InMobi

Lanning out to land a blow on home turf

Australia skipper eyes a big knock in front of her home crowd in Melbourne as her team hunts a whitewash

Australia captain Meg Lanning summed up her recent output with the bat in typically blunt fashion on Saturday: "I'd like to make some runs."

The Australian skipper has scored six and three in the first two matches of the Commonwealth Bank ODI Series against New Zealand but has the home turf advantage for Sunday's series finale at Melbourne's Junction Oval.

Given she averages more than 60 against the White Ferns and has scored five of her 12 ODI tons against her trans-Tasman rivals, it only seems a matter of time before the star batter unleashes.

And with Sunday's one-dayer the final game of the international summer and Lanning's next outing in the green and gold not until July's Ashes, there's no time like the present for the 26-year-old Victorian.

"Obviously the first couple of games haven't gone as I would have liked, but I guess the great thing for our team is different people have stepped up at different times," Lanning told the press pack in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.

Australia hold an unassailable 2-0 lead heading into Sunday's match, with opener Rachael Haynes top-scoring with 67 in the opening game and Ellyse Perry striking her maiden ODI ton in the second.

How I approach a net session


Lanning headed into the one-dayers in some serious touch having scored five 70-plus knocks in the Rebel WBBL, before starring at Junction Oval during the final round of the 50-over domestic competition, scoring a century to guide Victoria to victory over Tasmania.

Australia had a chance to adjust to the local conditions during a practice game on Thursday against Victoria – a factor that could give them an advantage over New Zealand, who were in Sydney contesting the Governor-General's XI game the same day – and Lanning hopes the 39-ball 33 she scored in that match is something she can build on.

"I've been working hard at training and making sure I'm good to go," Lanning said.

"I had a good hit out there in the middle of the Junction which for me was a great confidence boost to get used to batting out in the middle again.

"I've been working hard and hopefully that translates into runs tomorrow.

"You don't often get a chance to play a scratch match at the venue where you'll play, so we got a good sense of what the conditions will be like and to be honest, playing a match is way better than any nets session you could have.

"It was a great hit out for the girls, we went about it in a really good way and everyone got something out of it."

Melbourne to suit Aussies to a tee: Healy


The full Australian squad trained in the Melbourne heat on Saturday morning, with selectors facing some tough decisions.

Pace-bowling allrounder Nicola Carey is fit to play after missing the first two matches due to a back complaint, while left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle – who played in the series opener in Perth before being replaced by Delissa Kimmince in Adelaide – picked up a five-wicket haul during Thursday's practice match.

"We had a look at the pitch today and everyone trained which is good, we'll have a chat this afternoon and decide what the best combination is," Lanning said.

"All three (of Carey, Cheatle and Kimmince) bring something different, which I think has been a strength of our team with that variety.

"It'll be a difficult decision to get that final team but we're in a good position to be able to pick from a strong squad.

"I thought (Cheatle) bowled well, she was moving the ball which was great, and she had some good pace as well.

"She gives us that variation with the left-armer and hopefully she took a lot of confidence from that ... she'll definitely come into calculations for this game."

New Zealand will also have a full-strength side to pick from after captain Amy Satterthwaite confirmed there was nothing serious in the back niggle that saw star allrounder Sophie Devine rested from Thursday's Governor-General's match.

With pride on the line, the White Ferns are seeking to prevent a second series sweep against the Australian this summer after going down 3-0 in the T20Is that kickstarted the international season.

"It would mean a lot," Satterthwaite said. "You can look at a series and go, 'We're two-nil down and what are you playing for?'

"But every time we pull on that shirt, especially against Australia, there's always just something about beating a team like this.

"We've had a really long summer and played some really good cricket and played some cricket we'd like to improve on as well.

"To finish on a high heading into what's going to be a really important winter for us, it would mean a lot."

The third and final ODI on Sunday, beginning 10.50am local time, will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and the Seven Network and can be live streamed via Kayo, with news, scores and highlights on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App.

CommBank ODIs v NZ 

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Georgia Wareham

New Zealand squad: Amy Satterthwaite (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

February 22: Australia won by five runs

February 24: Australia won by 95 runs

March 3: Third ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne