The first ODI between New Zealand and Australia takes place in Auckland on Monday with memories going back to that epic World Cup clash between the two on the same ground two years ago.
Both teams will be looking to move one up with two to play in the series so if matches can be more competitive between these two then this could be the one.
New Zealand
Although they have just come into this series off the back of a Test series win over Bangladesh, New Zealand won’t be underdone in white ball cricket. It wasn’t too long ago they were playing ODI and T20 series against Bangladesh and their domestic T20 competition only finished a couple of weeks back.
New Zealand will go into the match knowing if they are going to win it they will have to bowl well. That goes for the series as a whole but especially this opening match here at Eden Park. They will also need someone to stand up with the bat but they have good recent memories here which could be crucial.
Australia
The Australians have made out this series is important to them even though they haven’t sent across a full strength side here and you have to take them on their word. They haven’t had a warm up match in New Zealand but they have been playing one day cricket for the last couple of weeks and those who have been brought in have been on Big Bash duty.
Although Australia have sent some players straight to India that has largely been batsmen so they have a strong looking bowling attack out for this series. If their all-rounders can propel their totals they are going to be a force to be reckoned with once again.
Team News
New Zealand have confirmed that Tom Latham will have the gloves for this match which allows them to play the extra batsman. Ross Taylor returns having missed the limited overs series against Bangladesh.
Australia will be without Dave Warner, Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith for this series. Matthew Wade captains the side with Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh making returns to the top of the order.
Eden Park
This will be the 75th time that an ODI has been played on this ground. New Zealand are 33-34 with three no results and a couple of ties here while Australia are 11-7 at this venue. New Zealand have won the last two between these sides on this ground.
This is a rugby ground so there isn’t a safe boundary on the place which means any score is capable of being chased down. The boundaries are likely to flow in what is usually a high scoring ground.
Betting
I’m largely going to take a watching brief here given the unknowns about how the two sides will play in terms of Australia’s absentees and New Zealand’s batting issues but there is one bet that I can’t ignore.
That comes in the form of the sixes where a 13.5 line is low enough that it can be covered in one innings if a side gets going but even though New Zealand aren’t batting brilliantly there is enough depth in their batting for a couple of players to get some big shots away. With an extra batsman in the side I’m expecting New Zealand to bat a bit better anyway.
The last four ODIs on this ground have yielded 18, 16, 17 and 17 in terms of sixes totals with that last one coming despite the second innings seeing a side rolled for less than 150. That highlights the six hitting potential and I’m very much on the overs.
Tips
WON – Back Over 13.5 sixes for a 7/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
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