Australia face minnows Scotland at Bellerive Oval, Hobart in their last league match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 on Saturday. Co-hosts Australia have already made sure of their spot in the next stage after last weekend’s 64-run win over fellow title contenders Sri Lanka where they piled up 376-9. That followed their World Cup record score of 417-6 to rout Afghanistan by 275 runs. Victory against Pool A’s rock-bottom Scotland will ensure the runners-up spot behind New Zealand and a possible last-eight clash in Adelaide on March 20 against old adversaries Pakistan should Misbah-ul-Haq’s side beat Ireland on Sunday.
Australia's stop-start campaign - big gaps between games, one match rained out - has been less than ideal as they build towards the knockout phase. Injuries and form have led them to use all 15 members of their squad, which in one sense is a positive, as any player required for the finals will have some game time behind him. But it also means that a few key men are short of significant time in the middle, and Michael Clarke will likely shuffle the batting order to ensure adequate preparation for all his men ahead of their quarter-final in Adelaide.
Australia have made one change from the team that beat Sri Lanka, with Pat Cummins included at the expense of Xavier Doherty. The batting order remains to be decided, but could be reworked in order to give some players more time at the crease.
For Scotland, this hasn’t been a great tournament, especially that heartbreaking loss to Afghanistan. If the players can summon the strength of character to acquit themselves with credit, they can still look back on this campaign with no little pride. That Josh Davey moved to the top of the wicket-takers’ list, however temporarily, is something the team can rightly be proud of. Against Sri Lanka, when it went down by 148 runs, Preston Mommsen and Freddie Coleman displayed admirable skills in making polished half-centuries. Australia’s pacers – Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Cummins – will pose a challenge, but it is a once in a lifetime chance for several of Scotland’s batsmen to do something far removed from the ordinary.
Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey, David Warner, Aaron Finch, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Shane Watson, Steven Smith, Brad Haddin (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner.
Preston Mommsen (c), Richie Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, Freddie Coleman, Matthew Cross (wk), Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans, Hamish Gardiner, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, , Safyaan Sharif, Rob Taylor, Iain Wardlaw.
Click here to watch Starc six-for that brought Aus back into contest against New Zealand
Australia's stop-start campaign - big gaps between games, one match rained out - has been less than ideal as they build towards the knockout phase. Injuries and form have led them to use all 15 members of their squad, which in one sense is a positive, as any player required for the finals will have some game time behind him. But it also means that a few key men are short of significant time in the middle, and Michael Clarke will likely shuffle the batting order to ensure adequate preparation for all his men ahead of their quarter-final in Adelaide.
ICC Cricket World Cup Match 40 - Australia vs Scotland - Watch Free Live Streaming here !!
Australia have made one change from the team that beat Sri Lanka, with Pat Cummins included at the expense of Xavier Doherty. The batting order remains to be decided, but could be reworked in order to give some players more time at the crease.
Click here to watch Glen Maxwell scoring his maiden ODI century against Sri Lanka
For Scotland, this hasn’t been a great tournament, especially that heartbreaking loss to Afghanistan. If the players can summon the strength of character to acquit themselves with credit, they can still look back on this campaign with no little pride. That Josh Davey moved to the top of the wicket-takers’ list, however temporarily, is something the team can rightly be proud of. Against Sri Lanka, when it went down by 148 runs, Preston Mommsen and Freddie Coleman displayed admirable skills in making polished half-centuries. Australia’s pacers – Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Cummins – will pose a challenge, but it is a once in a lifetime chance for several of Scotland’s batsmen to do something far removed from the ordinary.
Click here watch highlights of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Australia vs New Zealand
Squads for Australia vs Scotland Match tomorrow-
Australia
Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey, David Warner, Aaron Finch, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Shane Watson, Steven Smith, Brad Haddin (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner.
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