Bookie odds & player specials for NZ vs. Australia 3rd ODI

IT is difficult to look ahead to the third and final match of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy ODI series when everyone is still trying to figure out why the second game wasn’t played.

Thursday’s scheduled fixture in Napier was abandoned without a ball bowled despite a noted lack of inclement weather.

Morning rain had ceased some four hours before kick-off, yet the outfield at McLean Park was deemed unfit for play due to lingering wet patches around the 30-yard circle.

That fiasco has led to an inquiry by the Napier City Council, which owns the ground, while New Zealand Cricket is also looking into the matter.

The end result is that Australia must win in Hamilton if they wish to keep hold of the trophy they won back less than two months ago.

In a twist of fortune for the visitors, wicketkeeper Matthew Wade should be fit to play.

The stand-in skipper was a doubt for Napier after missing the first ODI with back spasms, but the extra few days’ recovery should see him reclaim his spot behind the stumps.

As Marcus Stoinis is positively undroppable after his stunning all-round display in Auckland, the most likely to make way for Wade is Sam Heazlett.

That the young Queenslander was picked in the squad at all has caused no little disquiet at home.

While plenty of experienced domestic players cannot get a look in, Heazlett was called up despite having never played 50-over cricket for his state.

Former ODI star Cameron White made some pointed comments on radio this week regarding the current selection policy and the lack of emphasis on players’ output at state level.

“I grew up watching and dreaming of playing for Australia and thinking how hard is it going to be to get a game for Australia and earn the absolute right? Now it sort of seems like in some terms and some stages is a development team,” he said.

“For me, playing for Australia isn’t about giving you a chance to develop. Domestic cricket is where that happens and at Futures League.”

Trevor Hohns, the interim chairman of selectors, was having none of that.

“I’m a little bit surprised by those comments, to be quite honest,” he said on Wednesday.

“The Sheffield Shield has been well-documented as being very important to us in Australian cricket — selectors, everybody.

“And then younger players — I think he just needs to remember that he was a very young man when he was given his first opportunity in one-day cricket.

“I don’t think there is any disparity there at all, to be honest.

“Cameron has had plenty of opportunities … he has had plenty of opportunities in the past and it’s probably fair to say performed okay without being earth shattering.”

Hohns’ remarks have not gone down well among the cricket community, earning a firm rebuke from Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Alastair Nicholson.

“Cameron is entitled to express his views, and Trevor Hohns and others from CA are entitled to disagree,” Nicholson said on Thursday.

“But to reduce the discussion to a negative critique of Cameron White’s career is playing the man, not the ball.

“Cameron continues to give his heart and soul to the game, his state and has been recognised as a captain of his country. He deserves better.”

White featured in 88 One Day Internationals for Australia, several as captain, scoring two centuries and averaging 34.52 with the bat.

Hohns played seven Test matches in the late 1980s as the fourth-choice spinner behind Greg Matthews, Peter Sleep and Peter Taylor.

Marcus Stoinis betting markets

Was it a fluke, or is this guy the gun allrounder the Australian selectors have been searching for?

The abandonment of the Napier ODI means we have not had the chance to see whether or not Stoinis can back up his heroics from the first match.

The West Australian played a lone hand in Auckland, taking three wickets and carting a wonderfully constructed 146 not out to drag the Aussies back into the contest.

It wasn’t quite enough to steal the win, but those returns should pique the interest of cricket punters everywhere.

Stoinis took out the top batsman, top bowler and man of the match markets at Eden Park, and at very juicy odds.

He is still offering value aplenty in each of those fields, along with some of the more exotic betting options at Australia’s best bookies.

Top match batsman – $26 at Sportsbet

To score 100 – $17 at Luxbet

Man of the match – $15 at Luxbet

Top Australia batsman – $10 at Sportsbet

Top Australia bowler – $8 at Luxbet

To hit three or more sixes – $8 at Luxbet

To score 50 – $3.25 at Luxbet

New Zealand vs. Australia ODI match tips

Australia were caught out by their lack of experienced heads in Auckland, crumbling in the face of an achievable target on a fairly small ground.

If it wasn’t for the surprising maturity of that Stoinis knock, they would have been utterly humiliated.

But Wade should return in Hamilton, which will add some batting depth and leadership.

It will also allow Stoinis to shift up the order one or two places.

New Zealand have weapons in all departments these days.

Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor form a very capable top order, while Trent Boult, Tim Southee and young Lockie Ferguson offer a nice blend of pace and precision with the ball.

There is also a lot to like about Mitchell Santner, whose left-arm spin returned 3/44 at Eden Park.

The Kiwis were slight favourites to win in Napier, so it is hard to explain why they have drifted out in the match betting for the third ODI.

We tipped Australia to edge game two, however, and we see no reason to change that bet.

Match result – Australia ($1.75 at Sportsbet)

Century scored? – No ($2.10 at William Hill)