Focus switches to Chappell-Hadlee Trophy
Match Facts
Start time 1400 (0100 GMT)
The Big Picture
Life in a more sedate lane will begin in Napier after a frenetic finish to the two-match Twenty20 series, which left everyone in New Zealand breathless after Sunday's Super Over victory. While the short affairs were leading to the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean late next month, the five ODIs for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy act as a more leisurely warm-up for the two Tests.
The hosts' triumph in Christchurch ended Australia's summer winning streak and gave Michael Clarke his first loss in charge of the Twenty20 team. Ricky Ponting and a few 50-over reinforcements have arrived and will try to replicate the form that led to convincing series wins against Pakistan and West Indies at home.
New Zealand's last engagement in this format was a 3-0 success over Bangladesh and they are on a five-game winning streak, but they face a step up in class. After one poor Twenty20 in Wellington they showed they can eyeball Australia and if Brendon McCullum inspires his team-mates to fire the contest could be even.
Form guide (most recent first)
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Watch out for...
Tim Southee missed the first Twenty20 but starred in the second with a series of nerveless yorkers that even managed to restrict the rampaging Cameron White. Southee is only 21 but the performance showed he is a classy operator and he has asked to be used during the Powerplays in the ODIs. With Shane Bond the attack leader, New Zealand need someone like Southee to build pressure throughout his 10 overs.
Ricky Ponting has had to get used to regular periods away from his side since retiring from the Twenty20 outfit last year. He got to Napier before the majority of the squad and will be keen to stamp his influence on the series. The last time he batted at McLean Park his 141 off 127 balls raced Australia to 347 for 5. Given Ponting's recent troubles with the short ball, his battle with Bond, who has dismissed him six times in 10 ODIs, will be essential viewing.
Team news
New Zealand have two new faces from their Twenty20 unit, with Scott Styris available to beef up the batting order with Neil Broom. The hosts have their usual dilemma over whether to include two spinners or call on an extra seamer. Daryl Tuffey was left out on Sunday so he is not weighed down by the carnage caused by Australia as they equalled New Zealand's 214 in 20 overs.New Zealand (possible) 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Peter Ingram, 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Scott Styris, 6 Jacob Oram, 7 James Franklin, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Tim Southee, 10 Shane Bond, 11 Daryl Tuffey.
Australia's squad has undergone a makeover with the arrival of Ponting, Doug Bollinger, James Hopes, Clint McKay and Adam Voges. Expect Ponting and Bollinger to come back in, while Hopes is also likely to figure. There is no Shaun Marsh, who is not being replaced after a back injury ruled him out, so Brad Haddin should keep his spot at the top with Shane Watson.
Australia (possible) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Cameron White, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 James Hopes, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Doug Bollinger.
Pitch and conditions
Napier is a ground that is usually full of runs and a good pitch is expected along with a crowd of between 8,000 and 10,000, which would make it about three-quarters full. A maximum of 27C is forecast and conditions should become sunny later in the day.
Stats and trivia
- Shane Bond averages 14.45 against Australia, having taken 35 wickets in 12 games, and it is his best mean against major nations. His career average is an impressive 20.87 over 77 ODIs.
- Michael Hussey's average over 10 ODIs in New Zealand is 122.33, including a top score of 105
- In 118 ODIs against Australia, New Zealand have won 32 and lost 81
- The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy has been contested five times: Australia lead 2-1 with two drawn campaigns
- There have been three New Zealand-Australia games in Napier and Australia have been successful in two of them
Quotes
"They're in their home country, they're on their home turf, they'll be really hard to beat. They have a very good one-day side, a very dangerous side."
Cameron White
"I'm not too worried about wearing one - until everyone talks about it happening. It's just an instinct thing. The way the game is going now, you've got to be able to access that area behind the keeper. As good as bowlers are now at hitting their yorkers, you've got to have some sort of method to counter them."
Brendon McCullum on the philosophy behind his "McScoop" over or past the wicketkeeperPeter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo
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