Australia vs South Africa ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: A stir has started outside the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in the capital Lucknow regarding the ODI World Cup 2023 match between South Africa and Australia. People have started arriving for the match. They have started getting entry into the stadium from 11.30 am. There is discussion everywhere about the first match of the Lucknow World Cup. With the return of monsoon, there has been humid heat in the capital for the last few days. In such a situation, there is no chance of rain. According to the Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature in the capital Lucknow is likely to be 36 degrees and the minimum temperature will be 23 degrees Celsius. In such a situation, the match will be played in humid weather. The Australian team, which faced defeat from Team India in the first match of the World Cup, will face South Africa on Thursday with the intention of winning. On the other hand, South Africa will try to defeat Australia, which will make its path forward difficult. Australia has many times stood in the way of South Africa’s victory in the World Cup, hence South Africa would not want Team Australia to win this time. Both the teams have sweated during practice in Ekana and are hopeful of victory. South Africa and Australia have come face to face six times so far in the World Cup. Of these, Australia has won three times, while South Africa won twice and one match was tied.
History will be created in Lucknow
A new history will be created in Lucknow with the first ball being bowled in the match between Australia and South Africa at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. Actually, this will be the first time that a World Cup match is being played in Lucknow. Lucknow is fully prepared to witness this history. Apart from Ekana Stadium, the surrounding area has also been decorated like a bride. When people come out of the stadium after the match, they will enjoy seeing its beauty even more.
Team Australia will aim for damage control
Meanwhile, after the defeat against India in Chennai, Australia team will face South Africa with the aim of damage control. Marcus Stoinis is certain to return to the team, who could not play against India due to hamstring injury. This all-rounder player has a lot of experience of playing at Ekana Stadium. He has played for Lucknow Supergiants team in IPL. Considering the strong batting of South Africa, Cummins and Company will have to play better. Apart from Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood, the responsibility of bowling will be on young leg spinner Adam Zampa, while in batting, Steve Smith, experienced Warner and Labuschagne will have to show better performance.
South Africa’s spirits are high
On the other hand, the South African team, which defeated Sri Lanka by a huge margin of 102 runs in the first match of the World Cup, will face Australia with high spirits. The team’s batting is in rhythm. Quinton de Kock (100), Markram (106) and Rassie Dussen (108) played explosive century innings against Sri Lanka. The team’s spin bowlers Gerald Coetzee and Keshav Maharaj are in form. Both of them have bowled well against Sri Lanka. The record of both these bowlers in India has been good.
This time there will be no problem regarding the pitch of Ekana Stadium
Meanwhile, everyone’s eyes are also on the pitch of Ekana International Cricket Stadium. After being criticized for low-scoring matches in the IPL, all nine pitches of Ekana Stadium have been prepared afresh. It is being said that this time the pitch will prove helpful for both the batsman and the bowler. Batsmen will be seen scoring runs here. In fact, in the earlier IPL matches, the pitch here was not favorable for the batsmen, about which complaints were made. After this work was done on the pitch.
Players happy to see light grass on the pitch
MD of Ekana Cricket Stadium, Uday Sinha said that there are nine pitches in the stadium. Of which five pitches are made of red soil and four pitches are made of black soil. Matches will be played on both the pitches. The curator has thoroughly investigated it. The pitch is excellent. According to BCCI curator Sanjeev Aggarwal, there will be good bounce on the pitch. The average score here can be around 300. There is light grass on the pitch, which is a good sign. Australian captain Pat Cummins has described pitch number four of the stadium assigned for the match as better.
teams
Australia- Pat Cummins (captain), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
South Africa- Temba Bavuma (captain), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.