Australia ready for a windy Wellington welcome

New Zealand are hoping windy Wellington's infamous southerly will give Australia a frosty reception when the trans-Tasman rivals meet in a World Cup blockbuster on Sunday.

Australia, who last played a one-day international at the Basin Reserve in 1999, trained under blue skies and with a light northerly breeze on Friday and Saturday, but are set to face much harsher conditions on Sunday with a forecast top of 17 degrees Celsius expected to combine with strong Antarctic winds.

It will add another dimension to the highly anticipated encounter and will require careful planning from Australia around who will be handed the unenviable task of bowling into the breeze.

"(The wind) is something we've certainly discussed as a batting group, and the bowling line-up as well, in terms of how we best play with it," Australia captain Meg Lanning said on Saturday.

"We likely won't get an early look at it today, which would have been ideal. But we'll just see what's in front of us tomorrow, adapt to the conditions and we feel like we've got some good plans in place if the wind does pick up."

Image Id: D0DB46D9F1FF41B4AAED149E088E70F3 Image Caption: A scene from a recent Test match at the Basin Reserve // Getty

Lanning remained coy when asked about the make-up of Australia's bowling attack, which is likely to change from the spin-heavy line-up that was deployed against Pakistan in Mount Maunganui last Tuesday.

Ashleigh Gardner joined the group on Saturday morning after being released from isolation and trained in the afternoon, but Lanning said her return to the XI would depend on how she gets through the session after recovering from COVID-19.

"If she's fit and feeling well, she'll come in," Lanning said.

"We've got pretty much a full squad to pick from, which is really exciting … it'll come down to match-ups and conditions, which we'll have a look at this afternoon."

Pace bowling allrounder Tahlia McGrath is also set to return after recovering from the sore heel that sidelined her against Pakistan, and quick Darcie Brown will also come into contention.

McGrath was one of the candidates called out by Australia coach Matthew Mott to tackle the job of bowling from the Vance Stand End on Sunday, alongside fellow pace bowler Megan Schutt and left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen.

"We've already talked about the ugly end and certain bowlers who are more suited to that ... we'll have to be really ahead of the game with those bowling changes and Meg's already across it," Mott said on Friday. 

"I'd expect some different combinations, probably some shorter stints as well, (because) bowling up into the wind for consecutive overs is going to be a tricky thing for any of the bowlers.

"There's certain shots that aren't on and you've got to take your medicine at one end (as a batter), and then put more pressure on at the other end when we're hitting with the wind. 

"(They're) basics that we take for granted, but this will make it even more obvious with the way that the wind does come from (the south)."

New Zealand last defeated Australia in an ODI in Auckland in early 2017 and have lost 12 consecutive matches since, but romped to a nine-wicket victory when the sides met in a warm-up game in Christchurch late last month.

The White Ferns also have an unfavourable record in one-dayers at the Basin, losing 10 of the 11 games they have played at the ground, but like Australia, the most recent of those was in 1999.

They have won three of four T20s there since 2016, and captain Sophie Devine, star allrounder Amelia Kerr and middle-order batter Maddy Green are all Wellington locals who are well accustomed to the venue.

"It's good to see Wellington has organised a nice fresh southerly for the Australians – I'm not too sure they're going to enjoy that too much," Green said on Saturday.

"It's usually a pretty good surface from a batting point of view. It could do a little bit with ball early on, but I think generally it's a really good batting surface so it should be a high-scoring game.

"We can't read too much into warm-up games, (but) it definitely gives us confidence. We know we've got a really strong team that can really challenge a great Australian side."

Devine and Kerr were unstoppable in that warm-up match, scoring 161no and 92no respectively, but Australia flagged in the aftermath they had kept a few tricks up their sleeve for the tournament proper.

"We've certainly done our homework and planning on (Devine and Kerr), but also on the whole team," Lanning said.

"You can't just focus on one or two players and forget about the rest, because they've got a very strong team with good depth.

"It's whoever plays the best on the day and is able to handle the big moments. We feel like we've done that well so far in this World Cup, but we're going to have to bring that tomorrow against a firing Kiwi line-up who are playing with confidence."

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: Beat England by 12 runs

Mar 8: Beat Pakistan by seven wickets

Mar 13: v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 15: v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports