smith scored 116 runs off 102 balls with the help of eight fours and three sixes.

 

 

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

Aaron Finch (c), Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), David Warner

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Aaron Finch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Alex Carey, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Usman Khawaja, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Weather Conditions

The pitch prepared for the game will be excellent for batting. The last game played at this venue turned out to be a high-scoring contest. The weather forecast for the game to be played on Saturday is to going to be cloudy skies.

Venue

County Ground in Bristol is going to host the game between Afghanistan and Australia. In recent times at this venue, teams have scored more 400 runs in a 50-over game. In the warm-up game played at this venue, West Indies scored 421 runs in their full quota of overs

Toss: To Bat

The side that wins the toss would be looking to bat first and put runs on the board. It might offer lateral movement in the second half of the game.