After 28 days and 44 amazing matches, we finally come down to the biggest game of the tournament; the Final of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The Trans-Tasman neighbors meet yet again in the final in what will be an exciting grand finale. Here is the Match Preview between NZ vs AUS.
Since 2015, New Zealand are involved in three ICC finals. They lost all two ODI World Cup finals but won the World Test Championship. This will be their fourth final and third successive final in the World Cup event.
Australia will be playing their first final since that victory over the Kiwis in the MCG in 2015. They only qualified for the Semi-Finals once, in the 2019 World Cup. The T20 World Cup trophy is the only trophy the Aussies are yet to win. They would love to get their hands now since they couldn’t get in the first time in 2010 against England.
Let’s take a look at how both teams played out through the tournament.
NZ vs AUS: Road to Final
New Zealand
NZ started off their tournament with a 5-wicket loss to Pakistan. Since then, they did not look back. They defeated India in a fashionable way, overcame Scotland’s scare, defeated Namibia before knocking out Afghanistan (and India) to secure the final spot in the group.
They met England in the first Semi-Final, where they displayed brilliant cricket. Notably from their batters James Neesham and Devon Conway to score the remaining runs and take them to the final. It was also a throwback to that unbelievable 2019 World Cup final, where NZ almost finally put a rest to that pain.
Australia
AUS began the tournament with a slight hiccup against South Africa but won that and the Sri Lanka match. They met England, who gave them a total trashing, making AUS work hard on the NRR. They took down Bangladesh and West Indies without any mercy, qualifying for the Semi-Final as a result.
They met unbeaten Pakistan in the Semi-Final and they had to work hard most of the game. Eventually, in the penultimate over of the game, Matthew Wade recreated Michael Hussey slaughter to take Aussies to a 5-wicket victory.
NZ vs AUS: What are we expecting?
The main thing we are expecting is who will be the winner of the toss. That has been the biggest factor in the whole tournament. And given that the game will be in Dubai, chasing will be relatively easier.
In New Zealand’s five wins in the event, three came in successful chases while two came in defending the total. For Australia, all of their five wins in the tournament came chasing so they are yet to defend a total.
Both captains will obviously bowl first. But if AUS bats first, it will be an interesting final.
NZ vs AUS: Match Details
- Date: Nov 14, 2021
- Timing: 7:00 PM PKT
- Venue: Dubai
- Weather: Another clear and hot weather is expected.
Conditions / Pitch Report:
A fresh, new pitch will be played at the Final on Sunday. Though chasing will still be prefered.
Head to Head:
Matches: 14 | New Zealand: 04 | Australia: 09 | Tied: 01 | No-Result: 00
Form Guide:
New Zealand: W W W W W (Completed matches, most recent first)
Australia: W W W L W
NZ vs AUS: Team News
1. New Zealand
Kane’s men had dealt a blow after Devon Conway was ruled out after he had a break to his right-hand fifth Metacarpal. Tim Seifert will likely replace him.
Probable XI:
1. Martin Guptill, 2. Daryl Mitchell, 3. Kane Williamson (C), 4. Tim Seifert (WK), 5. Glenn Phillips, 6. James Neesham, 7. Mitchell Santner, 8. Tim Southee, 9. Adam Milne, 10. Ish Sodhi, 11. Trent Boult
2. Australia
Aaron Finch’s men will likely be unchanged in the final.
Probable XI:
1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (C), 3. Mitchell Marsh, 4. Steven Smith, 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Matthew Wade (wk), 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Josh Hazlewood, 11. Adam Zampa
NZ vs AUS: Players to watch
1. Kane Williamson, Batter (NZ)
The Kiwis captain hasn’t had the flashy tournament, but he played a good couple of knocks. His SR is below 100, but as long as he pins his side to victory, he won’t mind it. And the final is where he would love to play a match-winning knock.
2. David Warner, Batter (AUS)
Before the World Cup, Warner had poor form in IPL, eventually getting dropped and questions were raised. But in this tournament, he is the fourth-highest run-scorer averaging almost 50. He laid the platform in the powerplay to set the match for Aussies. Kiwis will target his wicket.
3. Trent Boult, Bowler (NZ)
The best bowler for the kiwis, Boult will be up for the biggest challenge. Twice he bowled in the WC finals and twice he troubled the batters but couldn’t capitalize later on. Finch and Warner struggled early with Shaheen’s swing. That’s what Boult will be targeting, in particular of Warner’s wicket.
4. Adam Zampa, Bowler (AUS)
The second-highest wicket-taker, four behind Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, Adam Zampa has truly impressed the whole team. He has been very economical throughout the tournament and bowled brilliantly. Zampa is the key to the Kangaroo’s victory, as expected by many experts around the world.
Stats and Trivia:
- T20 World Cup Head-to-Head: New Zealand won the only game between these two sides, in the 2016 T20 WC.
- This will be NZ’s third successive World Cup final while AUS will be playing their first since their title in the 2015 ODI World Cup.
- If Australia wins the T20 title, they will become the fifth team – After IND, WI, SL, PAK – to win all three ICC Trophies (ODI WC, Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup)
- New Zealand have never beaten Australia in any knockout match
Quotes:
“The guys have been watching most of the games. It’ll be a fantastic match, highly competitive. We know we have another challenge coming up and we’ll change our focus.”
Kane Williamson, New Zealand captain
“I was actually hoping to lose the toss against Pakistan because I would have loved to put a score on the board in that semi-final. It was one of those ones where you’re probably never going to bat first but you don’t mind if you have to. It’s the same going into the final.”
Aaron Finch, Australian captain
Also read:
Rise of Babar: From Ball Boy to World Number One
1 Comment
Aizah
Impressive article