Toss New Zealand opt to bat v Australia
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
02:22
Can New Zealand mind the McCullum gap?
Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bat in New Zealand’s Champions Trophy opener, against Australia at Edgbaston.
Australia opted against picking what captain Steven Smith referred to on match eve as their “four big quicks”, with James Pattinson left out of the attack. Perhaps more of a surprise was the omission of batsman Chris Lynn, with allrounder Moises Henriques listed at No.4 to add another seam bowling option. John Hastings was also included in the side.
New Zealand chose Luke Ronchi to keep wickets and open the batting instead of Tom Latham, while they also gave themselves several all-round options, with James Neesham and Corey Anderson to join Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Adam Milne in the pace attack.
Although Williamson judged the pitch to be good for batting, Smith said he would have chosen to field had he won the toss, in order to give his fast men the first opportunity to use what he hoped might be swinging conditions.
Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Moises Henriques, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Travis Head, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 John Hastings, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Pat Cummins, 11 Josh Hazlewood.
New Zealand 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Luke Ronchi (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Neil Broom, 6 James Neesham, 7 Corey Anderson, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Adam Milne, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @brydoncoverdale
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo