Aotearoa vs Australia ODI Series Preview
Aotearoa continue to wiggle through their cricketing schedule with an excursion to Cairns where they will play three ODIs against Australia. Blackcaps amp up their concentrated vibe that started in West Indies where they rolled out their best possible line ups after using their pool of depth for previous legs of their winter tour. These three games are part of the World Cup Super League where Aotearoa sits fourth on 110 points (11-1) and Australia is seventh (9-6) on 90 points.
No drastic moves in the Blackcaps squad unless you are still buzzing about Blackcaps contracts. For all the news hype around Blackcaps contracts, Trent Boult and Jimmy Neesham are still being selected. They are joined by Finn Allen and Ben Sears in this squad, who were all selected ahead of capable contracted players.
Allen opened in all three ODIs vs West Indies and his selection points to him possibly opening against Australia. Henry Nicholls and Will Young are opening options overlooked for this squad, while the kiwis could tinker and bump someone like Devon Conway up the order to create space elsewhere. Allen is a unique batting talent who fits snug among a batting unit consisting of Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Conway and Tom Latham.
There are Blackcaps favourites that have emerged recently in Allen and Michael Bracewell, with both enjoying ample opportunities this year. Allen would be wise to snap up these chances against high quality opposition as there is competitive depth ready to take his place, however there does seem to be a plan to embed Allen in as a white ball opener.
Bracewell is similar given his flashes of reliable role-playing mahi. The combination of batting class and slugging makes Bracewell a nifty selection down the order, plus he is brewing as a capable second spinner. Bracewell didn't take a wicket in three ODIs vs Windies though and is unlikely to dominate games against better teams. He is a versatile, mature cricketer who the leaders can rely upon.
Aotearoa spin bowling is still determined by personal opinion and vibe. Attacking options captivate me and the leggies of Ish Sodhi provide that juice, which will be on display with Australia's Adam Zampa. Each one of your cricketing folks will have their favourite spinner as well and with Mitchell Santner locked in for ODIs, Blackcaps are riding with Bracewell to add more batting oomph.
Don't assume that seam bowling will be dominant in Cairns. Spin was a factor for the Australia vs Zimbabwe series in Townsville and Cairns isn't far away, while winter in Cairns is closer to an Aotearoa summer. As Blackcaps will likely try to squeeze Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Neesham and Bracewell into one or two 1st 11 spots; perhaps adding a spin option there could be a factor.
Sears is also gathering Blackcaps favourite buzz, although his selection feels the most warranted of this fringe zone and also provides development opportunities for Sears. Interestingly, Sears appears to have overtaken the Jacob Duffy and Blair Tickner pocket of kiwi seamers with Kyle Jamieson a notable absence via injury. Adam Milne was also thrown up as unavailable due to injury, although Milne hasn't played an ODI since 2017 and ODI cricket is his worst format.
Availability is the best ability and Sears has stayed available all year, hence his development continues to progress. Don't bank on Sears playing though and I reckon conditions will be a factor in this, as well as Sears being behind Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson. Having a frothing speedster in the squad does offer value though.
Latham is Aotearoa's leading run-scorer in the Super League with 488 runs @ 61avg/95.12sr. Latham and Guptill are the only kiwis who have played all 12 Super League games, meanwhile Williamson has played just one game.
Henry has the most wickets for Aotearoa with 12w @ 18.77avg/4.59rpo. Watch out for the Southee/Ferguson combo as Southee has struggled in ODI cricket before enjoying a career-best pocket vs West Indies and Ferguson has been exceptional as a white ball bowler but he struggled in the Caribbean.
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Peace and love.