Australia avoided handing back the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in Sydney on Sunday, but a New Zealand win in Adelaide today 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.
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.
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."
TEAMS
AUSTRALIA (possible): Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting (captain), David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Callum Ferguson, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus or Peter Siddle.
NEW ZEALAND (possible): Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Neil Broom, Kyle Mills, Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien.
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.
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.
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."
TEAMS
AUSTRALIA (possible): Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting (captain), David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Callum Ferguson, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus or Peter Siddle.
NEW ZEALAND (possible): Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Neil Broom, Kyle Mills, Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien.