Australia wins the toss and bowls in the 1st Twenty20 international against New Zealand

By Canadian Press on October 1, 2025.

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand (AP) — Australia has won the toss and chosen to bowl Wednesday in the first of three Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

All three matches will be played over four days at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui southeast of Auckland.

The match marks the earliest start to an international season in New Zealand and commemorates the first T20 match between New Zealand and Australia 20 years ago.

The series is also part of both teams’ build-up to next year’s T20 World Cup.

Both New Zealand and Australia have long injury lists, exacerbated when Rachin Ravindra suffered a gashed face and Glenn Maxwell a broken wrist in training this week.

New Zealand allrounder Ravindra collided with an advertising board while fielding and Australia’s Maxwell was hit while bowling in the nets. Both will miss the entire series.

Australia is also missing Pat Cummins with a back injury, Josh Inglis with a calf strain and Nathan Green while New Zealand is without captain Mitchell Santner, Kane Williamson, allrounder Glenn Phillip and fast bowlers Will O’Rourke and Lockie Ferguson.

Kyle Jamieson returned to the New Zealand pace attack Wednesday, joining Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes.

Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh will open the batting for Australia, followed by Matt Short and Tim David.

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Lineups:

New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Devon Conway, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell (captain), Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.

Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Matt Short, Tim David, Alex Carey, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Owen, Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The Associated Press