It’s all on at Auckland’s Eden Park on Monday where the BLACKCAPS put their unbeaten start to the home summer on the line against old rivals Australia in the opening ANZ ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series.
Here’s everything you need to know…
On a Roll
The BLACKCAPS are 10 from 10 on home soil this summer and are back at Fortess Eden where they haven’t lost since 2013. Kane Williamson’s men also have ODI form on their side having won 20 of their last 22 completed matches at home.
Three prongs of pace
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are the formidable fast bowling trio who will spearhead the visitors charge to retain the Chappell-Hadlee. Tall, fast and mean - their battle with Guptill, Williamson and Taylor will be one to watch.
Talented Tommy
After claiming two stumpings and a run-out for Canterbury over the weekend, 24-year-old Tom Latham is set to return to the wicket-keeping gloves while still batting at the top of the order. He should allow the hosts to play an extra batsmen in the form of Neil Broom, Jimmy Neesham and/or Colin Munro.
No Warner or Smith
The two Aussie batting linchpins are missing and so is more than 7,000 ODI runs. The pressure will now fall on the likes of Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head and keeper Matthew Wade to fill the void.
Martin Guptill
He’s scored 674 ODI runs at Eden Park, the third-most of any player, and needs just 46 more to eclipse MD Crowe (719) as the highest ODI run scorer in the venue’s history. Belted a memorable six onto the roof in this fixture last year and has been a thorn in the Aussie side in the last two series. A key player for sure.
Wiley Williamson
Could the captain’s golden arm play an important role in this series? He’s bowled 20 overs so far this year at an impressive average of 17.4. His overs should also help lighten the bowling load on the all-rounders.
Deceptively low scoring
The BLACKCAPS plundered 307-8 in this fixture last year and despite the small dimensions and batsmen friendly pitch; one could be forgiven for thinking this is a guaranteed runs fest. In fact in the 74 One Dayers played at Eden Park the average first innings score is only 219.
What toss?
Interestingly the BLACKCAPS haven’t won a toss at Eden Park in five matches, yet have recorded four wins and a tie against decent opposition, in Australia (two wins), South Africa, Pakistan and India (tie).
