New Zealand v Australia betting tips, prediction & odds; T20 Internationals series preview
Welcome to our preview of the first New Zealand-Australia Twenty20 International on Monday, February 22, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The match is the first of five in the T20 series, with the Kiwis including most of their big guns, while Australia have more of an experimental line-up.
Both teams head into the series with one eye on the looming Twenty20 World Cup in India in around eight months.
More: Cricket betting guide
All: Sports previews
Australia had left out such luminaries as Steve Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. Those players were all named in the subsequently abandoned Test tour to South Africa.
That means newcomers such as Big Bash League ace batsman Josh Philippe, express bowler Riley Meredith and young spinner Tanveer Sangha should all get their chance to impress.
Meanwhile, the Black Caps will look to IPL money man Kyle Jamieson to lead the attack. The towering paceman was snapped up for an incredible Indian Rupees 15 crore, which equates to almost $NZ3 million, by the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL auction.
New Zealand v Australia series schedule
T20 Internationals
1st T20I: 7pm (local time), February 22, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
2nd T20I: 2pm (local time), February 25, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
3rd T20I: 7pm (local time), March 3, Sky Stadium, Wellington
4th T20I: 7pm (local time), March 5, Eden Park, Auckland
5th T20: 7pm (local time), March 7, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
New Zealand T20 squad
Kane Williamson (c), Hamish Bennett, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips. Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Finn Allen (stand-by).
Australia T20 squad
Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, D’Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.
Continue reading for our free NZ v Australia tips for the 1st T20 at Christchurch on Monday.
New Zealand v Australia 1st T20 odds
Head to head odds: New Zealand $2, Australia $1.81
Man of the match betting:
$9 Aaron Finch, Kane Williamson
$10 Martin Guptill, Matthew Wade
$11 Glenn Maxwell, Josh Philippe, Tim Seifert
$13 Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, D’Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis
$15+ others
Top run-scorer New Zealand
$3.75 Kane Williamson
$4.50 Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert
$5.50 Devon Conway
$6 Glenn Phillips
$6.50 Mark Chapman
$11 Jimmy Neesham
Top run-scorer Australia
$4 Aaron Finch
$4.50 Matthew Wade
$5 Glenn Maxwell, Josh Philippe, D’Arcy Short
$5.50 Ben McDermott
$6 Marcus Stoinis
$8 Mitchell Marsh
Top wicket-taker New Zealand
$3.75 Trent Boult
$4 Tim Southee
$4.50 Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi
$5 Hamish Bennett, Mitchell Santner
$6.50 Jimmy Neesham
Top wicket-taker Australia
$3.75 Adam Zampa
$4.50 Jhye Richardson , Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Ashton Agar
$5 Jason Behrendorff, Riley Meredith, Andrew Tye
$5.50 Tanveer Sangha
New Zealand v Australia betting tips
Our cricket tipsters have examined the odds and found several New Zealand v Australia tips for the first T20 International.
Mitchell Santner most wickets for NZ
The left-arm spinner has a wonderful record in the shortest form of the game and you can expect the Australians to go after him. He runs at about a wicket per match but could get some extra assistance from this pitch.
Glenn Phillips top run-scorer for NZ
The South Africa-born Phillips is a specialist in the short-form games and can really score runs quickly. With opener Martin Guptill out of form lately, players such as Phillips should get plenty of time in the middle. He is a rising star.
New Zealand v Australia prediction 22/2/2021
These two teams have not played in a T20 International for three years; their scheduled series a year ago was cancelled near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Black Caps do bot have an imposing record against the Australians. From nine previous matches, they have a solitary win and a tie to show for their efforts. New Zealand are a great side at home though, and this first match is their best chance to catch the Australians out of sorts, as they came out of quarantine only a day before the match. Our final New Zealand v Australia prediction? New Zealand to win the opening match.
New Zealand v Australia T20I Details
Britain: Sky Sports Cricket, Main Event. India: Star Sports. Live stream: Disney plus Hotstar. Australia: Fox Sports, KAYO.
International readers can check out the best cricket betting sites.
The game starts at 7pm local time (5pm AEDT) on February 22, 2021.
