• Match: Afghanistan v Ireland, 1st ODI Match, Afghanistan v Ireland in UAE, 2024
• Date and Time: March 07, 11:30 am GMT / 05:00 pm IST / 03:30 pm local
• Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

In the first Test between New Zealand and Australia, New Zealand endured a convincing defeat, falling short by 172 runs against the dominant Australian side. Despite the loss, there were a few bright spots for New Zealand, notably Glenn Phillips’ commendable performance. Phillips showcased his prowess with both bat and ball, scoring 71 runs in the first innings and clinching a five-wicket haul in Australia’s second innings. However, for New Zealand to challenge Australia effectively, their top-order batsmen must step up and make significant contributions.

On the other hand, Australia, despite emerging victorious, faced challenges in their batting department. While Cameron Green’s remarkable innings of 174 runs was noteworthy, the rest of the batting lineup struggled to make substantial impacts. Understanding the importance of a solid batting display, Australia is aware of the necessity for their batsmen to post competitive scores to counter New Zealand’s potential threat. Should Australia’s batting lineup fail to deliver once more, it could open doors for New Zealand to stage a comeback in the series.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Will Young, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Scott Kuggeleihn.

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Who will win the toss? – Afghanistan
Who will win? – Afghanistan

New Zealand: Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee.
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood.

Captain: Kane Williamson
Vice-Captain: Travis Head

Alex Carey, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Matt Henry.

The optimal strategy for the team winning the toss would be to choose to bat first and focus on setting a formidable total on the scoreboard. With the forecast indicating stable conditions during the initial three days of the match, putting up runs early in the game will be of paramount importance. By taking advantage of the consistent conditions, the batting side can aim to establish a strong foundation and exert pressure on the opposition from the outset.

The pitch is anticipated to provide favorable conditions for the bowlers throughout the duration of the match. Initially, the new ball is expected to swing, posing challenges for the batsmen and allowing the seamers to exploit the early movement. As the match progresses into Day 4 and 5, the surface is likely to offer assistance to the spinners, with the slower bowlers coming into play and exploiting any turn and bounce available. Thus, both seamers and spinners are expected to play crucial roles in shaping the outcome of the game across all days.

The weather forecast indicates clear skies for the first two days of the test match. However, rain has been predicted for the final three days of the match, raising the possibility of interruptions and affecting the course of the game. Teams may need to adjust their strategies accordingly, considering the potential for rain interruptions and the need to capitalize on the clear weather in the initial days of the match.