The Australian cricket team are back on the grind as they are locking horns with their Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in a three-match series. With the nations set to play three-match T20I series, the first
T20I is underway at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. For the unversed, Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first.
As a result, the hosts were put to bat first which saw them put 181 runs at the loss of six wickets in their stipulated 20 overs, courtesy an unbeaten 106 from Tim Robinson. But in a surprising turn, the team from Down Under were seen walking out wearing black armbands.
Australian team sports black armbands in tribute to Alex Carey’s father
The Mitchell Marsh-led side were spotted wearing black armbands in the series opener in Mount Maunganui. The gesture from the T20I side came to honour Alex Carey’s father Gordon Carey, who passed away last week after a hard-fought battle with leukemia.
Speaking of the two teams, both teams have been in their best form. While Australia is coming off seven wins from last 10 series, New Zealand have won nine of the 11 T20I series this year.
NZ vs AUS 1 st T20I Playing XIs
Australia: Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Tim David, Alex Carey(w), Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand: Tim Seifert(w), Devon Conway, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell(c), Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy
