WF VS AA TEAM PREVIEWS
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS
Troy Johnson’s batting contributed significantly to the Wellington Firebirds’ win in the Ford Trophy in 2021-22. He has three fifty-plus scores, with an average of more than 81 and a strike rate of just around 100. These are incredible figures. Smith, Georgeson, Blundell, and Allen all back him up. This is a formidable batting order.
Of course, Finn Allen is the true match-winner in this squad, but he’s had an average domestic season by his usual excellent standards.
Bracewell, Younghusband, and Bennett are the three Wellington Firebirds bowlers that have had the most success in the Ford Trophy this season. We like the bowling unit, but it is missing that one bowler who can bowl a side in a single game.
Auckland Aces
Worker and Chapman both struck century in their lone match so far, thus ensuring that no one else had to do much effort. The Auckland Aces have a formidable batting lineup that includes Martin Guptill and Glenn Phillips. Having two seasoned international batters to lead their batting line-up must be considered a huge plus.
Of all, Guptill has been struggling for runs, so don’t put too much stock in his impact on this match. Nonetheless, it appears that the Aces have a better batting lineup.
The Auckland Aces’ bowling assault appears to be a tad light. The Ferns took three wickets in their previous encounter, but there isn’t a lot of depth there. In order to contribute in the bowling department, the Aces will have to rely largely on part-timers like Phillips and Chapman, which is never a good indication.
PITCH AND CONDITIONS
The weather in Auckland is predicted to be ideal for cricket. Because the ground is rather tiny, there are usually runs available. Eden Park, on the other hand, has gained a reputation for producing quick and bouncy wickets in recent seasons. This gives the bowlers a chance to speak up and offer some equity to the competition.
At Eden Park, though, a score of about 300 should never be discounted.