AUS vs AFG: Australia playing XI vs Afghanistan, Match 39, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – Predicted

Australia will face Afghanistan in match No. 39 of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Tuesday.

Despite losing the first two games of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Australia made a stunning comeback in the tournament. Since then, they have not lost a single game. Australia, with ten points, are sitting at third place on the points table and are just one win away from a place in the semi-finals.

They will face Afghanistan in their next game on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Australia will enter the game as favorites to win, but Afghanistan are also playing some good cricket and have won three games on the trot. Here, we will talk about the predicted playing XI for Australia against Afghanistan on Tuesday.

AUS vs AFG: Australia's Predicted playing XI vs Afghanistan

1. David Warner :

David Warner has been at his best because he knows that this could be his last World Cup. He is playing without any pressure and scoring runs at will. The left-hander has scored 428 runs at an average and strike rate of 61.14 and 111.74. He has already scored two hundreds and needs one more century to equal Rohit Sharma's record for most World Cup hundreds, and we might see it on Tuesday.

2. Travis Head :

Travis Head will be the most destructive batter at the top for Australia because he can take the opposition bowlers apart. He knows one way, and that is to hit the ball out of the park. Head is expected to do something similar to what he did against New Zealand in Dharamsala, and if he gets into that mode, he will take the game away from Afghanistan's reach.

3. Mitchell Marsh:

Mitchell Marsh left the tournament and missed the game against England. But he joined the team on Sunday and is expected to be back in the playing XI. He was in good form and scored 225 runs at 37.50. Marsh is a destructive batter and can take the momentum of the openers forward to take the score to a big total.

4. Steve Smith :

We haven't seen the best of Steve Smith so far in this tournament. He has scored 205 runs at 29.28, which is below his standards, but he has gotten some starts in this tournament. But he will be a key player against Afghan spinners, and Australia will want him to stay on the crease and play an anchor role.

5. Marnus Labuschagne :

Marnus Labuschagne has been among the runs in this tournament. He is a good player of spin which will help him against Afghanistan, which depends a lot on their spinners. Labuschagne has scored 272 runs at an average of 38.85 with two half-centuries and has looked good so far. He will look to do well and take his team to the semis.

6. Josh Inglis (wk) :

Josh Inglis has been used as a pinch-hitter in this line-up. That is a very good way of using a player like him. He has scored 138 runs at a strike rate of 111.01 and likes to score in tough situations. Inglis can be a surprise package because if he can take on Afghanistan spinners, they will be under pressure right away.

7. Marcus Stoinis :

Marcus Stoinis is in the team to score some quick runs and bowl tough overs in the middle, which he has been doing pretty well so far. Stoinis has played four games, but he made an impact in a few of them. Stoinis makes the batting depth stronger with his ability to play quick cameos. He can also be a pretty useful bowler in Mumbai against Afghanistan.

8. Pat Cummins (c) :

Pat Cummins' role will be very important because of the way he has led the team since taking over the captaincy. Being a pacer, he will be looking to get some breakthroughs in the middle overs. Cummins has taken ten wickets so far in this tournament. He has also scored some good runs with the bat, which makes him a complete cricketer in crunch situations.

9. Mitchell Starc :

Though Mitchell Starc hasn't looked as threatening as he has over the years, he is still the biggest threat to the opposition. A good spell with the new ball can demolish any batting-order. The left-arm pacer has been superb in his career so far. He has taken 9 wickets in this tournament and will look to take some early wickets with the new ball.

10. Adam Zampa :

Adam Zampa has been superb for Australia, and one prime reason is that they have won five games on the trot. The leg spinner has most wickets in this tournament, and he is consistently taking wickets in the middle overs. Zampa has taken 19 wickets at a strike rate of 18.63, and if the pitch assists him, Afghanistan will be in big trouble.

11. Josh Hazlewood :

Josh Hazlewood has done his job quietly so far. He has been pretty effective with the new ball and restricted the batters from scoring big in the powerplay. Hazlewood has taken ten wickets so far and will aim to deliver another impactful spell against Afghanistan, which can take his team to victory.