Having won the first two games of the series, Australia find themselves heading to Melbourne enthused by the prospect of a Chappell-Hadlee Trophy whitewash over New Zealand. Join The Roar from 2:20pm (AEDT) for our live scores and coverage of the match.
The last ODI the two sides played at the MCG was for rather higher stakes. That was just over a year and a half ago in the World Cup final. Now, with the series wrapped up, the two sides are playing for pride.
Australia have certainly earned their 2-0 lead in the series, winning the first two games of the series by the considerable margins of 68 and 118 runs.
Despite this, New Zealand will likely feel they had their chances in both games.
In Sydney they started the series brilliantly, pushing Australia to the verge of a collapse at 4/92. Even after Steve Smith resurrected the innings and led Australia to a total of 324, New Zealand still managed to find themselves in a strong position as a rampant Martin Guptill got his side quickly to 2/126.
Similarly, in the batting paradise that is Manuka Oval, New Zealand seemed to be keeping themselves in the game despite a 145-run partnership between David Warner and Smith.
However, they then faltered with their death bowling and conceded 126 runs off the last ten overs of the innings, leaving themselves having to chase 378.
For Australia, the series has been particularly reassuring as these were the sort of situations they were losing in South Africa when they were whitewashed 5-0.
While Warner and Smith have had the greatest influence on the first two games, Australia will be very encouraged by the way some of their more inexperienced players have fared.
Travis Head, in particular, has impressed with two half-centuries in two contrasting situations, while Mitchell Marsh’s 40-ball 76 at Manuka will also have delighted the selectors.
Similarly reassuring is that Australia have not been reliant on Mitchell Starc with the ball, as Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are leading the wickets for the series with six and five scalps respectively.
New Zealand, meanwhile, seem to be missing the likes of Corey Anderson and Ross Taylor, who have both been unavailable through injury.
They have subsequently been too reliant on the likes of Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill, with James Neesham being the only other player to really impress with bat or ball.
This is not down to a lack of talent. The likes of Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro and even Todd Astle, who may make his debut today, are all players who can be incredibly destructive at their best. Yet they have only shown glimpses of their ability in this series.
If this changes in Melbourne, New Zealand may be able to end the series in a similar way to what Australia did in the Tests against South Africa, with a feeling of positivity dampening the disappointment.
If these players don’t stand up, a whitewash seems very likely.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the third ODI between Australia and New Zealand from 2:20pm (AEDT).
doogs
Guest
he was simply magnificent and has been consistently the backbone of Australian innings. Nearly averaging 60 in one dayers this year. Amazing
doogs
Guest
he has been great this series. He is a young skipper and will get better
doogs
Guest
Australia were awesome
doogs
Guest
amazing catch wow
Ozibatla
Guest
Dont worry bout nz, they will bounce back. They are notoriously good at gathering a bunch of steady cricketers and turning em into a seriously competitive team. Home ground advantage stands for much! We got em across the ditch in a couple of months. Gonna be a tougher series there, mark my word!
Ozibatla
Guest
Geez Aaron Finch is struggling big time. He couldnt hit the side of a barn with 3 doors. I dont think ive ever seen a top order player clunk an attempted straight drive to square leg like he did. New balance must be ashamed right now!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I'd pick my cat to open the batting, at least she'd bloody well run between wickets.
Bobbo7
Guest
NZ have been bloody awful this series. However I think this was a bit of a blip. They'll be better with its Taylor and Anderson back and Latham who is a good player had a poor series,
Paul Potter
Roar Guru
Don't forget that Australia had to regain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy mate.
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
I don't think the selectors have always gotten it right, but the fixtures are bizarre, with Australia having played a bizarre amount of ODI's this year.
Paul D
Roar Guru
This upcoming glut of games against New Zealand over the next 7 years is going to be horribly one-sided. Cricketing Bledisloe stuff. Can't see how New Zealand are going to stand a chance short of unearthing some gun youngsters or preparing horrible green decks in New Zealand. But, they asked for all these ODI games as a condition of playing day night tests - they made their bed, let's help them lie in it.
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
In the end, David Warner has outscored New Zealand, but early on it was the visitors who were on top. They started brilliantly and were well on top when they had Australia 4/73 in the first innings. However, Warner and Head then shared an 100 run stand, Head falling for 37, Warner batting on for an incredible 156. As it turned out, Head's 37 was the second largest score of the game, as only Warner seemed to figure out the two paced pitch. Yet New Zealand still began the chase well, finding themselves 1/74 with both Guptill and Williamson looking strong. Yet as it turned out, at this stage they had already scored more than half their runs, as they finished all out for 147. All the bowlers chipped in for Australia, Starc finishing with the best bowling figures of the game with 3/34. But perhaps the biggest surprise was Travis Head, who took 2/37, claiming the massive wickets of Guptill and Watling. In the end the game was very one sided, with Australia winning by 117 runs, but early on things looked as though they could be drastically different.
Mattw
Guest
I don't know, I'd take guptill over finch.
davSA
Guest
The one genuine world class player in the Kiwi team. Not disrespecting the others but he is the one NZ player we will also take on board.
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
WICKET, BOULT CAUGHT SECOND SLIP What a stunning catch from Smith, good enough to rival his catch in Sydney. Cummins was brought back on and first ball delivered a good length ball, just outside off. Boult stepped away and looked to cut the ball down to third man. He only got a thick outside edge and SMith dived high and too his right, plucking the ball out of the air when it seemed more likely to go for four.
Mattw
Guest
That catch to finish it off, that is perfect, the most fitting ending you could write.
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
Cummins is back on here.
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
Another good over from Faulkner, who is frustrated at not finishing things off here, but is bowling quite well regardless. New Zealand 9/147 (36th Over) (Target 265)
Paul Potter
Roar Guru
I'm not necessarily pointing the finger at the teams for looking to prioritise resources - the bigger point, rather than constantly reacting to the symptoms such as Australia's bowlers during that series, is to proactively fix the underlying problem - the need for a better schedule, reflecting a clearer international idea of what the game of cricket seeks to be about. At the moment, it seems too confused.
Klaus Nannestad
Roar Guru
Ferguson once more drives just short of cover. NZ are just delaying the inevitable though.