New Zealand v Australia, 2nd ODI, Auckland

Match Facts
Saturday, March 6, Auckland
Start time 1200 (2300 GMT)

The Big Picture
It didn't take long for the New Zealand-Australia rivalry to turn fiery and an opening win for the hosts should lead to more animation from the visiting big brothers. Scott Styris led his team to a last over victory in Napier on Wednesday and his brutal innings included being on the receiving end of a nose-to-nose exchange with Mitchell Johnson.

Both teams expect more simmering over the remaining four games in the Chappell-Hadlee Series, which will give an indication of where the current Australians should be rated. Ricky Ponting's side is still No. 1, but its performances against West Indies are taking on new value now Chris Gayle's men are losing to Zimbabwe. New Zealand, the No. 4, are on a six-game winning streak after ending Australia's 12 ODI victories in a row.

The hosts are desperate for the return of Daniel Vettori in Auckland after he missed game one with a neck injury. Australia don't play Vettori well and he provides some crucial variety to an attack filled with medium pacers to follow the extreme pace of Shane Bond.

Team news
Jacob Oram was helped off the ground at Napier after hurting his left knee and the result was a tear of the patella tendon, ruling him out for up to a month. A neck problem is still troubling Vettori, who didn't bat or bowl at training on Friday, and Nathan McCullum is on standby. If Vettori is cleared he can come into the spot left by Oram. Michael Mason, the Central Districts bowler, has joined the squad as bowling cover.

New Zealand (possible) 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Peter Ingram, 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 James Franklin, 6 Neil Broom, 7 Scott Styris, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Daryl Tuffey, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Shane Bond.

Australia don't have much room to move in their 13-man squad, with Adam Voges and Clint McKay the only back-up options. They should keep faith in the same side but their batsmen are under orders not to waste their starts.

Australia (possible) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Cameron White, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 James Hopes, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Doug Bollinger.

http://www.cricinfo.com/nzvaus2010/content/current/story/450830.html

Should be an awesome game.
Hopefully Dan is right because having him is a masive boost.

Styris V Johnson Round 2?

Oi Oi Oi

Rosco has been ruled out. Not sure what for atm.
Dan is back which is very good.
If Rosco and Dan were both out that would have been 2 massive blows.
Hopkins comes in for Rosco and will take the gloves from McCullum.
Styris remains in for Oram.

Aussie stay the same. I Think.

Nice tight start. Bond and Southee both bowling well.

As a proud kiwi fan...

I'm not to excited about a middle order of

Stryis
Broom
Hopkins
Franklin

Styris is the only one their who I rate - but I still have some doubts over him, even after his effort the other night...

Gotta make the referral system a part of the ODI and T20 games ASAP in my opinion. The technology is there, might as well use it.

Yeh that is a shocking middle order.

Styris should bat 4, Franklin is mud.

don't have fox so can't see the game atm... but hows the size of the ground???

another postage stamp?

Yeh she's pretty small. Under construction for the Rugby World Cup as well.

There are two pretty small boundaries in particular.

Watto just smoked a six straight back past the bowler, would have been a 6 on any ground!

Lets go NZ . Blow that we don't have Taylor but we gotta deal with it.

Nice avatar Rozza haha. Pig Dog

Yup, the first 8 overs of bowling were pretty tight though. They are starting to get going now.

Fraklin

Watson keeps doing that stupid dab down to 3rd man.
Hope he keeps doing it because he either misses or he will give a nick soon

Our fielding has been bloody top notch so far.

Watson goooooone.

Guptill