NZ inspired by Chappell/Hadlee series, 2010

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Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, 2010 : Aussies chase series win Australia is out for a series win when it heads back to Auckland for the fourth one-dayer against the Kiwis at Eden Park. More... Aussies chase series win 10/03/2010 Angus Morgan The Australians return to Auckland for Thursday's 4th one day international against New Zealand with their focus fixed firmly on a win that will secure a series victory and allow them to retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. The confident tourists lead the five-match series 2-1, following Tuesday's comfortable six-wicket win in Hamilton. An eager Tasmanian skipper George Bailey will be champing at the bit to make his ODI debut after being called-up in place of vice-captain Michael Clarke who's returned home to Australia on compassionate leave. And seamer Ryan Harris, who claimed 3-48 in Hamilton, is sure to be on a high after being named in Australia's 14-man squad to contest the two-Test series starting at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday week. The Australians will have a good idea of what to expect at Eden Park, having defeated the Black caps there by 12 runs in game two last Saturday coming off the hosts' first-up win in Napier. Skipper Ricky Ponting was delighted with his team's form in Hamilton, in particular Brad Haddin's 110, his ODI personal-best and the platform on which the Aussies' successful run-chase was built. But Ponting will be taking nothing for granted in Auckland. "This game changes very quickly and we can't afford to think this'll happen again on Thursday," he said. "We've played our best cricket (in Hamilton) so the momentum, if there's any, is obviously with us." The Black Caps appear likely to recast their batting order with opener Peter Ingram, who has made 40, 14 and five in the series, a strong chance to make way. That would potentially mean a move up the order for New Zealand's cleanest hitters and the batsmen Australia respect most, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris and skipper Daniel Vettori. Taylor top-scored in Hamilton with a punishing 62, while Styris has amassed 126 runs in the series at an average of 62 batting at No.6. Australia has won 10 of the 15 ODI matches it's played against New Zealand at Eden Park since the first meeting there in February, 1982. Oddly-shaped like a baseball diamond, Eden Park tends to produce wickets that assist slow and spin bowlers. The weather forecast for Auckland on Thursday is for cloudy periods with evening showers and a top temperature of 24 degrees.

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Cricket: Vettori slams batsmen after losing fourth ODI and the series New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori slammed his batsmen for their soft dismissals which handed Australia the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy on a platter. More... Vettori slams batsmen for familiar blunders Published: Friday March 12, 2010 Source: NZPA New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori slammed his batsmen for their soft dismissals which handed Australia the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy on a platter. After a flying start at 120 for one in the 20th over, New Zealand's batsmen imploded to be dismissed for 238 off 44.1 overs at Eden Park as Australia cantered to a six-wicket victory in their rain-reduced target with 17 balls to spare. It sealed them the series 3-1 with Saturday's fifth ODI to spare. Said Vettori: "They were the same mistakes as the previous two games and it's really hard to expand on. "It was about not putting enough runs on the board, losing wickets at crucial times and putting ourselves under far too much pressure. When you do that against Australia you get yourself in trouble. "Most of the dismissals were relatively soft. They're just poor mistakes and whether it is the mental shift from aggressiveness to accumulation I'm not sure. They're mistakes that shouldn't happen." Despite failing to bat out their overs for a second straight match, the Duckworth-Lewis calculation method assisted New Zealand as the tourists were assigned a target of 200 off 34 overs. Vettori (2-29) and Shane Bond (1-28) were both on song but Tim Southee went for 55 off 5.1 overs while Daryl Tuffey and James Franklin also suffered with the ball. "It's a funny system (Duckworth-Lewis). I said after the second game that I didn't quite understand it. It gave us an opportunity," Vettori said. "Bondy and myself put some pressure on with the ball but we couldn't maintain it from both ends and that really hurts against Australia." Victorious captain Ricky Ponting admitted he thought his side had been dudded by the 90-minute rain delay but on Eden Park's small boundaries a run rate of around six an over was comfortable. "I actually thought it (calculation) might have been wrong... that was about 30 runs too many," he said. "It shows none of those equations will ever be perfect. We probably needed to be rewarded more for having bowled them out in 44 overs. "But when you're chasing 200 off 34 over on a ground like that, 200 in a Twenty20 game's probably a good score out here." Australia retained the trophy for a third consecutive series and Ponting said it at last banished the memory of the 0-3 hiding they received in New Zealand in 2007. "It doesn't matter how many games you've played in between, you always remember the last series, especially if it's a losing one. That was on the eve of the World Cup and we were thoroughly outplayed. "With little time between the games it's been a good effort from us to turn things around and in the last two games play our best two."

[thevortex]

Good on Australia to maintain their winning run despite a new look side. But they need better sides to test their strength on than Pakistan, West Indies or New Zealand, honestly.

[graphic23]

They won 4-2 in India with several players injured.

[thevortex]

Still creditable, graphic23. But my contention is that Australia is a side in decline. That is not to say that they are going the West Indies way. Decline in Aussie terms and scale, lets say.

[Bradman99]

Good on Australia to maintain their winning run despite a new look side. But they need better sides to test their strength on than Pakistan' date=' West Indies or New Zealand, honestly.[/quote'] New Zealand are one of the better sides.. India we beat 4-2 in India without key players.. England we whitewashed 5-0.. The only other 2 teams are South Africa and Sri Lanka really.

[Bradman99]

Still creditable' date=' graphic23. But my contention is that Australia is a side in decline. That is not to say that they are going the West Indies way. Decline in Aussie terms and scale, lets say.[/quote'] I think we were, but now we are on the way back up. For ODI's at least.

[thevortex]

I am glad you are keeping your hopes up, Bradman99. But I see this squad struggling hugely when Ponting decides to step down. And Mike Hussey is not getting younger. That bowling attack you have is really not up to it. I am talking of Test matches in particular, but ODIs are not too far behind. See, in Kolkata South Africa slept at the wheel and did their usual deer-in-the-headlights choke thing to fail and India got to No. 1 ranking. It would be futile for India to claim that they had mastered South Africa at home. And it would be an empty statement. The same way, Australia did beat India 4-2 in that ODI series recently. But that alone is not an indication of their mastery in all conditions with the current set of players.

[thevortex]

By the way, New Zealand are a pathetic batting side. The only side they rouse themselves up for is Australia owing to their bitter rivalry. As otherwise, they are a bowling-only team. Unfortunate, but true.

[Bradman99]

I am glad you are keeping your hopes up, Bradman99. But I see this squad struggling hugely when Ponting decides to step down. And Mike Hussey is not getting younger. That bowling attack you have is really not up to it. I am talking of Test matches in particular, but ODIs are not too far behind. See, in Kolkata South Africa slept at the wheel and did their usual deer-in-the-headlights choke thing to fail and India got to No. 1 ranking. It would be futile for India to claim that they had mastered South Africa at home. And it would be an empty statement. The same way, Australia did beat India 4-2 in that ODI series recently. But that alone is not an indication of their mastery in all conditions with the current set of players.

Ponting retiring will be a blow but he's not irreplacable. He can be replaced, maybe the player coming in won't have the same effect but it will be a good player. It will most likely be White moving up to number 3 and Ferguson down to Clarke's position. This is the way I see the future one day side: Marsh/Warner/Hughes Watson White Clarke Ferguson Haddin Smith Johnson Hauritz Harris/Bracken/Lee/Hilfy/McKay/Nannes Bollinger I'm still leaving out a lot of potential future players as well. It's not all doom & gloom. India will soon lose its best players also.

[thevortex]

Oh, India sure will, Bradman99 and that is why I am concerned at Dhoni's tactics and the way the Indian press and 'experts' section refuse to constructively criticize the team if they manage to squeeze out a last gasp victory. About Australia, like I said, I am not convinced about the quality and the depth in the squad you have put together there. Lets see how they go in the next 2 major Test series away from home. Then we can get back to discuss.

[Ram]

The Kiwis are suffering from a acute shortage of world class batting talent. Just look at the sheer number batsmen they've tried. At this rate, almost every FC batsmen will also be an ex-NZ player. If they're serious about staying competitive in the world stage, they should do an England and look to import players from other nations, else this could become a sorrow tale for the next 15-20 years. I think NZ is going to suffer badly in WC '11.

[Watson87]

I wouldn't take the Kiwis lightly, they have always reached the semis. The team deserves some respect. We shouldn't be talking about a young team with talented players like that. Some of their key players are missing, when they come back they will definitely look strong. Also, remember we have beaten the Kiwis they were missing their spearhead Bond, or else the result would have been different. The Kiwis will reach the semis in World Cup 2011. They always look like a stronger unit during World Cup times. I am backing them up.

[Karan114]

I wouldn't take the Kiwis lightly' date=' they have always reached the semis. The team deserves some respect.[/quote'] Well they reached the final of the Champions Trophy and the semi-final of the last World Cup while we couldn't even make it past the first round of either.

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NZ bowlers deliver unlikely victory in 5th and final ODI vs Australia A sublime bowling and fielding performance has compensated for further poor top order batting in New Zealand's 51-run victory in the final Chappell-Hadlee Trophy match against Australia. More... Cricket: Bowlers deliver unlikely victory By Andrew Alderson Sunday Mar 14, New Zealand celebrate Ricky Ponting's controversial dismissal. Photo / Getty Images Shrink New Zealand celebrate Ricky Ponting's controversial dismissal. Photo / Getty ImagesA sublime bowling and fielding performance has compensated for further poor top order batting in New Zealand's 51-run victory in the final Chappell-Hadlee Trophy match against Australia. After posting 241 for 9, the Black Caps dismissed the visitors for 190 in 46.1 overs to take the dead rubber. The Kiwi batsmen will thank their bowlers, particularly Tim Southee and Shane Bond, after New Zealand's total came on a wicket and ground that suggested at least 280 runs might be required. The Black Caps' objective of completing their allotment of overs for the second time in the series was achieved but, after losing half their wickets by the 32nd over, it was a case of stretching resources rather than dictating with any level of comfort. The fact Daryl Tuffey's 36 was the second top score in successive matches says plenty for the team's current inability to set totals. However, it was backed up by bowling partnerships and dynamic fielding. Bond bowled with venom to take 4 for 26 from 9.1 overs and Southee responded well from an expensive last couple of games with 4 for 36 from nine. Captain Daniel Vettori says the whole attack helped create the necessary restrictions: "Once again we put ourselves under pressure with the bat but even Daryl Tuffey and Nathan McCullum gave us something to defend as the wicket slowed up. It makes you think about opportunities missed [this series] but gives us confidence going into the test matches and World Cup." The Black Caps were also helped by a shocking decision from home umpire Gary Baxter. He dispatched Ricky Ponting for a first-ball duck from a Bond bouncer that sconed him on the helmet. Even Bond smiled sheepishly. "How long have you got?" Ponting smiled when asked to reflect on it. "That's the game, though. You could argue four or five decisions went against us but being 72 for 4 after 20 overs wasn't enough." Vettori was unrepentant: "I didn't complain about it in the last game [when decisions didn't go NZ's way]. It is swings and roundabouts." Ponting's exit put Australia in the difficult position of 27 for 2 in the seventh over - from which they never fully recovered. It is the first time in six years of this series that New Zealand has won batting first. Another crucial period for the Black Caps was when Australia's required run-rate hit eight per over at the end of the 37th over. They took the batting power play in the 39th with Michael Hussey at the wicket, only to lose one of the game's best finishers three balls in for 46 due to late Southee swing through his legs. Any thundering words in the Black Caps review on Friday about a less aggressive approach to early one-day batting came at the cost of three early wickets for 32 runs. The circumspect start did New Zealand no favours with Australia bowling tightly. Scott Styris again proved his worth with the bat, returning to the five slot, making 55 from 66 deliveries. His cuts, paddles, sweeps, checked drives and drop-and-runs saw him reach his first half century having scored only 14 runs in boundaries, one of those being a six over cow corner to bring up the milestone. Styris used soft hands to pick gaps while scampering between the stumps with Ross Taylor and Vettori. Fifty-run partnerships for the fourth and fifth wickets dragged the Black Caps through to 153 for 5 but Vettori's exit for 28 left them floundering. Gareth Hopkins again made a good start with 26 at almost a run-a-ball but given the chance to cement his place with a maiden one-day half-century, he failed to do so. Another late flurry from Tuffey helped salvage the total but the tendency to stumble remains when sent in. "I think if we reflect back on the series, especially the second match in Auckland, where we failed to win after restricting Australia to 273, it is going to haunt us," Vettori said. "But there are some pleasing things like taking two games off Australia. Not a lot of teams have done that recently." Andrew Alderson

[Ram]

And Shane Bond's incredible run against the Aussies continue. If you're wowed by his overall ODI career numbers, just wait to till you get see his numbers against Australia (44 wickets in 17 matches at an ave. of 15)

[Watson87]

And Shane Bond's incredible run against the Aussies continue. If you're wowed by his overall ODI career numbers' date=' just wait to till you get see his numbers against Australia (44 wickets in 17 matches at an ave. of 15)[/quote'] Yup Australian whole line up is Bond's Bunny, he's a classy bowler.