Black Caps go out for one last battle
10 December 2005Â
By GEOFF LONGLEY
Dead Chappell-Hadlee match it may be at Jade Stadium today but if New Zealand loses to Australia it will be its longest losing streak at home in limited-over history.
So far the Black Caps have been beaten in seven successive matches at home â€" all by world No. 1 Australia â€" equalling their previous worst home record between 1986 and 1988.
But Wednesday's rousing run chase in Wellington showed the Black Caps can be competitive, and with Brett Lee missing and Stephen Fleming returning, those factors count in New Zealand's favour.
Allied to that, Australia will field one of the most inexperienced bowling line-ups in its limited-over history, with Nathan Bracken 22 (games) leading the new-ball attack alongside Mick Lewis (one game), Stuart Clark (three games), Cameron White (four games) and Andrew Symonds the specialist bowlers.
Left-arm spinner Brad Hogg (70 games) has been omitted from the 12-man squad, leaving debutant Mitchell Johnson as the super sub and likely to bowl, according to Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
Johnson, a left-arm pace bowler in the Bracken mould, arrived at 2am yesterday from Brisbane and trained with the team. He could play a big role if New Zealand opted to bowl first, as it had always wanted to do in its past few games.
However, Lewis proved when he delivered a superb final over in Wellington, full and straight, that vastly-experienced state cricketers in Australia are not fazed by such high-pressure situations.
Fleming will open the batting, with Lou Vincent going back to No. 3, but Daniel Vettori retains the captaincy to complete the series as Fleming eases back.
Vincent faces a fitness test today on the thigh that was badly bruised when batting on Wednesday in Wellington and he will be replaced by James Marshall if unfit.
Pace bowler Chris Martin has been called into the 12, replacing James Franklin who has struggled to contain the Australian batsmen.
It appears that New Zealand will seek to bowl first and use Martin then substitute him with a batsman, either with Hamish Marshall or Craig McMillan â€" although they have both been short of runs â€" when they bat.
Vettori believes Fleming's presence will help lift the side, and Fleming is comfortable to take his fielding orders from the left-arm spinner.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"The decision to have Dan captain in this next game is great. The development of Dan through the series whenever we've been on tour has been paramount for the succession of this team," Fleming said.
"While it might be seen as a bit unusual, I think it's fantastic in terms of my re-introduction to international cricket and Dan's continuity in this series.
"I think he's done a great job under pressure as we knew he would do. I just think it made sense for him to continue."
Vettori welcomed the presence Fleming brings to the team.
"Just Flem being around will have a massive influence on the side. It's really good to see him back," he said.
"After the performance in the last game the guys are still on a little bit of a high. Any win against Australia is important and we've had a run of losses against them, so the guys are still pretty motivated to get something out of this series and continue on heading towards Sri Lanka."
Fleming said he was not a great cricket watcher but he was glued to the latter stages of the enthralling Black Caps fightback in Wellington.
"That second innings was something special and it was disappointing not to get across the line. I think we've had four or five games in recent times that have been very close and this was another one," he said.
Fleming said he had no net practice before his first innings of 62 for Wellington against Canterbury.
"I'll be nervous getting back out there," he said.
Ponting felt New Zealand just needed a little luck to rediscover its winning ways.
"They did everything right, there wasn't much more they could have done differently," Ponting said.
"Michael Clarke's bit of fielding was the difference, there's no doubt about that," said Ponting of Clarke's spectacular long-range run-out of Brendon McCullum.
"If he had missed the stumps I would have been probably forced to bring the whole field up."
The Jade Stadium pitch has a good, even grass cover and invariably plays well. Australia has amassed over 300 runs the last two times it batted there.[/b]
