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There’s always stiff competition between the BLACKCAPS and the Australians and this tour will be no different – except for the fact that our Tasman neighbours have a number of new players touring.
The New Zealand public are familiar with a number of the Australian faces including Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson and Michael Clark, however this tour will be the first time Kiwi fans get to see the likes of Travis Birt, Daniel Christian, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, David Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Dirk Nannes, Steven Smith, David Warner, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Harris, Clint McKay and Adam Voges in action.
However, this is a team keen to remove themselves from the shadow of the legendary Australian team that dominated world cricket in the late 90’s and first part of this decade.
“There was obviously a lot of talk after we lost a lot of great players around a pretty short period of time so there was a bit of a transition period but I think now that transition period is over we’re now starting to play some pretty consistent cricket together as a group and a lot of us now have played between 10 and 15 to 20 tests and starting to build up near 50 One-Day matches,” said wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin.
“I think the transition period is all over now and I know from a squad point of view there is no talk about that anymore. It’s more about moving forward with us as a group and trying to be the best Australian team we can be and leave our mark on world cricket.”
New Faces to watch out for
Doug Bollinger
This 28 year old left arm quick has been one the stars of the summer for both the Australian Test and ODI side,
The big bowler with the big personality was introduced in an interview for Cricket Australia TV as “the peoples champion” and when talking about bowling said, “I just run in and bash the wicket.”
Bollinger currently sits ninth on the Australian International overall MVP and currently has a solid Test bowling average of 24.11 and outstanding ODI average of 16.93.
Steven Smith
The fresh-faced 20 year old legbreak spinner has stepped into the Australian team with comparisons being made to the legendary Shane Warne.
He has been on the radar for a while after impressive performances for the Australia Under 19 and made his international Twenty20 debut against Pakistan in early February.
Haddin has big wraps on the young man who is currently playing as Twenty20 specialist, “obviously a pretty exciting leg spinner, actually all rounder. He’s had some international cricket and he’s had some pretty solid performances in State cricket and when he debuted the other night in the Twenty20 he showed a lot of composure beyond his years.”
Ryan Harris
Although Harris is the ripe age of 30, the tall fast bowler has been in impressive form during the Australian recent ODI matches.
He debuted for Australia in 2009 but was quickly forgotten but burst back onto the scene with 13 wickets in three ODI matches against Pakistan with an average of only 8.15.
BLACKCAPS v Baggy Greens
The Australians arrive in New Zealand to contest the National Bank series which included the coveted Chappell-Hadlee One-Day trophy.
The form of the Australians is red hot as they completed an unbeaten home summer - sideswiping Pakistan and the West Indies in all forms of the game.
No doubt Pointing and his players will be looking to transfer their outstanding form to his side of the ditch as they eye up a rare 2009/10 clean sweep,
Australia is the current holder of the Chappell-Hadlee trophy after retaining the trophy with a drawn series last year. It was a heartbreaking end to for the BLACKCAPS as rain intervened in the final match with victory in sight.
The last time the two teams met on New Zealand soil, the BLACKCAPS were victorious 3-0 in the Chappell-Hadlee, including a memorable 10-wicket victory over them in the match at Westpac Stadium.
