Related Articles
The 6th warm-up match of the T20 World Cup 2024 features Australia taking on Namibia at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The match is set to begin at 4:30 AM IST on 29th May 2024. Australia comes into this game with confidence, having key players in excellent form, while Namibia faces a daunting challenge against the Australian pace attack.
Key Players and Form
Australia:
- Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins have been instrumental in leading their respective IPL franchises to the final.
- However, Starc and Cummins might miss this warm-up game to rest after their IPL stints.
Namibia:
- Gerhard Erasmus impressed with the ball in their last match against Uganda.
- Namibia fielded a mix of regulars and new faces in their previous game.
Team Previews
Australia: David Warner remains a key part of the Australian squad, potentially playing in his last World Cup. Mitchell Marsh, who was pivotal in Australia’s T20 World Cup win in UAE, will captain the team. Australia’s squad boasts T20 specialists like Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green. Maxwell, in particular, is a significant asset with both bat and ball.
Due to the likely absence of Travis Head, Matthew Wade or Mitchell Marsh might open alongside Warner. Nathan Ellis could feature if Starc and Cummins sit out. Tim David and Marcus Stoinis are expected to handle the finishing duties. Ashton Agar and Josh Inglis may also get opportunities in this warm-up match.
Australia Predicted Playing XI:
- David Warner
- Matthew Wade (wk)
- Mitchell Marsh (c)
- Glenn Maxwell
- Cameron Green
- Josh Inglis
- Tim David
- Ashton Agar
- Nathan Ellis
- Josh Hazlewood
- Adam Zampa
Namibia: Namibia comes off a convincing win in their first warm-up game and faces a significant test against Australia. This match provides a valuable learning experience ahead of the group stage where they will meet Australia again.
Nikolaas Davin has been impressive as an opener with a strong strike rate. Skipper Gerhard Erasmus, JJ Smit, and David Wiese will be crucial in the middle order. The bowlers, including Bernard Scholtz and Jan Frylinck, need to improve their performance after a lackluster outing against Uganda. Ruben Trumpelmann may also be included to challenge Australia’s batting lineup.
Namibia Predicted Playing XI:
- Michael van Lingen
- Nikolaas Davin
- JP Kotze
- Gerhard Erasmus (c)
- JJ Smit
- David Wiese
- Jan Frylinck
- Zane Green (wk)
- Bernard Scholtz
- Ruben Trumpelmann
- Ben Shikongo
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Pitch Report: Queen’s Park Oval offers a balanced surface with assistance for both batters and bowlers. The highest T20I total here is 159 runs, indicating a typically low-scoring venue. Teams should aim for a first innings score of 165-175 runs to be competitive.
Weather Conditions: The weather forecast predicts a high of 31 degrees Celsius with a chance of thundershowers. Conditions are expected to favor bowlers, with seam movement being a key factor.
Toss Prediction: The team winning the toss might prefer to bowl first. Historically, there has been no significant advantage to batting first or second at this venue.
Match Prediction: Australia vs Namibia
Even with some players potentially resting, Australia remains the stronger side. Namibia has promising bowlers who could challenge Australia’s top order with the new ball, but Australia’s depth and quality make them clear favorites to win this match.
Prediction: Australia to win the warm-up match against Namibia.