AUS vs SA (File Image)
The much-anticipated Group B encounter between Australia and South African will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Earlier, this venue saw a New Zealand-Bangladesh match and even that was not the high-scoring encounter that was expected from both sides. The Rawalpindi pitch is historically known for being flat and batting-friendly, but the surface has provided several surprises for batters in recent matches.
The lineup that Australia will put out there on Tuesday will be missing seven crucial players who were on the team that hoisted the World Cup trophy 15 months ago in India. Twelve-man squad for the World Cup final against India, Skipper Pat Cummins (ankle), fast bowler Josh Hazlewood (hip) and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (back) were all ruled out of the fitness tests. Mitchell Starc has also withdrawn for personal reasons. Inturn, that is leaving selectors scrambling to find a right replacement, with the team still getting over the shock of Marcus Stoinis’ last-minute retirement.
There is a high chance of rain, with forecasts indicating a 50% to 70% chance. The temperature is expected to hover around 15 degrees Celsius. The temperature may range between 14 to 24 degrees Celsius. In short, the weather forecast indicates a high chance of rain, which could potentially disrupt the match.
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is generally known for its batting-friendly pitch. Expect to see high scores due to the pitch being flat and offering good bounce and pace. As the game progresses, the pitch tends to slow down, which may give spinners a chance to play. Spinners may get good turn and variable bounce. Recent ODIs played at this venue have seen big scores being chased. Given the batting-friendly nature of the pitch and the possibility of dew, the team winning the toss may prefer to field first.
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