Australia look to new faces for spark

February 5, 2009

Match facts
Friday, February 6
Start time 2.15pm (03.15 GMT)


The Big Picture

The occasional one-off incident aside, Australia and New Zealand share a strong cricketing relationship and encounters between the teams are generally friendly. Unfortunately, one of those out-of-the-ordinary occurrences came up at the WACA on Sunday, when Brad Haddin's gloves appeared to knock the bail off when Neil Broom was adjudged bowled. It has sparked a vigorous to-and-fro and while both teams want to put it behind them, it is yet to be seen whether tensions will remain in the second match at the MCG.

If there can be one positive from the incident from Australia's perspective it is that it has overshadowed the fact that Australia are 1-0 down and in a serious slump after losing 4-1 to South Africa. They will need to turn their form around without their two leading run scorers over the past six games. Shaun Marsh hurt his hamstring during Sunday's loss and the captain Ricky Ponting is being forced to rest ahead of the Test tour of South Africa. Australia have two fresh faces, including one potential debutant, and it all adds up to a less-than-convincing argument for a team aiming to level the series.

New Zealand were impressive in the field in Perth, where Kyle Mills was a capable spearhead and picked up four wickets, while Iain O'Brien made a strong return to the format and Daniel Vettori began his 31st year with a typically tight performance. The concern for New Zealand was a lack of fluency in their batting and apart from Ross Taylor, nobody looked like dominating the Australians. That will work chasing a small total but it will be hard to win the series unless some of the other batsmen stand up.


ODI form guide

Australia - LLLLW
New Zealand - WWNWL



Team news

There is no Marsh and no Ponting from the Perth line-up and after a disappointing batting display, Australia will be tempted to include both of their replacements in the starting side for the sake of change. The Western Australia batsman Adam Voges has experience of this opposition after playing his only ODI in Hamilton nearly two years ago and he will be an especially attractive choice as he offers another part-time spin option. The South Australia batsman Callum Ferguson, 24, is a strong chance to debut having scored 81, 115 and 89 at the MCG this week. Australia's other decision is who should take Marsh's opening spot and the strongest contender is Michael Hussey, who opened in the first ODI against South Africa. However Clarke said any of four men - himself, Hussey, James Hopes or Haddin - could partner David Warner.

Australia (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Michael Hussey, 3 Michael Clarke (capt), 4 Callum Ferguson, 5 Adam Voges, 6 David Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 James Hopes, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Shaun Tait.

It's always hard to change a winning side but New Zealand's hit-and-miss batting at the WACA will bring Craig Cumming into consideration for the second game. Cumming is a sturdy opener who would add solidity to the top order but he is probably more suited to the longer format and has not played an ODI since Australia visited New Zealand in 2004-05. If Cumming plays it could be Grant Elliott who misses out, although Elliott could yet hold his spot due to his value as an extra bowling option.

New Zealand (possible) 1 Brendon McCullum, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Peter Fulton, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Neil Broom, 7 Kyle Mills, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Tim Southee, 10 Jeetan Patel, 11 Iain O'Brien.


Watch out for ...

Brad Haddin has been under the microscope all week - it is unfortunate for him there was such a long break between games - and it will be interesting to see how he reacts on the field. An unfussy sort of player who doesn't like to be forced away from his natural game, Haddin needs to retain his focus. In a batting line-up that has been struggling, he cannot afford to be distracted.

Martin Guptill made only 13 in Perth but he is clearly a class act, having posted a century on his ODI debut against West Indies last month. An uncomplicated player who described his batting philosophy as "see the ball and hit the ball", Guptill has now had a sighter from Australia's new-ball men and will be looking to make the opening spot his own in the absence of the injured Jesse Ryder.


Pitch & conditions

The match will be played on the same pitch used in Wednesday's domestic one-day match, where South Australia were skittled for 200. The drop-in surfaces at the MCG have tended to be two-paced in recent times and it has not been the easiest venue to score big runs. Melbourne is expecting a sunny day on Friday with a top temperature of 32 degrees.


Stats and trivia

New Zealand are ahead in the Chappell-Hadlee tally, having won six of the 12 matches, with five wins to Australia and one no-result
The MCG hasn't been Australia's best venue in recent times - they have won one of their past five ODIs there
Australia will take such an inexperienced line-up into the match that Haddin is their third highest career scorer and Clarke is their third highest wicket taker


Quotes

"We had a really good chat yesterday. We have been a little bit disappointing of late and we've got some work to do to get back to where we want to be and it starts tomorrow."
Michael Clarke

"A lot of these guys don't know what it's like to play for a long time and win lots of games. We set a standard in the last game and we've got to make sure we keep that up."
Daniel Vettori