Aussies prepare for ‘benchmark’ Black Caps

Australia will renew their long overdue trans-Tasman rivalry with New Zealand when the Dettol ODI Series begins in Cairns on Tuesday.

The two sides haven't completed an ODI series since the 2016-17 season, after the scheduled series in March 2020 was cut short after one match due to COVID-19.

Australia will be aiming to return to winning ways in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after losing their last match against Zimbabwe by three wickets on Saturday in Townsville.

But Aussie captain Aaron Finch isn't expecting things to be easy for the home side, who face an in-form opposition at a ground that most Australians have never played at.

Only five of Australia’s squad of 14 have featured in a match at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns; Steve Smith, David Warner (in 2008-09), Josh Inglis (in 2016-17), Marnus Labuschagne and Adam Zampa (in 2017-18).

Finalists in the 2019 World Cup, New Zealand are in hot form in the 50-over format and have only lost once since the pandemic-shortened series in 2020.

They claimed a 3-0 over Bangladesh, a 3-0 win over Netherlands, another 3-0 win over Ireland, a 1-0 win over Scotland and most recently, 2-1 win over West Indies last month.

"They're a fantastic unit, they have been for a long time," Finch told reporters in Cairns on Monday.

"They continue to be one of the benchmarks in world cricket in all three formats of the game and the fact that they're No.1 in ODI cricket at the moment is testament to that."

New Zealand sit atop the ICC Men's ODI rankings, with a rating score of 124 points.

Australia are below England, India and Pakistan in fifth position, with 102 points.

"They're always close battles regardless of what format," Finch said of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

"They've got world-class players throughout their innings, with (Martin) Guptill and (Kane) Williamson … there's firepower all throughout with Jimmy Neesham at six or seven.

"And their bowling; (Trent) Boult, (Tim) Southee, (Mitch) Santner, they're world class."

Finch was one of the few Australian players who had an outdoor net session at Monday's optional training, facing coach Andrew McDonald on the 'wanger' for a solid 45-minute hit-out.

Image Id: 782AB7D48E0740E5BAE50283CE7FDE11 Image Caption: Finch chats with McDonald on Monday // Getty

Finch made scores of 15, one and five in the Dettol ODI Series against Zimbabwe, falling to left-armer Richard Ngarava on all three occasions.

And the Aussie skipper said he was doing everything in his power to return to form.

"It was a really good long hit, probably longer than I generally have the day before a game," Finch said.

"But not having as much time in the middle lately lends itself to more training unfortunately.

"Obviously the performances personally haven't been there in terms of the output of runs, but still feel like I'm a pretty good player."

"You're always looking to improve and I think being able to train consistently and keep tinkering with my game to get better is the most important thing."

Finch noted earlier in the week that his front foot movements weren't where he'd like them to be.

"When I get a bit heavy there it starts to affect the rest of my game," Finch said on Friday.

"I feel as though that's coming along really well. The rewards will be there very soon, it just hasn't happened yet.

While the early starts in Townsville resulted in the toughest conditions for batters ever seen in an Australian ODI series, the matches in Cairns will begin at 2:20pm local time.

Despite an unseasonably cool winter and recent weather around, curator Kevin Mitchell Jnr is expecting pace out of the Cazalys Stadium wicket and across the pristine outfield.

Game one of the series can be watched live and exclusively on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.

Men's Dettol ODI Series v New Zealand

Tuesday, Sep 6: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm

Thursday, Sep 8: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm

Sunday Sep 11: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm

Australia squad: Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Aaron Finch (c), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

New Zealand squad: Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson (c)

Buy #AUSvNZ tickets here