Australia will be looking to bounce back after a 3-0 series loss to South Africa last week as the three match ODI series against New Zealand kicks off in Sydney on Friday. Australia will be looking to regain the Chappell-Hadlee trophy after New Zealand last won 2-0 back in 2017.
Australia vs New Zealand ODI Series Preview
Game 1 (SCG): Friday 13/3, 2:30pm AEDT
Game 2 (SCG): Sunday 15/3, 10:30am AEDT
Game 3 (Blundstone Arena): Friday 20/3, 2:30pm AEDT
Australia
Squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (vc), Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Australia were embarrassed in their three match ODI series against South Africa as they were swept after dominating the T20 series prior to the One Dayers. Australia struggled with the bat, with Aussies unable to score above 271, that won’t cut it against a quality Black Caps outfit. Australia will need to improve through the middle overs as it looks to put together a brand of cricket that will help push towards success at the 2023 World Cup in India.
Australia have dominated New Zealand in ODI’s on Australian shores. New Zealand had success against Australia in the VB series of 2001/02 where Australia failed to make the final series, as South Africa defeated New Zealand. Since the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy began in 2004/05, New Zealand haven’t won a series in Australia.
Steve Smith struggled to make an impact against South Africa, only scoring 109 runs at an average of 36.33. However Smith dominated New Zealand in their last ODI series in Australia scoring 236 runs at an average of 78.67, with knocks of 164 and 72 in the series. Smith is Australia’s most important batsmen, for Australia to succeed, Smith needs to hold the innings together throughout the middle order. After a disappointing series in South Africa, expect Smith to bounce back in a big way.
Smith Top AUS Batsman
$3.00
New Zealand
Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.
New Zealand are coming off a 3-0 series win against India with Henry Nicholls (199 runs at an average of 66.33), Ross Taylor (194 runs at 194) and Martin Guptil (177 runs at 59) were crucial with the bat as the Black Caps put up scores of 347, 273 and 300. Whilst Hamish Bennett and Tim Southee got the job done for New Zealand with the ball.
New Zealand have struggled against Australia, in Australia however will be full of confidence after an incredible World Cup campaign that saw them lose by the barest of margins in the final. The Black Caps will have plenty of belief after they defeated Australia 2-0 in their last ODI series back in 2017.
Martin Guptil holds the key to New Zealand’s chances in this series, the aggressive opener has 6803 runs, 16 centuries and an average of 42.52 in ODI cricket and starred against the Aussies last time he ventured on Australian soil. In 2016 Guptil scored 193 runs at an average of 64.33, with a strike rate of 110.29. In the three match series Guptil had scores of 114, 45 and 34. With the firepower Australia hold at the top of their order, New Zealand will need to match them if they are to have any chance of winning this series. Expect a big series from Guptil.
Guptil Top NZ Batsman
$3.50
Prediction
Although New Zealand are in much better form than the Australians in ODI cricket, it’s hard to see an Australian side with this much talent losing on home soil. The lack of pace in the New Zealand bowling attack is alarming and if Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi can’t produce in the middle overs, things could get ugly for New Zealand. With Smith and Labuschagne holding together the middle order at home, coupled with the Australian’s world class bowling attack, the Australians will be too good for New Zealand, who haven’t won an ODI in Australia since 2009.
Australia win series
$1.40
