Australia vs. Scotland: Date, Live Stream, TV Info, Cricket World Cup Preview
Australia will be big favourites to secure second spot in Pool A when they take on a struggling Scotland team in Hobart.
After a stuttering start to the tournament, the co-hosts are back at full tilt following on from comfortable victories over Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. But it’s imperative they get the job done here against the Pool B whipping boys in order to give themselves the best chance possible of making it past the quarter-final stage.
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Aside from their narrow defeat to Afghanistan earlier in the tournament, there’s been little to suggest that Scotland are capable of making this a competitive affair, but in Josh Davey they have a man who has been one of the most prolific wicket-takers at the World Cup so far.
However, there has been some turbulence in the camp of late, per BBC Test Match Special:
With Australia already assured of qualification, can the Scots spring an enormous surprise? Here’s all the information you need on where to catch this clash and a closer examination of both teams on the cusp of this fixture at the Bellerive Oval.
Date: Saturday, Mar. 14
Time: 3:30 a.m. (GMT), 11:30 p.m. (ET, Mar. 3), 2:30 p.m. (local)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), ESPN Cricket 2015 (US)
TV Info: Sky Sports 2 (UK)
Australia Out to Cement Second Spot
The co-hosts secured a very important win against Sri Lanka in their previous match in what was their first major test since that heartbreaking one-wicket loss to New Zealand. Their batting was explosive, dynamic and refined, in the field they were sharp and with the ball, Michael Clarke has an array of options to call upon.
Australia look like a fine outfit, but their star man at the tournament so far has been Glenn Maxwell. He smashed the second fastest century in the history of the World Cup during that triumph over Sri Lanka and the impetus he gives this team at the end of an innings is almost incomparable anywhere in the world game.
As we can see here courtesy of Cricket Record, the pace at which Maxwell scores is absolutely sensational:
There’s a possibility he may not even get a chance in this one, though. The Australian top order will be hoping to tuck in and get some runs on the board against a mediocre Scotland bowling attack. Subsequently, the opening pair of Aaron Finch and David Warner will have a key role to play in Hobart.
Warner is definitely a man who will fancy his chances of bagging a few after his blistering innings against Afghanistan. As we can see here courtesy of the ICC, he set a new record with that 178, but in the face of classier bowling at this competition, he’s not quite been able to get it right:
While the Scots lost an extremely tight match against their fellow Associate nation earlier in the tournament, they definitely have a more refined bowling attack than Afghanistan.
The man leading by example Down Under so far has been the relatively unknown Josh Davey, who moved to 14 wickets for the competition after taking three for 63—including Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene—against Sri Lanka.
As noted here by Sky Sports HQ, that effort pushed him above some illustrious names to the summit of the wicket-takers standings:
Davey has been a bright spark in an otherwise disappointing tournament for the Associate nation, though. They’ve not really ruffled the feathers of any of their more illustrious opponents and while nobody expects Scotland to win this match against Australia, as noted by Cricbuzz, they need to show they're worthy of a spot in upcoming World Cups:
But Australia are notoriously ruthless and even though their place in the last eight is guaranteed, if their players sense an opportunity to pick up wickets or smash runs, they aren’t going to let it slip.
For Scotland, that spells trouble. After the Baggy Greens piled on the runs in their previous two matches, if the Scots lose the toss in Hobart, they could be looking at a gargantuan chase.
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