Australia V New Zealand World T20 Preview

Australia V New Zealand World T20 Preview

Australia will start its quest for the elusive ICC World Twenty20 crown when it takes on New Zealand on Friday (March 18) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

Australia is No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings and won a record fifth World Cup title in the 50-over format last year but is yet to conquer the World T20. It has made the final only once, in 2010 when it lost to England.

New Zealand is on a high after stunning India in the opening game of the Super 10 stage on Tuesday in Nagpur, but Steven Smith's side will take confidence from the fact that it defeated New Zealand in the final of the 50-over ICC World Cup 2015.

More significantly, Australia has a massive advantage over New Zealand in the head-to-head stats in the 20-over format, having won four of the five matches the two sides have played. Australia's only loss, in 2010, came in a Super Over.

Shane Watson, however, stressed that there was no guarantee of another win, especially after New Zealand's 47-run win over India.

"We are going to have to play very well because they are going to be very confident leading into this game," Watson told reporters in Dharamsala on the eve of the match.

Australia has been in mixed form coming into the tournament. It was whitewashed 3-0 by India in January but bounced back by defeating South Africa 2-1 in an away series.

The batting has been in good form, with Glenn Maxwell and David Warner among the runs against South Africa. A lot will depend on Maxwell in particular as he is expected to be the allrounder Australia needs in Indian conditions.