Australia vs Afghanistan
Australia begin their Cricket World Cup defence against Afghanistan, the lowest-ranked team in this tournament, yet a side who possess several players with enormous talent. In theory, this is the easiest possible start to the tournament for Australia. In practice, it could become hard work for the defending champions if Afghanistan’s battalion of fine spinners find their groove. Key strategy: Afghanistan’s trio of spinners will try to choke Australia Afghanistan look certain to play three frontline spinners against Australia, a team which has often faltered against slow bowlers in ODI cricket in recent years. England and India have both successfully used multiple spinners to stall the Australian batting in the middle overs over the past 18 months. Afghanistan will know this strategy is their most obvious path to an upset and they have just the spinners to execute this tactic. In leg spinning prodigy Rashid Khan, mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and veteran off-spinner Mohammad