Rain continues to be a threat as buoyant New Zealand take on Australia

It is turning out to be quite a damp squib in Dharamsala. Only two of the six games played here were unaffected by rain. There's a very good chance that it will remain just two even after the game between Australia and New Zealand here tomorrow (March 18). Both teams managed to practice only indoors a day ahead of the game. Australia had it a little better and enjoyed a spell of on-ground training on Wednesday (March 17) but New Zealand did not have that luxury.

They would go into the day of the match without having had a look at the pitch. Australia are definitely luckier on that count. But it cannot be dismissed that New Zealand will be high on confidence having beaten India in Nagpur. They have the rather unflattering reputation of being dark horses in tournaments such as these but after that victory, that reputation would be tilting towards contenders.

This is not the kind of setting that Australia would have hoped for to kickstart their ICC World T20 campaign. It's probably everything that they wouldn't have liked - facing a team on a high, in damp conditions in what is likely to be a rain-hit game. Shortened games are a lottery in this format and in a strange way that could actually even the odds. But for the fans, organisers and everyone involved in setting up the game here in Dharamsala, it amounts to shortchange.

After the shift of the India-Pakistan game to Kolkata, this was their big one and they like many others will be looking over the mountains and into the skies, praying not to see more clouds shifting in. If the game ends with split-points then it throws another dimension into the qualification scenarios but neither team will want that, not particularly two teams who have a historical sporting rivalry. Everything else points to a lip-smacking contest, if only the weather permits. If only.

When: Australia vs New Zealand, 18 March, Group 2 - 03:00 PM IST

Where: HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

What to expect: A lot of prayers from all concerned for the rain to stay away and let the cricket happen.

Team News:

Australia:

There aren't any major injury concerns for Australia. Their main focus will be to get the team balance right. Steve Smith reckons that the Dharamsala pitch will be a turner. So expect more spinners to be deployed. Both Ashton Agarand Adam Zampa will probably have a big role to play along with Glenn Maxwell. If it is a shortened game then there are likely to be changes in the batting order as well. Australia experimented with David Warner in the middle-order recently against South Africa. But he could shift right back if the innings was to last just around ten overs.

New Zealand:

Their team combination and the gutsy move to drop Tim Southee and Trent Boult for a match against India hit the headlines, particularly after it paid off. A lot of attention will be focussed on what Mike Hesson and Kane Williamson come up with in Dharamsala. Steve Smith second-guessed that they will go in with three spinners again but Ross Taylor pointed out that the boundaries in Dharamsala are a lot shorter than in Nagpur. Add that the ball travels faster and further in this altitude, we may well see one of the three spin heroes sitting out.

What they said:

Steve Smith:

We haven't picked a team yet. We are waiting. We don't know what's going to happen with the weather. There are a few variables there so we are going to wait and see. We are not set on the team for each game. We could chop and change a bit. The guys have to be flexible throughout the tournament and I think it will take all fifteen of us if we have to win it

Ross Taylor:

Anytime you play Australia, they are our big brother I guess. They have a lot of success against us in a few games but at the same time I'd like to think, in the Trans-Tasman rivalry we get the bar up and get the best out of players here. Whatever happened 12 months ago is gone and this is a new team that is looking forward to play in bigger matches.

Did you know:

Australia have beaten New Zealand in four of the five T20Is they played against each other. The other one ended in a tie and New Zealand prevailed in the Super Over.

This is the first time Australia are playing New Zealand in World T20. On the other hand, they have faced each other in every edition of the 50-over World Cup since 1987.

Colin Munro hits a six every 8.79 balls in T20Is - the best among all with a minimum of 15 career sixes. Glenn Maxwell has the best rate for Australia (11.59 balls per six).

Squads:

Australia:

Steven Smith, Ashton Agar, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Shane Watson, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood, Aaron Finch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, David Warner

New Zealand:

Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Trent Boult, Nathan McCullum, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee