New Zealand won the toss and chose to field in its Cricket World Cup match on Saturday against Australia at Dharamsala, India.
In a later match Saturday, the Netherlands was scheduled to play Bangladesh at Kolkota.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was still unavailable for the Black Caps because of a left thumb injury. New Zealand made only one change — allrounder James Neesham came in for Mark Chapman, who has a minor calf injury.
Fit-again Travis Head is back in the playing 11 for Australia and he will open the innings with David Warner. All-rounder Cameron Green was left out.
Head’s inclusion changed Australia’s batting order — Mitch Marsh will bat at No. 3, with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne both moved a spot lower.
Both Australia and New Zealand have played five games — New Zealand is placed third with eight points from four wins. Australia has won three out of five games and is in fourth place with six points.
For New Zealand, it marks the beginning of a tough run of games. After Australia, it takes on first-place South Africa (Nov. 2), Pakistan (Nov. 4) and Sri Lanka (Nov. 9).
In the absence of Williamson and Tim Southee, the Black Caps did well to win its first four games against England, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It then lost to India in Dharamsala.
After losing its first two games, Australia has had a revival. It started against Sri Lanka when Australia won in Lucknow by five wickets. Then it beat Pakistan by 62 runs on a good batting surface in Bengaluru constructed by fine hundreds from openers Warner and Marsh. Then it trounced the Netherlands by a record 309 runs.
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Lineups:
Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (captain), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
