David Warner has fallen for a duck in his return to the top of Australia’s ODI order while Mitchell Starc is back from a pectoral injury against a New Zealand.
David Warner has missed a chance to nail down a spot at the top of Australia’s World Cup order, falling for a duck after he was promoted to opener in a World Cup warm-up game in Brisbane.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc will return from a pectoral injury to lead an Australian XI attack later in the day against New Zealand.
Warner was named to open alongside captain Aaron Finch in the second of three practice matches against the Black Caps, with Usman Khawaja sliding down to No.3.
But Warner lasted just six balls, chipping a drive to cover in a limp exit at Allan Border Field.
Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Coulter-Nile have been rested for the clash after the trio each took three wickets in Monday’s tight win.
Starc was sidelined after the Canberra Test in February but has trained strongly off his long run in Brisbane this week.
He will bowl on Wednesday, less than a month out from the start of Australia’s World Cup defence, against an understrength New Zealand team missing regular skipper Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill and Trent Boult.
Michael Neser and Sean Abbott, not in the squad for next month’s England showpiece, have been given a chance to audition for a berth if Jhye Richardson is unable to recover from his dislocated shoulder.
Warner batted at No.3 on Monday in his return from a year-long suspension after the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, surviving some nervous early moments to compile an impressive 39.
Former captain Steve Smith (22) was more circumspect in his comeback at No.4 and is listed to bat at No.5 on Wednesday behind Shaun Marsh.
Glenn Maxwell returns to the 12-man team for the unofficial match at No.6 while Nathan Lyon will take over the spinning duties from the rested Adam Zampa.
Warner belted 692 runs in 12 IPL innings before he joining the Australian squad, mounting a compelling case for a return to the top of the order despite the rousing form of Khawaja and Finch during an eight-game ODI winning streak.
Coach Justin Langer has remained coy on who will open the batting on June 1 against Afghanistan in Bristol, with this week’s practice games in Brisbane no clear gauge of what to expect in England.
Australia: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Nathan Lyon, Kane Richardson.
New Zealand: Hamish Rutherford, George Worker, Will Young, Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Todd Astle, Doug Bracewell, Blair Tickner, Hamish Bennett.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
So this is your batting order for the World Cup: 1. Carey 2. Finch 3. Maxwell 4. Smith 5. Stoinis 6. No one .... batting spot abandoned 7. Warner Well it's certainly different.
Rob
Guest
You're right. Smith only made 90 odd not out which is simply not good enough! Warner will see many flat tracks in England so no worries there!
Paul
Roar Guru
my point is simple James - who cares if they lose a practice match. If the team has achieved it's goals for that practice session, then all's good. You completely miss the point about the pitches. What type of surface is everyone predicting they'll find when they get to England? For sure it's not the same as the one they're practising on now, where there's lots of sideways movement.
Phillip
Roar Rookie
The results don't surprise me at all as the selecters forced the team to have Warner and Smith back, zero form and zero reason. Whats the saying... if it ain't broke the Aussie selecters will break it? As for Warner he is a classic flat track bully, nothing wrong with that just the truth.
James
Guest
So? They play with one extra guy which in cricket really means you get to have one extra batsman and one extra bowler so they should be scoring more and bowling better. And how on earth is the fact that the pitch isnt flat an argument for anything? 'oh they can play well if the ball does nothing'
Targa
Guest
Some good signs of the depth in NZ cricket. It has really improved in the last 10 years.
Paul
Roar Guru
What do you base this comment on Kopa? What exactly is Australia trying to achieve from these games, bearing in mind, these are practice matches, not full blown internationals. They play 12 guys and clearly the pitch has a bit in it, not a dead flat road.
Paul
Roar Guru
"David Warner has missed a chance to nail down a spot at the top of Australia’s World Cup order". Really Murray??
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
So far dismal performance from Aussies against NZ A team that is playing B team
Tonka Goldman
Roar Rookie
To me, it makes sense to open with Finch and Carey in the World Cup. Maxwell at first drop would give him the responsibility he needs. He wants to prove he can do it. We don't need Marsh and Khawaja. Warner would be such an advantage in the final overs as a floating number 7. In the field we would have Maxwell, Warner, Smith, Finch and Coulter-Nile as infielders - they are as good as any. If we include Marsh, Khawaja, Zampa, Behrendorff, Starc in the team, we are trying to hide too many fielders. We are going to need Zampa, Starc and Behrendorff now that Jhye Richardson has failed to recover from injury, so Marsh and Khawaja must miss. Stopping runs and putting batsmen under pressure is vitally important on smaller grounds. There's just nowhere to hide. I just think Marsh and Khawaja are giving the opposition too many plans to attack us with, too. We need 6 attacking batsmen and 5 outstanding bowlers. With no easy runs in the field. Constant pressure on the opposition - no respite - and we can win.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Thanks Scott, much appreciated.
Scott Pryde
Expert
G'day Paul, It's not actually being live scored. Only updated on CA Twitter and on CA website in the form of a scorecard every now and again, which is about as frustrating as it gets. Twitter feed here - https://twitter.com/cricketcomau Scorecard here - https://www.cricket.com.au/news/full-scorecard-australia-xi-new-zealand-xi-world-cup-warm-up-match-live/2019-05-08
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
How do you find the bloody score?