Match: 10th Match, One-Day Cup (Australia) 2025-26
Date: Monday, October 20, 2025
Time: 4:00 AM (Local Time)
Venue: Junction Oval (CitiPower Centre), Melbourne
Toss: Not yet available
Series: Dean Jones Trophy / One-Day Cup (Australia)
Umpires: Stephen Dionysius, Troy Penman
Match Referee: Bob Parry
Expected Playing XIs
Victoria (Likely XI)
Source: Cricket Victoria official squad announcement
- Peter Handscomb
- Sam Harper (Wicketkeeper)
- Xavier Crone
- Will Sutherland (Captain)
- Thomas Rogers
- Todd Murphy
- Sam Elliott
- Cameron McClure
- Campbell Kellaway
- Fergus O’Neill
- Harry Dixon
Other squad members: Austin Anlezark, Oliver Peake
New South Wales (Likely XI)
Source: Cricket NSW official squad announcement
- Sam Konstas
- Oliver Davies
- Kurtis Patterson
- Matthew Gilkes (Wicketkeeper)
- Moises Henriques
- Jack Edwards (Captain)
- Chris Green
- Charlie Stobo
- Liam Hatcher
- Tanveer Sangha
- Ryan Hadley
Other squad members: Jake Scott (rookie), Lachlan Shaw
Note: Sean Abbott was ruled out due to a hand injury. Jake Scott has been named as his replacement and could make his List A debut.
Players to Watch
| Player | Team | Role | Why Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Sutherland | Victoria | All-rounder | Returns from Australia A duties, captain leading the side |
| Sam Elliott | Victoria | Bowler | Took 14 wickets at 23.28 average last season, returning from Australia A |
| Todd Murphy | Victoria | Bowler | Back from Australia A, experienced spinner |
| Sam Konstas | New South Wales | Batter | Young talent with Australia A experience |
| Kurtis Patterson | New South Wales | Batter | Recently scored century, in good form |
| Jack Edwards | New South Wales | All-rounder | Captain returning from Australia A series |
| Chris Green | New South Wales | All-rounder | Led NSW to recent win with all-round performance |
| Tanveer Sangha | New South Wales | Bowler | Returning from Australia A, quality leg-spinner |
Pitch Report & Weather
Pitch Conditions:
Junction Oval offers a balanced surface that helps both batsmen and bowlers. The pitch provides good bounce and consistency, making it batting-friendly for stroke play. Teams batting first have historically done well at this venue, winning both List A matches played here.
Weather Forecast:
Melbourne weather in October can be unpredictable. Conditions may be partly cloudy with possible showers. Temperature expected around 19°C. Rain interruptions are possible, so both teams should be prepared for changing conditions throughout the day.
What to Expect
This match is part of the Hodge-Matthews Cup, which is contested across Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup matches between Victoria and New South Wales. Victoria recently won a thrilling 38-run Sheffield Shield victory against NSW, giving them momentum coming into this fixture.
Both teams will field strengthened lineups with players returning from Australia A duties. Victoria welcomes back captain Will Sutherland, Sam Elliott, Harry Dixon, and Todd Murphy. NSW has Jack Edwards, Sam Konstas, and Tanveer Sangha returning to the squad.
The match could be affected by weather, so the team winning the toss might prefer to bat first to avoid chasing under pressure if rain reduces overs. Both teams have strong bowling attacks and experienced middle-order batters who can build innings.
Victoria will look to continue their winning form against NSW, while the Blues will be eager to bounce back after their Sheffield Shield loss. The return of key players makes this an evenly matched contest.
Match Prediction
This promises to be a close contest. Victoria has home advantage and recent winning momentum, but NSW has a well-balanced squad with quality in all departments. The team that handles the pressure better and adapts to conditions will likely come out on top.
Verdict: Victoria slight favorites due to home conditions and recent form, but expect a competitive match.