Our cricket pundit previews the World Cup match between Australia and South Africa which takes place on Saturday 6 July 2019.
This match may have no bearing on the outcome of the World Cup but when the Proteas take on Australia there is no such thing as a dead rubber. The Proteas will naturally be eager to put their abysmal play behind them and claim the Aussie scalp before going home.
Cricket World Cup 2019 | Saturday 6 July | Old Trafford, Manchester | 14:30
To Win Match
Australia
Tie
South Africa
Australia
Everything has come together superbly well for Aaron Finch’s team from scheduling to the form of players. Australia’s tremendous World Cup luck has held true but one shouldn’t discount the impact made by Justin Langer.
The coach has turned around a struggling team by adopting a new way of doing things rather than making wholesale changes, something the Proteas can learn from.
Australia have been given a phenomenal boost by the form and attitude of David Warner, who has returned to the team determined to make amends for his historical missteps. With the ball, it has been Mitchell Starc leading the way backed up by Pat Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Both Finch and Warner have already cracked the 500-run mark in this tournament and one or the other could move to the top of the run-scoring charts with a decent knock from the top of the innings.
Australia can seal top spot on the log with victory over South Africa.
South Africa
By contrast to Australia, everything has gone wrong for South Africa’s Proteas. The schedule wasn’t ideal and the team have looked severely undercooked.
The biggest problem for the Proteas has been a complete lack of big runs from the top order with Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla the first men to break 70 in their last outing against Sri Lanka.
With the ball the Proteas haven’t been perfect but most of the bowlers produced at least one spell that has shown why they have been chosen.
Dwaine Pretorius grabbed his chance in the match against Sri Lanka and is likely to retain his spot in the XI for a game South Africa will be desperate to win.
Among the batsmen, Rassie van der Dussen has shown tremendous promise for the future while the rest of the top order have left big question marks next to their own.
Verdict: Australia
Australia are playing good cricket right now, the Proteas just aren’t.
Written by James Richardson for Hollywoodbets.
