Cricket
SA vs AUS: Australia make two changes for semi-final clash vs South Africa
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Australia opted to make two changes to their team in their World Cup 2023 semi-final clash against South Africa at the Eden Gardens on Thursday, 16 November. Captain Pat Cummins spoke at the toss and said that Australia are going back to their best XI after resting Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc in their final league-stage game against Bangladesh. Australia benched Sean Abbott and Marcus Stoinis for the match.
World Cup 2023: SA vs AUS Live Updates | Scorecard
Cummins lost the toss and was sent to bowl first in the overcast conditions of Kolkata. Cummins said that he would have liked to bat given the match was being played on a used wicket.
“We would have batted first as well. But it’s pretty gloomy out there, so hopefully, some swing on offer,” Cummins said at the toss.
Australia are on a 7-match win streak in the tournament. After losing their first two matches against India and South Africa, the Australian team hit back with vengeance and put in strong batting performances. Cummins said that the best thing about the team has been that it has shown a positive attitude with their backs to the wall.
“We have been in these positions before and have finished on the other side. But we have a good amount of experience. We weren’t at our best in the first couple of games. We adjusted really well. The guys have been positive,” Cummins said at the toss.
“We have two changes. Stoinis and Sean Abbott miss out and Maxwell and Starcy (Starc) come in,” the captain concluded.
The side will be buoyed by the fact that Glenn Maxwell is back and does not have any injuries. Maxwell in his last match took apart Afghanistan in a sensational innings. The all-rounder dug his team out of trouble and hit the first-ever double-century in chasing cause in the ODI format of the game.
Australia Playing XI
Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
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