ODI series preview: NZ v Australia

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Latham

A few months ago Australia prepared to host New Zealand in an ODI series on the back of defeat to South Africa and we all felt they were ripe for the picking.

Now a weakened Australia team has traveled to New Zealand and yet again there is a belief that New Zealand smell blood in the water.

Australia are beatable no doubt but in order for New Zealand to beat them they will have to overcome the psychological hold the men in gold have over them.

New Zealand have a good team and at home that is usually enough to claim a series victory but they will face dogged opposition from a team that are not short on confidence despite the absence of star men David Warner and Steve Smith.

Australia have top class seam bowlers for this trip, something they didn’t have when they were whitewashed in South Africa and that could make all the difference with New Zealand lacking steel in their middle order.

New Zealand have impressed when playing against Bangladesh, Pakistan and Zimbabwe and ran India close despite folding terribly in the series decider but they were swept 3-0 by Australia not too long ago and that will weigh heavily on their minds.

Key Men

Tom Latham may be asked to take the gloves for this series to give New Zealand more options and his partnership with Martin Guptill could prove to be critical to the Black Caps chances of scoring enough runs to take the series.

Trent Boult and Mitchell Starc are two excellent left-arm quicks and their dual in terms of wickets taken and penetration up front could be the one that settles the series.

Peter Handscomb is Australia’s form batsman and even though he has little experience he has already shown an ability to step up in pressure situations.

Squads

Black Caps squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Neil Broom, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.

ODI squad: Matthew Wade (C),Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb, Sam Heazlett, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

Last five head-to-head results

2016 Third ODI: Australia won by 117 runs at the MCG
2016 Second ODI: Australia won by 116 runs in Canberra
2016 First ODI: Australia won by 68 runs at the SCG.
2016 Third ODI: New Zealand won by 55 runs in Hamilton
2016 Second ODI: Australia won by 4 wickets in Wellington

Fixtures

1st ODI Monday January 30 Eden Park in Auckland
2nd ODI Thursday February 2 Mclean Park in Napier
3rd ODI Sunday February 5 Seddon Park Hamilton

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