Australia made 343/5 from 50 overs.

In New Zealand’s last game against Australia poor fielding cost them a chance to win the match, something even captain Stephen Fleming admitted. In their latest outing against Australia once again poor fielding has cost them any chance to win the match. Early on in the game Daniel Vettori dropped Matthew Hayden while he was on 0, and shortly after Hayden was again dropped by Ross Taylor while on 4. Hayden went on to make 117.

Adam Gilchrist was dismissed early, falling to a good catch at cover by Jeetan Patel, but from there it was all Australia. Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting put on 200 for the second wicket taking Australia from 28/1 to 228/2 with both batsmen reaching their centuries. Andrew Symonds hit a rapid fire 24, then Michael Hussey smashed the New Zealand attack to all corners of the ground scoring 29 off 16 balls.

New Zealand’s bowling was dreadful with too many boundary balls bowled and not enough containment. All of the bowlers took a pounding at the hands of the rampant Australian batsmen except for Daniel Vettori who once again showed his class finishing with figures of 1/34 off his 10 overs, and taking the prized wicket of Hayden. The bowling attack also managed to give away 18 wides with two deliveries in one Mark Gillespie over going for 4 wides.

For New Zealand to overhaul this massive Australian total they will need their top order to fire, something it hasn’t done all summer, and for the Australians to bowl and field poorly, which also hasn’t happened this summer. The required run rate is 6.88, meaning the pressure will be on the New Zealand batsmen from the very first ball.
I won’t be staying up to watch the result as the time difference means the game will finish well after midnight. My prediction: Australia by 160 runs.

Shortly the first leg of the double header from Perth gets under way between New Zealand and Australia. Both teams are coming off convincing defeats of England but New Zealand’s top order batting woes were still evident in their last outing.

Against England, the New Zealanders lost their first 5 wickets for only 67 runs. Nathan Astle’s retirement and the recall of Lou Vincent will do little to bolster a batting line up that has struggled all summer with no batsman showing any constancy and some being woefully out of form. The Kiwi’s bowling has been good this summer with Shane Bond back to his best and Mark Gillespie as the fast bowling find of the season.

Australia have continued to roll over anyone in their way dominating with both bat and ball throughout the Commonwealth Bank Series. Neither England nor New Zealand have really tested the Australians and it is a trend that looks to continue for the rest of the series.

The Waca pitch is traditionally a very hard and bouncy pitch offering help to the fast bowlers. The Australian fast bowling stocks are extremely deep with Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Nathan Bracken all bowling well, while New Zealand has Shane Bond as their only real world class bowler. However, the Perth pitch can offer batsmen who are patient the chance to score a lot of runs as the bounce and pace of the wicket are consistent, despite being fast.

It looks like Australia have won the toss and elected to bat first. It’s about time Ponting won a toss! Very hot and humid in Perth today with the temperature reaching over 40. Will be hard work for the New Zealanders in the field.

Australia have gone with four fast bowlers, while New Zealand are playing two spinners. New Zealand are also without the services of Shane Bond today as the team are concerned about his back standing up to two games in three days. It appears the Kiwis are targetting the game against England on Tuesday.

Teams

New Zealand

1. Lou Vincent
2. Stephen Fleming
3. Peter Fulton
4. Ross Taylor
5. Craig McMillan
6. Jacob Oram
7. Kyle Mills
8. Brendan McCullum
9. Daniel Vettori
10. Mark Gillespie
11. Jeetan Patel

Australia

1. Adam Gilchrist
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Michael Clark
5. Andrew Symonds
6. Michael Hussey
7. Cameron White
8. Nathan Bracken
9. Brett Lee
10. Mitchell Johnson
11. Glenn McGrath

New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bat.

Looks like an excellent wicket for batting, with a few green patches to encourage the seam bowlers. Australia have decided not to go with two spinners and left Brad Hogg out in favour of Stuart Clark, probably something to do with the green patches in the pitch. It’s an extremely hot day in Sydney today, so it will be very uncomfortable for the Australians in the field.

New Zealand have left out Shane Bond with a back injury and also Jeetan Patel, bringing in Michael Mason and Hamish Marshall. This leaves the New Zealand team 1 specialist bowler short so expect Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan to pick up the slack.

Teams

New Zealand

1. Brendan McCullum
2. Nathan Astle
3. Stephen Fleming
4. Ross Taylor
5. Hamish Marshall
6. Peter Fulton
7. Craig McMillan
8. Daniel Vettori
9. James Franklin
10. Michael Mason
11. Mark Gillespie

Australia

1. Adam Gilchrist
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Michael Clark
5. Andrew Symonds
6. Michael Hussey
7. Cameron While
8. Brett Lee
9. Stuart Clark
10. Nathan Bracken
11. Glenn McGrath