New Zealand aim to wrap up series
Preview of the third Chappell-Hadlee Series match in Sydney
Match facts
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Start time 2.15pm (03.15 GMT)
The Big Picture
It would be easy, in the patronising Australian way, to say New Zealand are on the verge of their biggest triumph over their Trans-Tasman brothers for years. It would be wrong. The last time New Zealand were 2-0 up in the Chappell-Hadlee Series was in 2007 and they quickly wrapped up the series even though Matthew Hayden blasted 181.ODI form guide
Australia - LLLLLNew Zealand - WWWNW
Team news
Ricky Ponting is back after his two-match rest was halved and the captain will provide some spark to the troubled order. Australia will wait until shortly before the game to finalise their side, but David Warner's position is vulnerable following some subdued performances. It would not be a surprise if Brad Haddin moved to open along with Michael Clarke, who did the job well on Friday. Clarke is expected to be fit after an Iain O'Brien yorker struck his left foot in Melbourne, and his bowling will be needed as there is no specialist spinner in the 13-man squad. Shaun Tait has left the squad due to a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury and been replaced by Ryan Harris.Watch out for ...
Mitchell Johnson has had an exhausting summer but must lift if Australia are to avoid the embarrassment of a series defeat with two matches still remaining. While nobody has worked harder for the team this season, Johnson has to step up when the side needs him most if he wants to be the long-term leader. In five matches since his return from a rest he has four wickets at 69.75 and an economy rate of 5.69.Pitch & conditions
In the west of Sydney the temperatures are expected to reach 44C, but fortunately for the players and spectators the SCG is much closer to the water, and it should be ten degrees cooler. However, Stuart Karppinen, Australia's strength and conditioning coach, will feed the players slurpies from his frozen drink machine before the game, cooling them from the inside out. It was something the country's Olympic athletes did to counter the heat in Beijing.Stats and trivia
- Australia will drop to fourth in the ODI rankings with two more losses in this series
- New Zealand have outscored Australia in the batting Powerplay, taking 71 runs over the first two games to Australia's 56. Australia are slightly ahead during the bowling Powerplay with 28 to the tourists' 22
- In 20 ODIs between the teams at the SCG, Australia have won 12 and New Zealand six
Quotes
"I still look at the Australian side with a lot of awe. I've played against them a lot and lost a lot of games against them. I know they're a team that will bounce back."Daniel Vettori
Michael Clarke
Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo