A wonderful limited overs career comes to a conclusion on Monday when Brendon McCullum bows out of the one day game. He does so as New Zealand and Australia play out a series decider in Hamilton, a fitting way for the Kiwi captain to sign off.
New Zealand overwhelmed Australia to kick off the series but the tourists bounced back with an equally comfortable win in the second game so we’re set for a fantastic finale to what has been a competitive series so far.
Home advantage and the perception that they are the inferior side in the Anzac rivalry might well make this is bigger match for New Zealand than Australia at the best of times but I’m sure everyone involved will want to ensure their captain goes out on a high.
Mitchell Santner has had a good series so far but he suffered some soreness towards the end of the previous match and will need his fitness checking ahead of this decider. If he fails to make it then Ish Sodhi is likely to be the main spinner. No other changes are likely.
Australia ended a bit of a slump with their win in the previous match. That will hopefully have restored their confidence and they can now attack this match with authority. They’ll have the pressure on them as they are expected to win but they are used to that.
Kane Richardson pulled out of the previous ODI at the last minute and he has since gone home. Joel Paris has been added to the squad as cover but after such a convincing win in Wellington it would be a big surprise were Australia to name anything other than the same side again.
Seddon Park in Hamilton plays host to this deciding match in the series. There have been 27 previous ODIs on this ground. New Zealand have featured in 22 of them. Their record is 14-6 which is pretty strong while Australia are only 2-2 from their four games here.
For the first time in the series the two sides meet at a cricket only venue but it still isn’t a particularly big one so we can expect the runs to flow once again. The wicket here is usually flat, the boundaries are relatively tiny and everything is set up for the batsmen to shine. The new ball might swing but once the swing goes the bowlers are struggling.
I’m already on New Zealand to win this match with the series outright bet which gives me an immediate interest in the game but I’m not going to get involved in the match result again. Like most in this country this ground is tough to defend so the toss with play a big part.
One bet I will take on is for New Zealand to score the most sixes. So far in the series although the match outcome is 1-1 the sixes battle has finished 13-4 and 9-6 and there is enough in the price to get stuck into them again.
We know Brendon McCullum will go down swinging in his final game but I fancy his side will be very aggressive here to bow out in the style their captain likes to play. For Australia it is just about winning however it is done so the 11/10 on the Kiwis most sixes looks a solid way to start here.
I’ll also have a play at the Top Australia Batsman market. In both matches someone has gone well down the order for the tourists and Mitch Marsh is in decent form so he looks overpriced were the top order to fail again and he gets enough time at the crease.
He won the last game with a composed unbeaten 69 and finished the India series off with a century so he’s hitting the ball well and were Warner and Smith to offer little the Perth man could well be the one to take advantage.
WIN – Back New Zealand Most 6s for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Skybet
Back M.Marsh Top Australia Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 with Betway
