Australia vs. New Zealand first ODI punting tips and exotics

HAVING won back some pride in the Adelaide Test, Australia will now look to kick the revival into top gear by reclaiming the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

The world champions were slaughtered in their recent One Day International tour of South Africa, losing all five matches.

That, combined with the sudden departure of head selector Rod Marsh last month, has resulted in some interesting changes to the limited-overs squad.

Uncapped West Australian allrounder Hilton Cartwright is in, while seamers Scott Boland, Joe Mennie, Chris Tremain and Daniel Worrall are all out.

Also missing is the world’s leading ODI wicket-taker for 2016, John Hastings, who was as perplexed as anyone at his surprise omission.

“I was very disappointed – I was initially pretty shocked, to be honest,” Hastings told reporters last week.

“I felt my performances over the last 12 months had probably stacked up and in my mind, I’m 100% fit.

“I know I haven’t played a lot of cricket, but five and a half months of not playing cricket and then going over to Sri Lanka without a game, it didn’t really stack up for me.

“So yeah, I was very disappointed not to be in that side.”

Australia’s bowling stocks are hardly bare, however, as Test stars Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are both tipped to play.

So is James Faulkner, whose man of the match performance steered the Aussies to victory over New Zealand in the 2015 Cricket World Cup final.

Ten of that title-winning squad have made the cut for this series, including George Bailey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell.

But it’s a very different story for the Black Caps.

Out of the 16 players on their World Cup 2015 roster, only six have made the hop across the ditch to defend the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Grant Elliott, Kyle Mills and Daniel Vettori have all retired, while Corey Anderson, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne and Ross Taylor are out injured.

There is no Luke Ronchi either, with first-choice Test wicketkeeper BJ Watling preferred behind the stumps.

“We are missing some key players,” New Zealand coach Mike Hesson told the press in Sydney on Thursday.

“We’ve lost over 1000 one-day international games since the World Cup. To replace those is a challenge.

“But we’ve also got some exciting players that you guys won’t know a lot about. Hopefully you will in a week or 10 days.

“That’s important for us to give them this sort of exposure, and find out which ones we want to keep backing and supporting.”

Among the newcomers are legspinner Todd Astle, of no relation to former Kiwi bat Nathan; Colin de Grandhomme, the Zimbabwe-born allrounder who made such an impressive Test debut against Pakistan last month; and Lockie Ferguson, an uncapped 25-year-old quick who may well have the beating of Cummins and Starc when it comes to raw pace.

“He’s like Adam Milne, they’ve both bowled over 150 at times,” Hesson said of Ferguson.

“Lockie is at the early stage of his career, but we know that he’s capable of bowling at pace at times.

“It’s difficult, your first series there’s obviously going to be some nerves. But he’s a confident character.

“When he gets his opportunity, I’m sure he’ll give us a point of difference in our attack, which is important.”

It is quick turnaround for the New Zealanders, who only this week completed a 2-0 Test series win over Pakistan.

They will have but a couple of days to settle in and switch gears ahead of the first ODI, which is scheduled to kick off at 2:20pm this Sunday at the SCG.

Australia vs. New Zealand ODI squads

Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner (vice captain), George Bailey, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, BJ Watling.

Mitchell Starc betting specials

There is no better bowler with the white ball in hand.

Just look at Starc’s career ODI stats: 56 matches, 110 wickets, average 19.6, strike rate 24.6.

Hazelwood is in excellent touch and Cummins will be eager to make the most of whatever opportunities he gets, but Mitch is the man.

It was he who struck the first decisive blow of the 2015 World Cup final, tearing out Brendon McCullum’s stumps in the opening over.

It would be no surprise to see him produce more of the same in Sydney on Sunday.

Most wickets vs. Hazlewood and Southee – $2.55 at CrownBet

Top Australia bowler – $3.50 at Bet365

Man of the match – $11 at Bet365

Top Australia batsman – $81 at Bet365

Kane Williamson top batsman odds

Many Kiwi cricket buffs have already pegged this guy as the nation’s greatest ever player.

Even the late, great Martin Crowe was happy to hand over that mantle.

At 26 years of age, Williamson boasts the kind of international record most players would be delighted to retire with.

Now captain of the post-McCullum era, he continues to set the example with consistent scoring and positive leadership in all formats.

The Black Caps have plenty of capable bats; we all know what Martin Guptill can do, while Colin Munro can be devastating in the middle order.

But Williamson is the rock, not to mention a very handy outsider for the wicket-taker betting with his canny offbreaks.

Top New Zealand batsman – $4 at Bet365

To score 50 – $2.40 at William Hill

To score 100 – $6 at Palmerbet

Top match batsman – $7.50 at Sportsbet

Man of the match – $11 at Bet365

Top New Zealand bowler – $23 at Palmerbet