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