Aussies make two changes for NZ clash

Australia have made two changes for their crucial Women’s World Cup clash against New Zealand, with spin twins Jess Jonassen and Amanda-Jade Wellington returning for the clash at Bristol's County Ground.

Left-arm spinner Jonassen returns after being rested for Australia’s win over Sri Lanka on Thursday due to a niggle, while leg-spinner Wellington will play her first match of the tournament after recovering from a finger injury, with teenage quick Belinda Vakarewa and leggie Kristen Beams making way for the pair.

New Zealand are unchanged from the side that faced Sri Lanka.

Australia will be drawing on their strong record against New Zealand, in what will be their first chance to properly assess where they are at compared to another tournament favourite.

The teams are very familiar foes, having met in two ODI series in the last two years while they also played an unofficial warm-up game in Southampton last month.

The Southern Stars have had the better of the White Ferns, winning both Rose Bowl series 2-1 and cruising to a 46-run win in Southampton, but matches between the teams are generally close fought contests and middle-order batter Elyse Villani is expecting more of the same on Sunday.

"There are no secrets between the two teams, but the most important thing is not thinking about them that much and making sure we’re working on the things we need to do well and executing our plans," Villani said on Saturday.

"Every time we play them it’s a fresh game and we always have a close competition between them. There’s a few games that could have gone the other way.

"We’re confident in ourselves as a team but we’re definitely not overly confident. We just try and take each game as it comes and making sure we’re doing what we need to do well."

Australia currently sit on top of the table, level with India on two wins apiece, while New Zealand – having split the points with the Proteas after their Leicester wash-out – are breathing down their necks in third spot.

"We’re pretty relaxed, which is good because that’s when we play our best cricket," Villani said of the mood in the Australian camp ahead of the crucial clash. 

"The girls are all ready to go, we had another god training session here today so we’re feeling really relaxed and ready to go tomorrow."

Australia’s trans-Tasman showdown with New Zealand will be televised live on Fox Sports, live streamed through the Nine Network’s 9Now service, while listeners can also tune into ABC Grandstand.

Australia XI: Bolton, Mooney, Lanning (c), Perry, Villani, Blackwell, Healy (wk), Jonassen, Wellington, Gardner, Schutt 

New Zealand XI: Bates (c), Priest (wk), Satterthwaite, Martin, Devine, Perkins, Peterson, Bermingham, Kerr, Tahuhu, Huddleston

Women's World Cup Guide

News, highlights and full schedule

Australia World Cup squad: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell (vc), Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

View every World Cup squad