Australia began its title defense at the Women’s T20 World Cup with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Saturday. Medium pacer Megan Schutt picked 3-12 in four overs, while left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux took 2-20, as Sri Lanka was restricted to 93-7 in 20 overs. In reply, Beth Mooney led Australia’s charge as it overhauled the total in only 14.2 overs. It was down to 35-3 at one stage, but Mooney scored 43 not out off 38 balls to lead her side to victory. In the second game of the day, Bangladesh faces England. Women's T20 World Cup: Bangladesh start confidently beating Scotland, ending run of 16 straight loss Opting to bat, Sri Lanka suffered crucial early blows. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu was out lbw to Ashleigh Gardner for just three runs. Schutt and Molineux then combined to hit the top-order hard, as Sri Lanka was down to 25-3 in 6.4 overs. Nilakshi de Silva scored 29 not out off 40 balls, while Harshitha Madavi scored 23 runs. Their 31-run partnership for the fourth wicket saved the Asian champions some embarrassment. Molineux broke that partnership in the 13th over, and then Sri Lanka went down to 89-7 within another 6.2 overs. Its innings struggled on either side of that partnership, thus finishing with a below-par total. In reply, Australia’s top-order struggled as well. Skipper Alyssa Healy was dismissed for four, while Georgia Wareham was run out for three runs. When Sugandika Kumari bowled Ellyse Perry for 17 in the sixth over, there was some trouble. Jayawickrama who took 11 wickets against Bangladesh banned by ICC But Mooney dug in deep, and found support from Gardner, who put in 12 runs. Together they added 43 off only 40 balls as Australia sped up its chase in the second half. Sri Lanka has now lost both its opening matches in group A and is nearly out of contention from advancing to the semifinals.

Team Australia are looking to be the ultimate king of white-ball cricket as they are on a mission to be the world champion of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 Cup tournament after winning the trophy in the ODI Cricket World Cup last December. They have established a strong squad for this mission which will be analyzed in this article.  Australia Squad in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Table: List of Players in the Australian Team in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Names  Role Mitchell Marsh (Captain) Allrounder Ashton Agar Bowler Pat Cummins Bowler Tim David Middle Order batter Nathan Ellis Bowler Cameron Green Batting Allrounder Josh Hazlewood Bowler Travis Head Top Order Batter Josh Inglis Wicketkeeper Batter Glenn Maxwell Batting Allrounder Mitchell Starc Bowler Marcus Stoinis Batting Allrounder Matthew Wade Wicketkeeper Batter David Warner Opening Batter Adam Zampa Bowler Reserves Jake Fraser-McGurk Batter Matt Short Top Order Batter Read more: Venue Guide: Stadiums of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 The Australian side will be led by their veteran all-rounder Mitchell Marsh who played a crucial role in the final of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 which they eventually won. In their squad, they have prioritized experience.  The squad is very much star-studded. Some of them are among the best of the generation. It is always a daunting task to select only 15 players from such a large pool of players as Australia. Yet it seems to be one of the unmatchable ones.  Here, some of the aspects of the Australian squad will be analyzed in which they did brilliantly and in which they might have done slightly better. Read more: Squad Analysis of Sri Lanka for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Strength of Australia Team for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 Cup  Experience One thing that the selectors have ensured is that there is no shortage of experience in the squad. If you look through the 15-man group, you will see the most familiar names of world cricket. They have been playing for really long and in almost all the franchise leagues of the world. Therefore, it is unlikely that any pressure will crumble them.  Big match performers This has been the key for Australian cricket throughout history. They have always had some players who shine in the ultimate games that differentiate between the bests and the greats. Players like Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, David Warner, Travis Head, and even skipper Mitchell Marsh have frequently passed the test of these moments and ensured Australia’s victory. This time it is not supposed to be any different either.  Explosive batting line-up The team is enriched with seasoned players like Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Mitchell Marsh. One can hardly argue the solid batting line up of this squad. These players can single-handedly win matches for their teams as they have done so often. It will not be a surprising thing if they do it again in the current T20 World Cup. Read more: Analysis of India Squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World 2024 Strike Bowlers Just like the batters, the names of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Adam Zampa will give you the reassurance for this. They are some of the greatest wicket-taking bowlers of this generation. And having them together makes their bowling the deadliest in this tournamnet.  Given the way the pitches are behaving this T20 World Cup tournamnet, it will not be easy to score big and win against Australia. Depth in every department Any of the probable starting XI of Australia will see them having batters till at least 9 and having 7 bowlers. It‘s the volume of the depth this team have. With players like Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, and Tim David who can act as frontline batters and can bowl for 4 overs adds to this depth. Similarly, Pat Cummins and Ashton Agar often add valuable runs late in the order after doing a fantastic job with the bowl. Therefore, at any point, their skipper won’t feel like being short of options which will ease the job for him. Read more: Fixtures of Bangladesh Team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Weakness of Australia Squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 However mighty they look, there is always some weakness in every team. It is not any different for this team as well.  Not including James Fraser-McGurk It is not like not including him has weakened the side. They still have brilliant batters. However, he has been in tremendous form in the last few months in various franchise leagues. As a result, one might argue that they should have valued his form, explosiveness, and fearlessness over the likes of David Warner and Matthew Wade to add some dynamics to the team. Lack of Spinners It looks like a problem after the World Cup started. The pitches are behaving really slow and difficult for the batters to score. In such situation, the spinners thrive. The options Australia have in this regard, are Adam Zampa, Ashton Agar, and Glenn Maxwell. Among them, Ashton Agar and Glenn Maxwell might not bowl full quota. However, inclusion of an extra spinner could have been a nice weapon for this team. Read more: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024: Groups, Match Fixtures, and Venues Key Players for Australian Squad in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Travis Head This cricketer had a brilliant half-year in 2024. With his fiery batting, he provided the team with a foundation for some astounding scores. Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 250+ on three occasions in IPL 2024 and he had scores of 62(24), 102(41), and 89(32). These are only some of the examples of the explosiveness he brings to the side. Australia will rely on this in the whole of the World Cup. Glenn Maxwell There is no need to explain more about this all-rounder. His explosiveness is world-known.  He will be particularly important in this T20 World Cup because he is the only spin-bowling all-rounder on the side. Additionally, the batters are supposed to face a lot of spin bowlers against which he is a master.  Read more: Analyzing Bangladesh Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Pat Cummins It might have come as a wonder when the Australian squad was announced and Pat Cummins was not named captain. However, this talented cricketer is expected to play a big role in the team with his bowling. Besides, his leading capabilities can help Mitchell Marsh to guide the team. After winning the ICC Test Championship, ICC ODI World Cup, and leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to the finals as a captain, he is expected to excel in this role. Adam Zampa Adam Zampa has been the go-to spin bowler of Australia. He has entered this World Cup with great form as well. In situations, where the pitches are slow and balls are spinning, Adam Zampa is supposed to be the most crucial bowler for Australia this time.  Verdict Australia is one of the most powerful teams who are favourite in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Despite the lack of spinners, Australia have put up a squad that is a force to reckon with. Given the strength of batters and bowlers they have in the team, they can easily be the champions once again. Read more: T20 World Cup: Bangladesh aims to unleash full potential despite challenges

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is scheduled to pay an official visit to Bangladesh on May 21-22 to strengthen their bilateral relationship with Bangladesh and find ways to boost cooperation for regional peace, prosperity and security. Issues related to promotion of trade and investment, sustainable and renewable energy production, Rohingya crisis, maritime security, technology transfer and free and open Indo-Pacific region are likely to be discussed during her visit, officials said here on Sunday. Penny Wong is likely to have a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apart from holding a bilateral meeting with her Bangladesh counterpart Hasan Mahmud, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB. A small delegation including Deputy Secretary, South and Southeast Asia Group and Head of the Office of Southeast Asia, in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Michelle Chan will accompany the Australian foreign minister, he said. The Australian minister is likely to visit the Rohingya camp during her visit to see the situation there. Bangladesh seeks Australia’s support in keeping the Rohingya issue alive globally with a view to the ultimate repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals sheltered in Bangladesh. Australia has a commitment to continue the humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas and support Bangladesh in their repatriation effort. Wong was born in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Her family moved to Australia in 1976, when she was eight years old, and settled in Adelaide. The forthcoming visit by the Australian foreign minister demonstrates the country's growing interest in Bangladesh, an Australian diplomat told UNB. Earlier this month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he looks forward to working with PM Hasina to strengthen the bilateral relationship and together contribute to regional peace, prosperity and security. US wants to rebuild trust between Dhaka and Washington leaving behind tension: Lu “As Indian Ocean nations, we share an interest in a region that is grounded in sovereignty, promotes the prosperity and security of our citizens, and addresses the threat of climate change," he said in a letter written to PM Hasina congratulating on her reelection in January. The Australian PM highlighted the importance of their partnership in promoting "peace, prosperity and security" in the Indian Ocean. He affirmed his support for growing bilateral and regional cooperation between Australia and Bangladesh. “We have many common interests in increasing our trade and investment, promoting human rights, cooperating on people smuggling and addressing the Rohingya issue,” Albanese wrote. Bangladesh and Australia have already signed a framework agreement to open newer trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. The Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA), the first of this kind between Australia and Bangladesh in the last five decades, is expected to provide a platform for institutionalised economic interactions and open newer opportunities for trade and investment. In May last year, Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts visited Bangladesh. During the visit he said Bangladesh and Australia work closely together to promote their shared interests in regional peace and security, and have a growing trade and investment relationship. Lu in Bangladesh: Sets politics aside, tries to reach out to people Welcoming Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook, he said Australia seeks a region where “no country dominates, and no countries are dominated,” and the country thinks building a region like that requires efforts by all countries in the region. “We welcome the Bangladesh government’s Indo-Pacific Outlook in that context. I particularly welcome the point in the Indo-Pacific Outlook that argues for an inclusive region,” Watts said while responding to a question from UNB in a group session at that time. Australia recently sent a defence advisor to its High Commission in Dhaka, and, reciprocally, they welcome a defence advisor from Bangladesh in Australia. From Australia's perspective, the defence adviser is a symbol of their "intention and willingness" to cooperate on defence matters. The two countries are scheduled to hold the 5th Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Australia next month, said an official. The 4th FOC was held in Dhaka in March last year. The two-way trade now stands at around $4bn, reflecting Bangladesh’s significant economic growth and its highly complementary commercial strengths Donald Lu highlights importance of adaptation; protection of coastal people

The Australian women's cricket team has arrived in Dhaka, ready to take on the Bangladesh women's team in a historic series starting on March 21. This marks Australia's first full tour of Bangladesh. Their previous visit was in 2014 for the ICC T20I World Cup, and they have never played an ODI in Bangladesh. While the first ODI is on March 21, the other two are on March 24 and 27, respectively. After the ODI series, the teams will take on each other in a three-match T20I series, too, on March 31, April 2, and 4. All the matches will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The first match of the three-match ODI series will be Australia's first ODI in Bangladesh. In their only previous ODI encounter two years ago, Australia won by 65 runs. Women's cricketer Nahida Akter receives ICC player of the month award Bangladesh's inclusion in the ICC Women's Championship has created the opportunity for this series against Australia. Bangladesh recently won an ODI against South Africa, boosting their confidence for the upcoming challenge. Their recent home success, including a win against Pakistan and a tied series with India, further strengthens Bangladesh's confidence. Bangladesh's conditions may offer a unique challenge to the Australian players, many of whom are playing in Bangladesh for the first time. Only Captain Alyssa Healy and veteran Ellyse Perry have previous experience in Bangladesh, and that was a decade ago. Young blood injected as BCB announces squad for first Test against Sri Lanka However, some Australian players have recently participated in the Women's Premier League (WPL) in India, where they experienced conditions similar to those in Bangladesh. Australia squad for Bangladesh tour 2024: Alyssa Healy (captain), Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vice captain), Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck Bangladesh squad against Australia series 2024: Nigar Sultana (captain), Nahida Akter (vice captain), Fargana Hoque, Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Disha Biswas, Sumaiya Akter, Nishita Akter Nishi, Farzana Akter, Rabeya Khan

Australia's cricket captain, Pat Cummins, has been honoured with the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday. Cummins, a charismatic leader, demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the year, achieving big team victories, including the ICC World Test Championship Final and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. BPL 2024: Sylhet phase begins Friday Under Cummins' influential captaincy since late 2021, Australia triumphed in crucial encounters, reclaiming the Ashes and securing a historic sixth World Cup title. Overcoming tough competition, Cummins outshone fellow nominees— his compatriot Travis Head, and India’s batting superstar Virat Kohli, and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja. Shoaib Malik's BPL 2024 Campaign Abruptly Ends In ODIs, Cummins delivered crucial bowling spells. His leadership shone brightest in the World Cup final against India, where strategic bowling changes and field placements stifled the opposition. Cummins' masterful decisions limited India to 240 runs, and Australia comfortably chased down the total, securing their record-breaking sixth World Cup title. Shakib Al Hasan diagnosed with retinal condition in left eye Cummins concluded the year on a high note with a stellar 10-wicket haul in the Test series against Pakistan.

In a heartfelt press conference on January 1, 2024 morning, Australian cricketer David Warner announced his retirement from one day international (ODI) cricket, ending another chapter to his illustrious career.  The 37-year-old veteran, who had already declared his exit from Test cricket, announced his decision, emphasizing the opportunity to spend more time with his family and explore franchise cricket opportunities around the world.  Warner, known for his explosive batting style and unwavering dedication to the game, highlighted the significance of winning the 2023 World Cup in India as a factor influencing his retirement from the 50-over format.  Read more: Bangladesh Men’s Test Cricket in 2023: Performance Analysis David Warner will retire as the sixth highest run scorer for Australia in ODI cricket history. He scored 6932 runs in 162 matches at an average of 45.30 with a best of 179 against Pakistan. He is the second, in terms of scoring the most centuries for Australia.  He made 22 ODI centuries, only behind Ricky Ponting, who scored 29 centuries.  David Warner Career Stats Table: Batting Stats Across Formats FORMAT Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave SR 100s 50s Tests 111 203 8 8695 335* 44.58 70.26 26 36 ODIs 161 159 6 6932 179 45.30 97.26 22 33 T20Is 99 99 11 2894 100* 32.88 141.30 1 24 Reflecting on his Test debut against New Zealand in December 2011, Warner expressed gratitude for the pivotal role former Australia captain Greg Chappell played in shaping his career. The opener acknowledged Chappell's belief as a driving force behind his success on the international stage. While Warner clarified his retirement from ODIs, he teased a comeback for a potential return if Australia requires an opener for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.  The ICC Champions Trophy is the only title missing in David Warner’s fine career.  Read more: Bangladesh Cricket in 2023: Men’s ODI Series- Performance Analysis He stated his willingness to answer the call if playing decent cricket in two years' time aligns with the team's needs. Australia won the last Champions Trophy back in 2009 against New Zealand in South Africa. Although he is not available for the ODI and Test, the Australian cricketer also emphasized his eagerness to continue representing his country in T20 cricket.  Warner, who has been a vital part of Australia's T20 squad, expressed hopes of featuring in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA in June. His T20 journey will continue as he marks the final chapter of his illustrious career. Following the conclusion of the Test series against Pakistan in Sydney, Warner is set to turn out for at least four matches with the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL). However, his participation in the BBL finals remains uncertain as he eyes an opportunity to play for the International League T20 (ILT20) franchise Dubai Capitals, later this month. Warner is currently seeking a no objection certificate (NOC) from Cricket Australia to take part in the Dubai league, with the first game scheduled for January 21. Read more: Preview of 2023 Pakistan vs Australia 3rd Test Match Despite his commitment to T20 cricket, Warner confirmed his absence from Australia's three-match ODI series against West Indies in the upcoming month. Additionally, he might skip the ensuing T20I series to participate in the International T20 league, supported by IPL team owners. In his emotional address to the media, Warner expressed gratitude for the support he has received throughout his career. He thanked his family, teammates, coaches, and fans for being an integral part of his cricketing journey. The cricketing fraternity now eagerly awaits Warner's final appearances in Test and T20 cricket, celebrating the remarkable career of one of Australia's cricketing icons. The announcement took place ahead of Warner's 112th and final Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground against Pakistan, where he bid adieu to the longer format of the game. As David Warner prepares for his farewell match, cricket fans worldwide will undoubtedly cherish the memories of his explosive batting, unmatched dedication, and invaluable contributions to Australian cricket in the 50-Over format. Read more: Bangladesh National Cricket Team’s Future Tour Program by ICC in 2024

After losing two back-to-back Tests against Australia, Pakistan will look to overcome their lackings, win the last Test match, and start the new year on a positive note.  Before the final Test match, let’s have a look at the preview, which will take place on Wednesday, January 03 at Sydney Cricket Ground at 12 pm Bangladesh time ( Local Time 05:30 am). It will be the last match of the series, an important one for Pakistan, as their mediocre tour in Australia continues over two decades. Preview of Pakistan vs Australia Third Test Match in 2023  Although they lost both matches, Pakistan showed promise at the start. But lack of inconsistency, and poor performance from the batters, led to a bad ending. Overview of PAK vs AUS First Test The 1st Test was played from the 14th to the 17th of December at Perth.  Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. Australia scored 487 runs after getting all-out. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh put up a strong 360-run partnership. Warner and Marsh scored 164 and 90 runs respectively.  Debutant Khurram Shahzad and Aamer Jamal impressed the most as they took 12 wickets combined out of the total 15 wickets Pakistan took in the match. Pakistan team made a good start, as Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique scored 60 and 42 respectively. But soon they started to crumble consistently. Nathan Lyon was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 wickets. Besides, Cummins and Starc chipped in with 2 wickets each. Australia declared their second innings after scoring 232 runs, losing 5 wickets, and set a massive target of 450 runs.  Mitchell Marsh was adjudged man of the match. Pakistan in reply, collapsed heavily, scoring only 89 runs, facing the heaviest defeat of 360 runs. Skipper Pat Cummins took 5 wickets. Lyon contributed with the ball again, taking 3 wickets.   Read more: Bangladesh Cricket in 2023: Men’s ODI Series- Performance Analysis Overview of PAK vs AUS Second Test After a heavy defeat, Pakistan faced Australia on the 26th of December in Melbourne.  Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl. Australia scored only 318 runs. Marnus Labuschagne scored 63 runs. Aamer Jamal took 3 wickets, while Shaheen, Hamza, and Ali took 2 wickets each. Pakistan managed to score only 264 runs. Scoring 62 runs, Abdullah Shafique made a good start. Shan Maqsood, captain also scored a half-century. Cummin's outstanding bowling picked up 5 wickets, while Lyon took 4 wickets.  Australia could not start their second innings as expected. They lost 4 wickets in a very short time with a score of 16 runs on the board.  Mitchell Marsh steadied the innings with Steve Smith, putting up a partnership of 153 runs. Still, Australia managed to score only 262 runs, setting a total of 317 runs for Pakistanis to chase. Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, and Alex Carrey scored 96, 50 and 53 runs respectively. Shaheen Afridi and Mir Hamza took 4 wickets each and restricted the Aussies to a score that would be easy to chase down in the last innings. Pakistan batted their second innings with clear intent to win the match and level the score 1-1.   But unfortunately, they could not chase down the total, getting all out for just 237 runs. Shan Maqsood,  Babar Azam, and  Agha Salman scored 61 runs, 41 runs, and 50 runs respectively giving some hope to win the match.   Pat Cummins was too much to handle, as he bagged another 5, ending the match with 10 wickets.  He was awarded the Man of the Match award. Read more: Was 2023 a Good or Bad Year for Bangladesh Cricket? Here’s What Stats Say Pakistan vs Australia Head-to-Head Records In Test Matches Won by Australia Won by Pakistan Tied N/R 70 34 15  20 01 Australia is way ahead of Pakistan in Tests, winning 34 matches, whereas Pakistan only won 15 matches. Probable Australia Test Squad Pat Cummins (c), David Warner, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Lance Morris, Scott Boland, and Josh Hazlewood. Probable Pakistan Test Squad  Shan Masood(c), Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Aamer Jamal, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf,  Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sajid Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Noman Ali, Mir Hamza, and Khurram Shahzad. Final Verdict After taking the series 2-0, Australia will look forward to winning the last match and wrap up the series with a clean sweep of, 3-0. Before this series, Australia were dominating with 34 wins against Pakistan overall.  Pakistan only won 15 against Aussies. And, they have lost the ongoing series. Still, they will try to end the 2023 PAK vs AUS Test Series with a win and start their new year 2024 with a fresh approach.  Read more: Bangladesh Men’s Test Cricket in 2023: Performance Analysis

Australia faced an early setback, losing three wickets within the first 10 overs in their pursuit of 241 against India in the ICC World Cup 2023 final on Sunday in Ahmedabad. Mohammad Shami, India's most successful bowler in this World Cup, claimed the first wicket in the second over of the innings as David Warner edged, and Virat Kohli took a sharp catch at the slip cordon. World Cup 2023: Kohli Falls as Australia Take Control In the fifth over of the innings, Mitchell Marsh fell victim to Jasprit Bumrah. The delivery, positioned outside the off-stumps, saw Marsh making no foot movement, resulting in an edge to the wicketkeeper after scoring 15 off 15 balls. World Cup 2023 Final: India stumble, lose 3 wickets before reaching 100 Bumrah struck again to dismiss Steven Smith. This time, it was an offcutter outside off stumps. Smith missed, and the ball hit his pad, leading to an lbw appeal. The umpire raised his finger, but TV replays showed that the impact was outside off. If Smith had opted for a review, he would have been declared not out. But Smith decided to walk off instead of going for a review. ICC World Cup 2023 Final: Australia sniffing at 6th title after restricting India to 240 in Ahmedabad After 12 overs, Australia were at 68 for three, with Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head at the crease.

In a remarkable display of sustained disciplined bowling, Australia restricted India to 240 all-out in 50 overs in the final of the ICC World Cup 2023 on Sunday in Ahmedabad. India was asked to bat first after losing the toss - a huge call by Pat Cummins that defied conventional wisdom. World Cup 2023: Kohli Falls as Australia Take Control The hosts struggled to establish effective partnerships when they needed them most. Credit goes to the Australian pace attack, which denied the Indian batting line-up the chance to settle in. Virat Kohli and Lokesh Rahul both secured half-centuries, and the responsibility rested on them to carry India's hopes further. However, they couldn't defy the disciplined Australian attack. World Cup 2023 Final: India stumble, lose 3 wickets before reaching 100 Mitchell Starc led the charge, taking three wickets for 55 in 10 overs. He initiated the breakthrough by dismissing Shubman Gill. India lost three wickets before even reaching 100 runs. As on other occasions, Rohit Sharma had a promising and explosive start, but the Indian captain couldn't sustain his aggression. Shreyas Iyer, like Gill, failed to deliver on the biggest match of their lives. ICC World Cup 2023 Final: Australia ask India to bat first Josh Inglis, the Australian wicketkeeper, took five catches behind the wicket. For Australia, Starc claimed three wickets, while Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins took two wickets each. Prior to this match, Australia and India faced each other in another final of the ICC World Cup, which Australia won.

The last match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup is on Sunday, November 19, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India and Australia will play the final match, which will start at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. The last time these two teams faced each other in a World Cup final was in 2003. Australia came out victorious, winning the game by 125 runs and securing their third World Cup trophy. Who do you think will win this time? Let's find out. Preview of India vs Australia ODI in ICC World Cup 2023 From losing the first two matches to reaching the final, Australia really improved their game through the last eight matches. Pat Cummins' team has shown an impressive turnaround after losing their first two matches in the tournament. They secured their spot in the final with a tense win against South Africa. The Eden Garden pitch was slow in the second semifinal, making it challenging for batsmen to score runs. Despite this, South Africa managed to post a total of 212 runs. However, Australia faced a tough task in chasing down this modest target. The struggle was evident as they teetered on the edge, but ultimately, they secured a spot in the final by winning the match with a margin of 3 wickets. The Australians faced considerable pressure from the Proteas, who managed to take 7 wickets. Despite this challenging situation, the Aussies made a comeback, securing a win thanks to the responsible batting of captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Starc finished the match not out with 16 runs, while Cummins contributed 14 runs. Travis Head was the top scorer for the team with 62 runs. Additionally, Steve Smith added 30 runs to the total, while David Warner was dismissed after scoring 29 runs. Read more: World Cup 2023: Australia secure final berth by beating South Africa in low-scoring affair This marks the eighth time Australia is participating in the World Cup Final, having previously won the trophy five times. Yet, if Australia emerges as the focal point by Sunday night, it indicates a significant setback for India. India will be looking for its third World Cup title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Their last victory came in 2011 when they defeated Sri Lanka in the final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India has been the most impressive team in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, winning all 10 games in the tournament. They concluded the group stage at the top with nine wins in nine games, comfortably defeating almost every team in the competition. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, they secured a spot in the final by beating New Zealand in the semifinal at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium with a 70-run victory in a high-scoring match. Previously, India effortlessly defeated Australia by six wickets in their initial group-stage encounter, and there are no indications that their momentum will fade. Everything suggests that they are on track to win the tournament on their home ground, just as they did in 2011. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Kohli, Shreyas propel India to massive total in semifinal against New Zealand India vs Australia Head to Head in ODI So Far The cricketing rivalry between India and Australia in ODIs has been a fiercely contested battle, spanning a total of 150 matches. The head-to-head statistics reveal a closely fought competition, with Australia holding the advantage. Out of the 150 encounters, Australia emerged victorious in 83 matches, showcasing their dominance on multiple occasions. On the other hand, India secured triumph in 57 matches, illustrating their competitive spirit. Notably, there have been no tied matches in this intense rivalry, but 10 encounters ended with no result. India vs Australia ODI clashes have consistently provided fans with thrilling moments and cricketing excellence, making it one of the most anticipated and celebrated rivalries in the world of cricket. In the history of the ODI World Cup, Australia and India have faced each other thirteen times, with Australia holding an 8-5 advantage in their head-to-head record. The most recent encounter at the 2023 World Cup saw India emerging victorious, beating Australia by 6 wickets. Table: India vs Australia Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far Stats Matches India Won Australia Won No Result Tie Overall 150 57 83 10 0 ODI World Cups 13 5 8 0 0 Predicted XI for India Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj. Predicted XI for Australia Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marnus Labuschagne/Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Australia Men's ODI Squad Analysis Indian Players to Watch Virat Kohli Virat Kohli has surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most runs in a World Cup by scoring 711 runs, achieving this feat with a game to spare. Additionally, Kohli has now reached a milestone of 50 ODI centuries. As Virat is in great form, his performance in the final will be crucial. Mohammed Shami As it stands, Mohammed Shami has emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, an impressive feat considering he has played in only six matches. Shami's ability to consistently take wickets has undoubtedly contributed to his standout performance in the competition. And his 7 wicket haul in the last match was a record. So, Aussies will need to play Shami carefully in the final. Rohit Sharma In the 2023 ICC World Cup, Rohit Sharma has been the standout batsman for India, consistently delivering explosive starts that have frequently placed the team in advantageous positions. Further, he has a good record against Australia, scoring 2332 runs from 44 matches with 209 high scores. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis Australian Players to Watch David Warner In the semi final against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, David Warner reached an impressive achievement. He became the first Australian batsman to score 500 runs in two different ODI World Cup editions. Warner's skill as a left-handed batsman was clear when he accumulated 647 runs in the previous 2019 edition. Now, he joins an elite group, being only the third player to score over 500 runs in two World Cups. He is a reliable batter for big matches. So, he will surely show his skill in the final. Adam Zampa Adam Zampa's performance in the ICC World Cup 2023 has been truly impressive. Despite facing difficulties earlier in the tournament when he gave away 113 runs, Zampa showed flexibility and a champion's mentality. Taking on the responsibility as the sole spinner for Australia, he has claimed 22 wickets, making him the second-leading wicket-taker in the tournament. Josh Hazlewood Josh Hazlewood delivered an outstanding performance in the ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal against South Africa, making a significant impact in the early stage of the match. He played a key role in limiting the strong South African top order by taking the crucial wickets of Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram. In his eight overs, he conceded only 12 runs, with seven of those runs coming from edges or false shots. Final Words India has secured ten victories out of ten matches in the ICC World Cup 2023 so far. The top battle will occur in the top order, where players like Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood need to stop Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli from making a strong start. However, even if they manage to do so, the in-form Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul add significant firepower. This offensive capability is supported by a well-rounded Indian bowling attack. So, India has maximum chances to win the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup final match against Australia. Read more: New Zealand tour of Bangladesh in 2023-2024: Schedules, Fixtures, Team