CWC 2023: Australia vs South Africa match preview

Of the six World Cup matches between the sides, Australia have won three and South Africa two. A tie in the 1999 World Cup semi-final enabled Australia reach the final on the basis of a better position on the Super Six points table.

Australia are coming into this match after a heavy defeat in their tournament opener. Despite reducing India to 2-3 while defending 200, they were unable to thwart a 165-run partnership between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.

South Africa went all guns blazing in their first outing. Batting first, they scored 428-5, the highest total in World Cup history. They pipped Sri Lanka by 102 runs. Three centurions from the last match – Quinton de Kock (100), Rassie van der Dussen (108) and Aiden Markram (106) – will look to extend their good form going into the high-voltage clash.

AUS vs SA fantasy tips

# Mitchell Starc is the fifth-highest World Cup wicket-taker of all time. He has 50 scalps under his belt at an average of 15.4, which is second to none. No other bowler has taken as many five-fors (3) as him either. He is a no-brainer pick.

# David Warner has three fifties in his last four outings. He is the quickest batter to amass 1,000 runs (19 innings) in the World Cup.

# In 2023, No.4 batter Aiden Markram’s 683 runs have come at an average of 68.30 while striking at 127. No one has scored that many runs that quickly. After registering the fastest World Cup century, off 49 balls against Sri Lanka, he is among the sure starters in the fantasy XI.

# With 1,214 runs at an average of 50.58, Temba Bavuma has been South Africa’s leading run-scorer since the 2019 World Cup.

# Historically the ground in Lucknow has favoured the spinners and/or slower bowlers.

# Adam Zampa has the most wickets (77) among the participating nations since 2019.

Australia vs South Africa: World Cup predicted 11

Australia: Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wk), Cam Green, Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Qunton De Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Tabraiz Shamsi.

AUS vs SA: World Cup 2023 Dream11 team

Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen

Batters: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Temba Bavuma

All-rounders: Aiden Markram, Glenn Maxwell

Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, Adam Zampa, Tabraiz Shamsi

Captaincy options: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Starc

Potential swaps: Keshav Maharaj for Adam Zampa, Pat Cummins for Kagiso Rabada