Match Preview: Australia vs Bangladesh, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 43rd Match

As the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 unfolds, the 43rd match brings a gripping face-off between Australia and Bangladesh. With Australia's stunning comeback led by Glenn Maxwell and Bangladesh fighting for a spot in the top eight, this match in Pune is more than a contest; it's a battle of resilience and strategy. As key players like Mitchell Starc and Taskin Ahmed gear up, we anticipate a showdown brimming with cricketing prowess and tactical play.

Venue Insights

The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, renowned for its cricket pitch, offers conditions that are highly favourable for batters. The nature of the pitch allows batters to strategically place their shots and secure boundaries effectively. As the game progresses, the pitch characteristics evolve, offering spin bowlers an opportunity to capitalize and enhance their performance. This dynamic between bat and ball as the match advances adds a layer of tactical depth to the game.

Overall, the expectation is that matches at this venue will be closely contested, with both batsmen and bowlers having the opportunity to make significant impacts. The pitch's balanced nature contributes to an exciting cricketing encounter, where strategy and skill from both departments are crucial for success.

Form Guide: Australia

Australia's recent form in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is marked by an impressive streak of victories (WWWWW in their last five completed matches), indicating a strong performance. However, this winning record masks some underlying issues. The team narrowly avoided a challenging situation against Bangladesh, thanks largely to Glenn Maxwell's extraordinary batting against Afghanistan, which propelled them into the semi-finals against South Africa. Despite these wins, Australia's overall form has been somewhat inconsistent, with a reliance on individual brilliance overshadowing a cohesive team effort.

Maxwell's performances have been particularly notable in this regard. As they move forward, Australia faces the challenge of finding the right balance in their team selection, with several players struggling for consistency. The upcoming match against Bangladesh is crucial for them to demonstrate a more complete team performance, especially considering Bangladesh's current status outside of semi-final contention.

Form Guide: Bangladesh

Bangladesh's form in the tournament started positively with a win against Afghanistan (WLLLL in their last five completed matches), but their performance has since declined, impacting their World Cup campaign. They are fighting to be among the top eight teams to qualify for the Champions Trophy, and an upset in their upcoming matches could significantly aid this ambition. However, their campaign is plagued with more than on-field issues.

Bangladesh is dealing with significant off-field challenges, including the departures of fast-bowling coach Allan Donald and computer analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaran. Furthermore, the controversy involving Allan Donald's critique of captain Shakib Al Hasan over an incident in a previous match adds to the team's challenges. Despite these disruptions, Bangladesh aims to finish their World Cup campaign on a high note, hoping that the off-field turmoil will not impede their performance.

Players to Watch

Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc, the left-arm quick, stands among the top wicket-takers in World Cup history, trailing only behind legends Glenn McGrath and Muthiah Muralidaran. Despite his remarkable achievements in the 2015 and 2019 editions, Starc has faced challenges in the current tournament. With 10 wickets at an average of 43.90 and an economy rate of 6.55, his form has been less than ideal. Notably, in his last five games, Starc has managed only five wickets, with a particularly rough outing against Afghanistan where he secured 1 for 70 from nine overs.