Match preview – 2nd June 2017 – 10:30 – Venue Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Australia will be hoping for a better performance in the Champion’s Trophy then they managed in the 2013 edition of the tournament where they limped home after the group stage without a win. The Aussies opened with defeat in a low-scoring match against England before seeing a washed out no result against New Zealand left them needing to hammer Sri Lanka to progress. They failed to do that and exited a major tournament earlier for the first time in living memory. New Zealand didn’t fare much better despite starting with a narrow win over Sri Lanka before slipping to defeat in a rain-affected match against England ended they hopes of progression. Since then though both teams excelled in the 2015 World Cup and will be hoping for more success this time.
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For a team with such a proud history of success in limited-overs tournaments, Australia will have been devastated to finish bottom of their group last time out. Steve Smith and his side will be looking to really make a mark on the tournament as they continue to play under the cloud of the wages row off the field that could jeopardise this winter’s Ashes series. New Zealand have had a mixed time of things in major tournament but made a name for themselves at the 2015 World Cup. They have all the makings of a tournament winning team with a pace attack that can cause all sorts of problems in English conditions as well some of the best run-scorers in the business in Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor. They will be hoping this will be their year.
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