You've won the battle but there's still a war to fight...

Yes I am referring to New Zealand's Twenty20 International clean sweep over the masters and champion of Twenty20s, India. Let's got get too carried away with this minor series win. This also happened last year but it was against New Zealand. England destroyed New Zealand in the Twenty20 series but look who won the ODI series, New Zealand by a big margin (3-1). It really should of been 4-1 had New Zealand played decent cricket in the last 10 or so overs but that's getting away from the point. The point is New Zealand have to justify these minor victors with big victories in the ODI arena or even the test arena in the near future.

A big wrap has to go to Brendon McCullum. He scored two well measured innings that turned out to be matchwinning. Hopefully, McCullum can adapt this sort of batting to his ODI career and we should see his average sneak up to the 40s. Finally McCullum has finally taken the initiative and responsibility for his team, playing the anchor role around some really big hitters in this New Zealand line-up, i.e. Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptil, Ross Taylor and Jacob Oram. McCullum has now scored 4 consecutive fifties in 4 Twenty20 games - simply outstanding! In ODIs, it is equivalent to scoriing four consecutive centuries in 4 games. Boy would Brendon McCullum love to get that feat. He might even if he continues to play like he's done in the Twenty20s.

Twenty20 Series Report Card
(only the players who played both Twenty20 games)

Stand-outs:

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (obviously), Daniel Vettori, Iain O'Brien

India: Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan

Decent:

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram

India: Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh

Dissapointments:

New Zealand: Tim Southee

India: MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan

The Twenty20 series has indicated that this series should be a fascinating contest to watch. Click here to read the rest of the post »

Battle between two growing powerhouses

That's right! It's the much anticipated series between New Zealand and India in New Zealand. For India, this will be the true test of whether they are the real deal or not. They've been unbeatable for some time and it will take a big effort from them to do it in New Zealand. As for New Zealand, this will be about confidence, momentum and building. New Zealand have a very inexperienced team with the retirements of their key players. New Zealand will have to play their best cricket (better than what they showed against Australia) to topple the form team of the circuit.

Players To Watch Out For:

New Zealand
Brendon McCullum has not had the best of times with the bat in ODIs. He has played the odd good shot but has been dismissed way too early to make him a formidable opener. For Brendon, this will be a make or break tour. The consequences being dropping him down to bat at six or seven. Expect McCullum to mix fireworks with some measured and mature batting throughout the tour in all formats of the game.

Ross Taylor has been in tremendous ODI form of late, aided by his new batting maturity and attitude. He no longer tries to whack a ball out of the park from the word go, but has learnt to pace his innings. He will be dangerman that India will want to see the back of as soon as possible. However, his test form has not been very good of late.

Ian O Brien has become a formidable ODI bowler for New Zealand. Since being recalled to the squad, he has taken 10 wickets in 5 matches at an average of 25.30. Expect him to make a big impact in toppling the Indian batting line-up. He has also been a tireless working bowler in the test arena.

Daniel Vettori had a quiet series against Australia but was able to tie them down, conceding only 4.25 runs per over throughout the series. However, he only took 2 wickets in 5 matches at an average of 93.50. Expect him to make a big impact, especially on his home soil in both the ODI and test series.

India
Virender Sehwag. Is there any more I need to say? For a start, if he fires, India will almost certainly be in a commanding position in both ODIs and test matches. He is such a fine hitter of the ball and the small New Zealand grounds will make Sehwag's job a lot easier. However, like McCullum, Sehwag does have his lapses early in his innings so it will be important for New Zealand to get him out really early.

Yuvraj Singh will also be another dangerman for New Zealand. Like Sehwag, when he gets going, there is no stopping him - especially when there is no real fast bowler in the New Zealand bowling line-up (what a pity they don't have Shane Bond's service s anymore). He has been in tremendous ODI form, scoring 284 runs (including a century and two fifties) in his last 5 ODI matches with at an average of 56.80. He test form is also quite good with good koncks against England. He will be a handful for New Zealand.

Ishant Sharma has been in tremdous ODI form with the ball, who like O Brien, has 10 wickets from his last 5 ODIs at an average of 24.30. The New Zealand will be very weary of his bowling as one false shot, and it's all over. This has to do with his such consistent line and length. He isn't as terrorizing in the test arena thankfully for New Zealand.

Zaheer Khan will be another bowler to watch out for, especially in the test arena. He may not be as deadly with the ball in ODIs but he will cause trouble for the New Zealand top order if he gets his line and length right. In his recent performances against England in test matches, he has taken 8 wickets in 2 games at an average of just 21 and conceded just 2.33 runs per over. New Zealand's test batting line-up can be very fragile at times and if there is a collapse, expect this man to be the main cause of it.

The Lowdown
For the Twenty20s, I think India will win comfortably. They are the masters of that format, having previously won the Twenty20 World Cup 07 and having won almost all their Twenty20s since. In contrast, New Zealand have been terrible in this format, with only 1 win in their last 9 outings. This has been reflected by New Zealand's inability to chase 150 down against a fairly weak bowling Australian attack.

The ODI series will probably be the most fascinating contest of the tour. Expect it to be close, with New Zealand winning just. Despite their previous failures against Australia, they have been in really good ODI form and have not lost an ODI series in New Zealand. Also, India don't have a good touring history in New Zealand - which is another factor that has brought me towards New Zealand winning

The test series will be won by India but it will be a fight. New Zealand have a new test line-up which looks promising. They looked really god against the West Indies, though they just weren't able to bring it all together (i.e. bowling, batting, fielding). India have been on fire in the test arena, beating Australia, Sri Lanka and England with ease. The first test match will be a fight, but the second should be a breeze for India. Would not be surprised if the test matches finish on Day 4 or early Day 5. Click here to read the rest of the post »

So close yet so far...

The Twenty20 International last night has summed up what has been a tour "that could of been." First came the missed opportunity at the Sydney Match where they could of really restricted Australia to 250 and chase it down with ease if it wasn't for some wayward bowling. In the 4th ODI, they were truely outplayed and Australia deserved that one. New Zealand were in a winning position against Australia but the rain gods intervened and the game was declared a "no result." The series was drawn 2-2 but Australia retain the Chapell-Hadlee Trophy since they won the last Chapell-Hadlee series.

In the Twenty20 International last night, New Zealand were all over Australia. Yet again, they found a way to lose. This time, part of the blame has to go sorely to Fulton and Elliot. Fulton wasted 8 balls for 1, which is simply not good enough in Twenty20. He would of been better off getting out on a golden duck, so the other batsman in the New Zealand lineup could make better use of. It's a shame that will be Fulton's last game for some time. He has looked so good, but has no real scores to his name. Disappointing... Grant Elliot attempted to slog 10 or something times and missed all of his attempts. Why would he try to slog it when he has McCullum at the other end who can actually slog. He wasted so many balls and in Twenty20, dot balls are like wickets. They are that crucial. Though credit has to go to the Australian bowlers, especially Bracken with figures of 0 - 16 off 4 overs. His last 10 runs conceded came off the last two balls, when the match had pretty much already been decided.

The twenty20 loss and the tour was summed up with Vettori's comment: "I'm devastated with that loss." Click here to read more about it.

They have a shot of redemption when they play India in their home ground. Should be a fascinating contest to watch and with the likes of Ryder, Styris and hopefully Oram to boost the New Zealand ranks. Though India seem to be the powerhouse of the competition, having not lost an ODI, Test series in ages. However, they have a poor touring history and by equating that, I believe New Zealand will win but it will be mighty close for the ODI series. In the test series however, India will have jsut too much for a young and inexperienced New Zealand lineup. Click here to read the rest of the post »

Chapell-Hadlee Trophy comes down to one match

Who would of thought that the 2009 Chapell-Hadlee Trophy would come down to this. First of all no one expected New Zealand to even win a game against Australia in Australia, even after their 4 - 1 series defeat at the hands of South Africa. Enter the New Zealand bowling attack (Mills and O'Brien in particular), restricting Australia to mere totals of 181 and 225 in the 1st and 2nd ODIs respectively. Just when you thought Australia were at their extreme low points, they pull a rabbit out of the hat and win the next two ODIs quite convincingly. Now we are down to tomorrow's winner takes all contest; the decider at the Gabba.

At this stage, you would say that Australia are firm favorites to win this based on form and the fact that they are ranked higher than New Zealand. However, it is these situations that New Zealand really step up and play their best cricket. New Zealand's past two defeats have been stimulated by poor toss decisions made by Daniel Vettori. In the 3rd ODI, Vettori won the toss and decided to bowl first. It was on a pitch where batting first is a clear advantage due to the pitch conditions. In the 4th ODI, Vettori again won the toss but decided to bat first. Another bad decision considering that the pitch does not change over the course of 100 overs and New Zealand are not very good at setting a total. New Zealand bowlers haven't bowled as tight as they did in the first 2 ODIs; their fielders weren't as athletic as they were - missfields and dropped catches and the batsmen have struggled to pace their innings (bar Elliot and Taylor). Australia have really turned their poor form by outplaying New Zealand in all aspects - bowling, fielding and batting. The Australian bowlers have really kept a leash on the New Zealand top and middle order. In particular, James Hopes has really starred with the ball, taking wickets as regular intervals as well as conceding just 3.47. Their batsmen have finally converted their starts to big scores and propelling their innings total to a matchwinning total/chase.

Daniel Vettori has surprisingly had a poor series with the ball, taking only one wicket in four games. In the 3rd and 4th ODI, he could not restrict the hosts as they continued to attack him and doing so effectively. Most notable player who has taken Vettori to the cleaners is Brad Haddin. Expect Vettori to make an impact on this game, especially in situations such as this.

Brendon McCullum has really been disappointing ever since his promotion to opener. McCullum will occasionally hit a great few shots but in the next few balls, he will be out. This is ODI, not Twenty20. McCullum batting average of 29 does not reflect the sort of ability with McCullum. If McCullum fires and plays his natural aggressive game, New Zealand could be 100/0 in as little as 10 overs (which he showed against West Indies in 5th ODI). McCullum really has to fire this game or else he should consider playing down the order again - where he can boost the middle order.

Mitchell Johnson has had a great series with the ball and looks to have regained the form that enabled him to take 5 - 2 in a few overs in a truely magnificent spell. Though he can be inconsistent with his line and length. If Johnson fires with the ball, Australia will fire.

Brad Haddin has really played himself into great form in the past 2 ODIs. Since being promoted to opener, Brad Haddin has 152 runs in 2 games, including a magificent maiden century in the 3rd ODI. He was also on track for a big score until he was run out by David Hussey. If Brad Haddin can make a big contribution, that will boost the confidence and set the tempo for the rest of the Australian batting order and hence, Australia will win.

It is most likely that Australia will bat first and New Zealand will chase. New Zealand know too well that this is probably the only and best chance to beat Australia in Australia in an ODI series. New Zealand to win just.

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Who will win the decider and take the Trophy?

Australia New Zealand No result (rain is forecast)

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