Australia v New Zealand, Chappell Hadlee Series, 1st ODI, Perth

Defeated Australia given immediate chance to regain confidence

January 31, 2009

Match facts

Sunday, February 1
Start time 1.30pm (04.30 GMT)


The Big Picture

Australia lost the No. 1 ranking in one-day internationals on Friday night in Perth but have no time to mope about their summer of demotion. The crammed itinerary says that two days after finishing a five-game series against South Africa they must start another against New Zealand. Daniel Vettori's team is the only one Australia have been able to beat comfortably since going to India, so there should be some relief on the way.

In two Tests in November Australia outplayed their rivals, but the gap usually narrows for 50-over contests. Officially Australia are now No. 2 - a win on Sunday will push them back to first - while New Zealand are fourth, but guessing where the hosts really fit is as tricky as working out why the local middle order has been so unproductive at crucial times. The 4-1 defeat is so unfamiliar at home and Ricky Ponting's men are determined to hit back quickly.

While there is no better time for New Zealand to challenge Australia, their team is also undergoing a serious redevelopment under the new coach Andy Moles. They came from a game behind to beat West Indies in January, but lost their warm-up in Canberra to the Prime Minister's XI.


ODI form guide

Australia - LLLWL
New Zealand - WNWLN



Team news

Shaun Tait should come back after being rested and could be a handful for the visiting batsmen, who won't have much chance to adjust to the conditions. Tait experienced some cramps in Adelaide but is not suffering from the hamstring problems that have hampered him at times during the season. Michael Clarke failed on his return from a thumb injury, but the middle looks much stronger with the vice-captain in it.

Australia (probable) 1 Shaun Marsh, 2 David Warner, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 David Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 James Hopes, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Shaun Tait.

Brendon McCullum's hip is the big worry for the visitors, even though it won't keep him out of the match. McCullum, who scored a century in Canberra on Thursday, was unable to take the gloves in that game, but Vettori is confident. "I'm not allowing him any other option," Vettori told NZPA. "We need him to keep to provide us with as many options as possible." Gareth Hopkins, the back-up gloveman, is on standby and New Zealand need a replacement for Jesse Ryder, who is out for a week with a shoulder problem. Kyle Mills will probably bat at No. 7 and Vettori has spoken of playing two spinners.

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


Watch out for ...

Michael Hussey showed a return to form in Perth after a disappointing season and Australia want him to purr following their mid-innings struggles. His 78 was carefully planned, coming from 96 balls, but his team needed some substance after a horror start. If he can find regular meaningful support it will strengthen Australia's core significantly.

Daniel Vettori is always a menace for Australia and they have already shown this summer that they struggle with tight, controlled slow bowling. Johan Botha posed regular problems during the South Africa series and Vettori should do the same. In 46 matches against Australia he limits his runs to 4.21 an over, which is an excellent return considering the batsmen involved in previous years, and averages slightly less than a wicket a match.


Pitch & conditions

The pitch was quite lively on Friday and while the bowlers had some fun it was the batsman who benefitted most from the true surface. It shouldn't change too much in a couple of days so more high scores can be expected. There is a chance of a thunderstorm on Sunday and the temperature is expected to reach 35C.


Stats and trivia

In 11 Chappell-Hadlee Series games both sides have five wins each, with one no-result
Ricky Ponting leads the run-list in Australia-New Zealand contests with 1756 and Brendon McCullum is the best of the current touring squad with 669
Australia have three wins at the WACA against their Trans-Tasman rivals, who had their sole victory against the hosts there in 1988
It is the first time the series will be contested over five games


Quotes

"I know that there's a lot of negativity going around about the way we've played and that's fair enough because some of our performances in the last couple of games have been pretty ordinary."
Ricky Ponting

"I'd rather be involved in the series just as a batter than not play at all."
Brendon McCullum

02 February, 2009

New Zealand has produced a dramatic two-wicket victory over Australia off the final ball in the first Commonwealth Bank Series match at the WACA.

A brilliant performance by the Black Caps in the field saw the home side bowled out for 181 but New Zealand made hard work of overtaking the meagre total.

Needing five off Nathan Bracken's last over to win the match, New Zealand lost Tim Southee (three) with the second ball, a slower delivery from the New South Welshmen who claimed 3-35 from his 10 overs.

But skipper Daniel Vettori (seven not out) held his nerve to slip the final delivery of the innings through a packed infield, seeing New Zealand finish with 8-182 as Australia slumped to its fourth consecutive one-day international loss.

To make matters worse for the hosts, opener Shaun Marsh appeared to badly injure his left hamstring chasing a ball in the outfield, the Perth local slipping to the ground in agony.

Despite the loss of Marsh, Australia's attack continued to press and the combined effort of Bracken, Shaun Tait (2-40) and Michael Clarke (1-18 from six overs) reduced the Black Caps to 5-105 in the 38th over.

But a match-winning half-century from Ross Taylor (64) in a 62-run stand with Kyle Mills (26) steadied the ship and all-but saw the Black Caps home before Mills was bowled by Tait in the 47th over.

While his team-mates didn't have much luck, Taylor enjoyed a life on 15, dropped by Mitchell Johnson in the 17th over off James Hopes (1-23) bowling, the ball slipping through Johnson's hands as he stared into the setting sun.

As Tait and Bracken claimed five wickets between them, they were ably supported by Hopes, Clarke and Johnson (1-34), who took one of the catches of the summer to dismiss Peter Fulton caught and bowled in the 14th over for seven.

Mills, though, walked away with the Man of the Match award, having taken 4-35 for New Zealand as Australia struggled to impose itself on the contest with the bat.

The bowler opened his account early on, claiming the wicket of Marsh (15) in the seventh over and David Warner (seven) 11 deliveries later. Both openers were dismissed in identical circumstances, sharply caught at short cover by the towering Fulton as they attempted to drive on the rise.

Mills also claimed Haddin's (31) wicket just as he and Australian top scorer Michael Hussey (49) had compiled a 61-run stand that looked set to blossom into a solid partnership for the hosts.

Michael Hussey led the resistance with the bat as his team-mates departed around him.


After Marsh and Warner fell, Australia lost skipper Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke to unnecessary run-outs, both players falling victim to exceptional throws by Broom and Martin Guptill in the outfield.

Johnson (20) and the unbeaten Tait (nine) produced a late flurry at the end of Australia's innings after Bracken lasted four balls for his duck but their efforts weren't enough to give Australia a confidence-restoring win.

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

February 06, 2009

AUSTRALIA'S season of cricketing misery plumbed new depths as New Zealand handed the home side a six-wicket thrashing at the MCG.

Chasing Australia's 5-225, the Kiwis romped home, reaching 4-226 with seven balls to spare.

After dangerous opener Brendon McCullum (43 from 75 balls) gave the visitors a solid platform, Ross Taylor (47 from 74 balls) and Grant Elliott (61 not out from 75 balls) rammed home the advantage.

The loss put Australia 2-0 down in the five-match one-day series against New Zealand and on a five-match losing streak overall, after three preceding losses to South Africa.

It means Australia will have to go unbeaten through the final three games against NZ, starting in Sydney on Sunday, to avoid their third series defeat of the summer, having already lost a Test and one-day series to the Proteas.

While NZ always looked comfortable in their run-chase, it was a calamitous 37th over for Australia, bowled by part-time off-spinner David Hussey, which signaled the beginning of the end.

The Kiwis started the over at 3-143, needing 83 off the remaining 14 overs at virtually a run a ball.

Taylor, on 37, gave Australia a chance to get back into the game when he lofted a shot deep into the leg-side, with Mike Hussey having to make plenty of ground but comfortably able to get both hands to the ball.

But he spilled the chance and the ball trickled over the boundary.

The following delivery David Hussey speared down leg-side, with neither batsman nor keeper getting near it as it sped to the fine leg rope for five wides.

It helped the tally to 10 runs for that over and seemed to free the spirits of the NZ batsmen, who then plundered 17 off the next three to seize complete command.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson gave Australia some hope when he dismissed Taylor in the 42nd over, but Elliott and Neil Broom (25 from 21 balls) cruised home with an unbeaten half-century stand.

All-rounder James Hopes was the best of the Australian bowlers, picking up 2-30 from 10 overs during the middle of the NZ innings to peg them back temporarily, but paceman Ben Hilfenhaus yielded an expensive 0-57.

Adding to Australia's pain, stand-in captain Michael Clarke earlier copped a nasty blow on the toe from NZ paceman Iain O'Brien, shortly before being bowled for 98.

Clarke and Mike Hussey (75) had staged a rescue effort to at least turn an Australian innings which started poorly into a target worth defending.

Clarke took to the field with a hole cut in his left shoe to avoid further pain, but did not seem restricted, moving freely and bowling tidily.

The match was watched by a small MCG crowd of 28,251, suggesting Australia's dwindling form might have affected attendance, with the volume of support for the visitors indicating NZ fans made up a decent proportion.

New Zealand aim to wrap up series

February 7, 2009


Match facts

Sunday, February 8
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.

That was also when Australia lost five in a row and on that occasion they then went through the World Cup undefeated. Given the current situation it feels like a decade ago and this rut will be much harder to escape from. While a victory is important to keep Australia in the five-game contest, it is also necessary to avoid matching the country's worst ODI losing streak of six, which came in 1996 when Mark Taylor was in charge.

New Zealand, who won by six wickets in Melbourne on Friday, don't care about the damage being done to Australia and will aim to regain the trophy after being swept aside in 2007-08. Even though the hosts are in a desperate situation, a series success would be an incredible achievement for Daniel Vettori's rebuilding outfit.


ODI form guide

Australia - LLLLL
New 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.

Australia (possible) 1 Michael Clarke, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 David Hussey, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Cameron White, 7 Callum Ferguson, 8 James Hopes, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.

New Zealand have no reason to change unless Brendon McCullum's hip injury, which he sustained in the first week of the tour, continues to nag, but they will be reluctant to lose one of their most senior men. Gareth Hopkins, the standby wicketkeeper, played in Auckland's Twenty20 win on Friday and will wait for a call. Jeetan Patel and Vettori have worked well during the opening two matches and will look forward to assistance from the Sydney surface.

New Zealand (possible) 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 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 ...

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.

Australia have been happy to see Daniel Vettori off as he has given up 57 runs in 20 overs over the past week. However, this will be even harder in Sydney, where Vettori can look forward to more turn. In a sudden death match the home batsmen will not have the luxury of waiting for Vettori's spell to finish, so he should have more opportunities for success.


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

"I think we've got a great squad, we just need to produce it out on the park."
Michael Clarke

08 February, 2009

Australia has kept the Commonwealth Bank one-day series alive after defeating a courageous New Zealand by 32 runs in game three at the SCG.

Set a massive 302 to win their third straight match against Australia, the Black Caps looked dead and buried when they slumped to 7-183 in the 37th over.

But a frenetic 69–run union between century-maker Grant Elliott (115) and Brendon McCullum (36), batting with a serious shoulder injury, threatened to steal the match.

Elliott's dismissal in the 45th over ended the New Zealand fightback, allowing a relieved Australia to claim a desperately-needed victory after five successive defeats.

The Kiwis, bowled out for 269 in the 48th over, lead the series 2-1 heading into game four in Adelaide on Tuesday.

But the visitors are unlikely to have the services of keeper-batsman McCullum, who was struck by a rearing delivery from Kyle Mills while standing up to the stumps during the Australian innings.

He bravely played on, batting in obvious pain, and will undergo scans on Monday.

Back-up wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins will fly over from New Zealand to join the squad ahead of Tuesday's game.

McCullum's injury added to a testing night for the Kiwis, who struggled to keep pace with Australia for most of the match after winning the toss and asking their hosts to bat.

Brad Haddin's first century at one-day international level underpinned Australia's imposing target, the Black Caps' chase beginning poorly.

After sliding to 2-16 in the sixth over after losing Martin Guptill (six) and Ross Taylor (four), Elliott and Peter Fulton (40) repaired some of the early damage with a stand of 80 for the third wicket.

But Fulton's departure just before the halfway mark put the Black Caps back behind the eight ball.

Wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals – Neil Broom (15), Mills (two), Daniel Vettori (two) and Tim Southee (17) departing in quick succession.

Elliott and McCullum, batting at No 9 due to his injury, gave Australia a massive scare before James Hopes (2-49) returned to the attack to remove Elliott, caught at deep mid-wicket by Michael Hussey.

The South African-born Elliott faced 124 balls in peeling off his first one-day international ton, striking eight boundaries.

McCullum perished soon after to extinguish any thought of a cricketing miracle.

Earlier in the day, Haddin blasted eight fours and three sixes in an entertaining 114-ball stay to give the hosts every chance of keeping the series alive after they dropped the opening two matches.

Haddin, promoted to the top of the order, raised his arms in triumph after bringing up the three figures with a sharp single.


He was eventually dismissed in the 38th over, run out by rival gloveman Brendon McCullum after attempting to pinch a single.

A bright 62-run partnership between Callum Ferguson (28 off 23 balls) and Michael Hussey (51 off 32) late in the innings ensured Australia topped 300.

"It was very special to get the opportunity to open (and) great to get one (a century) out there today," Haddin said after his dig.

Australia seek to build on SCG momentum

February 9, 2009

Match facts

Tuesday, February 10
Start time 1.45pm (03.15 GMT)


The Big Picture

Australia avoided handing back the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in Sydney but a New Zealand win in Adelaide would be enough for the prize to change hands, while Australia could level at 2-2. Ricky Ponting's impassioned plea to the selectors to allow him to return to the side instead of resting indicated how seriously he takes the series and after Australia lost the prize in 2006-07 when he also sat out, he was desperate for the situation not to repeat itself.

The batting began to click at the SCG, where Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke were thrust together as a makeshift opening pair and put on 135 for the first wicket. It was Australia's best opening partnership since the World Cup final in 2007, when Adam Gilchrist destroyed Sri Lanka's hopes of winning the title and took Matthew Hayden along for the ride.

New Zealand have relied on their spinners Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel to dry up the runs in the middle overs but the plan didn't work in Sydney and there will be no margin for error in Adelaide, where the short boundaries attract hungry batsmen. At that venue three months ago they were soundly beaten in a Test but the memories will be quickly forgotten if they wrap up a series win and take back the trophy.


ODI form guide

Australia - WLLLL
New Zealand - LWWWN



Team news

After a few more misses than hits in his short international career, David Warner has been left out of the squad and will return to New South Wales, where he has still not made his first-class debut. The success of Haddin and Clarke as an opening pair has hardened the top order and the main batting question is how long David Hussey and Cameron White will be given to justify their positions while Adam Voges remains in the squad. Peter Siddle has joined the group and after taking a one-day career-best of 4 for 27 for Victoria on Saturday he is a strong chance to make his ODI debut.

Australia (possible) 1 Michael Clarke, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 David Hussey, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Cameron White, 7 Callum Ferguson, 8 James Hopes, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus/Peter Siddle.

Brendon McCullum was scheduled to have scans on Monday on his right shoulder after being struck by a rearing Kyle Mills delivery while standing up to the stumps. McCullum had pain-killing injections and dropped down to No. 9 but he was still able to strike a quick 36, giving the New Zealanders hope that he might be fit for Tuesday. The back-up wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins has been flown in as cover and McCullum said that while he was desperate to play, he would leave the decision until his injury had been assessed. "I always want to play and take the aggressive attitude and take the field," McCullum told NZPA on Monday. "But you've also got to do the sensible thing, and until such time as we get the actual information about what is going on, it's hard to make any sort of judgment."

New Zealand (possible) 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 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 ...

Michael Hussey has not had his most productive summer but the runs are starting to flow and in his past four innings he has made 78, 49, 75 and 51. He has been especially valuable in a middle order that has struggled and, perhaps more importantly, Australia will be pleased he is finding form ahead of the tour of South Africa. For the time being, Hussey is a key figure in Australia's bid to level the one-day series.

If New Zealand were asked prior to the series to nominate the batsman likely to cause Australia the most trouble, Grant Elliott would not have been at the head of the list. He entered the tour with his only experience against Australia being a miserable contribution in the Gabba Test this season. A calm, unbeaten 61 at the MCG secured New Zealand's 2-0 lead and his 115 in Sydney kept their hopes of a 3-0 victory alive.


Pitch & conditions

Less than a month ago, Adelaide was the venue of what Ricky Ponting described as his team's worst performance of the summer. They were bundled out for 222 and then could do little as South Africa chased down the target in the 39th over. Most frustrating for Ponting was that it happened on a good batting pitch, as is nearly always provided at the Adelaide Oval. There should be plenty of runs available this time and the conditions will be comfortable, with 23C the top temperature expected.


Stats and trivia

Brad Haddin is in form after making his first ODI century on Sunday and New Zealand will be concerned about him at Adelaide Oval, where he destroyed them in November's Test match when he made 169
Grant Elliott's 115 in the SCG match was the second-highest ever by a New Zealand player in an ODI in Australia
Nathan Bracken will be playing his 100th one-day international
The teams have played each other eight times in ODIs at the Adelaide Oval for four wins each


Quotes

"We can't afford to get carried away with one win, but hopefully a bit of confidence will carry over to Adelaide."
Ricky Ponting

"We know we're in a good space, we know we're playing some good cricket, and the only way we win against Australia is if we put all three components together. Unfortunately we didn't do all three [in Sydney]."
Daniel Vettori

10 February, 2009

Australia has kept the Commonwealth Bank Series alive with a six-wicket win in game four at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Needing 245 for victory, the Aussies posted 4-247 with 10 balls to spare.

David Hussey ran out Brad Haddin in the 25th over when the opener was on 43 but made amends by registering a career-best 79 from 96 balls.

He joined forces with brother Mike (75 not out from 71 deliveries) to compile a match-winning fourth-wicket partnership of 115.

Mike Hussey hit a mid-on six off Kyle Mills to win the game while Callum Ferguson, playing his first ODI on his home ground, was unbeaten on 13.

Iain O'Brien took 2-54 off his 10 overs while Tim Southee was the other wicket-taker.

Craig Cumming dropped Mike Hussey in the deep when he was on 40 but apart from that spill the Black Caps had limited chances to change the course of the game.

And despite a rush of runs in their batting powerplay, their total of 244 was never going to be enough against a desperate Australian unit.

Both sides have won twice meaning the series will be decided in game five at the Gabba on Friday.

In the end it was a comfortable victory for the Aussies but the run chase had been tighter at the half-way mark of their dig.

Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting were back in the shed without making much of an impact while Haddin was run out when the score was 101.

David Hussey called the wicketkeeper through for a second run and then left him stranded metres from the striker's end and an accurate throw from outfielder Cumming to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum made sure of the breakthrough.

It was a massive blow for the home side as Haddin had been controlling the innings with some clean hitting.

However the Husseys' union brought the game back into Australia's favour with the brothers running hard and hitting the bad balls to the boundary - especially during the batting powerplay (overs 42 to 46).

David Hussey was eventually bowled but the crowd weren't too upset - the dismissal bringing to the crease home-town hero Ferguson.

In the afternoon a fruitful batting powerplay helped New Zealand post a competitive total.

Clusters of wickets and cheap dismissals made it difficult for the tourists to accelerate earlier in the innings but they bludgeoned 53 runs - between overs 45 to 49 - to finish with 8-244 from their allotment.

Ross Taylor led the charge with 76 from 72 deliveries while some lusty blows saw Mills chip in with a handy 23 from 27 balls.

Openers Martin Guptill (45) and McCullum (33) were the other major contributors.

Mitchell Johnson finished with 3-51 while James Hopes (2-37) and Michael Clarke (1-23 off eight overs) were also handy with the ball.

New Zealand made a steady start to the contest with McCullum and Guptill putting on 69 for the opening stand but in a matter of minutes the tourists had slumped to 3-86 and the Aussies were on top.


The Kiwis' innings regained momentum when Taylor and Grant Elliott went after Cameron White and combined for a flowing 55-run stand.

Cumming and Neil Broom went cheaply before Taylor and Mills came together for an explosive 53-run partnership.

Before the game the players, umpires and spectators held a minute silence to pay their respects to the bushfire victims in Victoria.

The Commonwealth Bank Series Bushfire Appeal has raised more than $6 million for people affected by the natural disaster.

last game aussies got it in the bag

14 February, 2009

Australia has retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after a stop-start game five was finally abandoned due to heavy rain with the game delicately poised at the Gabba.

Chasing a revised total of 156 from 20 overs in the series decider after Brad Haddin and Callum Ferguson struck unbeaten half-centuries to propel the hosts to 4-168 off 22 overs, the Black Caps progressed to 6-123 through 14 overs before rain intervened.

The Kiwis, who still had their two-over batting power-play up their sleeves, needed a further 33 runs off 36 deliveries to claim a rare series win on home soil.

Opener Martin Guptill was the star with the bat smashing an unbeaten 64 from 34 balls to put the Kiwis within sight of a famous victory.

Debutant Brendon Diamanti provided solid support with a timely 26 off 22 as the pair put on an unbeaten 50-run stand.

The series finished all tied up at two apiece after the Australians clawed their way back from a 2-0 deficit to set up the decider.

New Zealand made the worst possible start to their pursuit when Ben Hilfenhaus (1-28) bowled Brendon McCullum for two with the second ball of the innings.

But Guptill made his intentions clear depositing Nathan Bracken (2-33) over the mid-wicket fence before Peter Fulton chimed in with consecutive boundaries.

The onslaught continued when Hilfenhaus conceded 21 runs from his second over but Fulton's luck ran out on 22 when he skied Bracken to Callum Ferguson.

Guptill welcomed Mitchell Johnson (1-28) into the attack with a massive six behind square but Johnson soon had reason to smile when he removed the dangerous Ross Taylor for four.

The lanky opener continued to plunder the attack but the wickets kept falling as Grant Elliott (0), Neil Broom (0) and Kyle Mills (1) all went cheaply.

Guptill continued to score freely and finally found support in Diamanti as the Kiwis took the ascendancy before the weather spoiled their party.


Earlier Haddin continued his fine series blasting an unbeaten 88 off 65 deliveries to guide the hosts to a respectable total.

The in-form gloveman appeared in total control throughout striking five boundaries and three sixes, but his patience under pressure defined his knock.

Haddin didn't do it all on his own, however, with Ferguson continuing the dream start to his international career with a brilliant 55 not out off 35 balls.

Having joined Haddin at the crease at 4-70, the pair added an unbeaten 98-run-stand to steal the upper hand at the midway point.

James Hopes (5) got the Australian innings going with a boundary in the second over but his aggression soon cost him his wicket.

Mills (2-22) kept the pressure on the home side when he removed captain Ricky Ponting (2) caught behind with a well directed out swinger, and when game-four hero David Hussey fell for six the hosts were in early trouble.

Diamanti (0-25) was unlucky not to remove Haddin with his first ODI delivery but the in-form right hander put things right with a boundary from the next delivery.

Haddin continued to plunder the new-comer but Vettori (1-24) halted Australia's momentum when Hussey (9) hit a long-hop straight to Diamanti at mid wicket.

Ferguson was lucky not to depart for two when Grant Elliott failed to throw down the stumps in his follow through, and the South Australian made the visitors pay hitting Tim Southee (0-49) for three-consecutive boundaries in the first over of the batting power-play before Haddin took 14 runs off the final over.