da lvbet： COLOMBO – Australia is working on a plan to reverse New Zealand’s recentdominance in trans-Tasman one-day cricket clashes and avoid yet anotherearly exit from the Champions Trophy tournament.
Michael Donaldson10-Sep-2002COLOMBO – Australia is working on a plan to reverse New Zealand’s recentdominance in trans-Tasman one-day cricket clashes and avoid yet anotherearly exit from the Champions Trophy tournament.Australia meets New Zealand, the defending champion, in its Trophyopener on Sunday.Captain Ricky Ponting, commenting on Australia’s first-round exit in theprevious two editions of this tournament when it was a knock-outcontest, joked that “at least we get two games this time”.But with the second game for both teams against minnow Bangladesh, ithas essentially come down to a knock-out match between the two oldrivals for a place in the semi-finals.”All our work and training over the next few days is geared around NewZealand,” Ponting said.New Zealand had it all over Australia in last summer’s one-dayinternationals, winning three of four matches in Australia – and onlylosing the other after a Michael Bevan Houdini act with the bat whenAustralia was down and out in Melbourne.Asked if Australia had done any work to address the questions raised byNew Zealand last summer, coach John Buchanan said: “The answer’s ‘yes’but not that we’re going to elaborate here.””Certainly New Zealand played to a very good game plan and theycertainly challenged the way we played and we didn’t necessarily respondto that very well through that series.”That’s one of the issues we’ll focus on ahead of this game and we’llhandle that a lot better this time.”New Zealand beat Australia by casting a spell over the top order batsmenwith Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, Damien Martyn and Ponting all averagingless than 16 against the Kiwis last summer.Australia also failed to adapt to New Zealand’s tactics as accuratebowling and precise field placements undid the batting line-up.The Australian selectors responded by axing the Waugh brothers while IanHarvey was another fixture who would eventually be removed. Australiahas since played dynamic cricket under Ponting, with 10 wins, a tie, ano result and three losses in the past 15 games.New Zealand, on the other hand, has struggled for form – winning onlythree of its past 15 games, and will be missing key all-rounder ChrisCairns, who is injured.New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said tactics and planning wouldagain be the foundation of New Zealand’s efforts.”We respect them as a cricket side and you have to be at the top of yourgame to compete well with them, but we back ourselves to do that throughhard work and good planning.”New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming admitted the loss of Cairns couldhurt his side.”The absence of Chris Cairns has affected the balance of the sidebecause he is a world-class all-rounder, but it has given an opportunityto younger players and they have come to the fore.”Also out is pugnacious batsman Craig McMillan, who refused to tour forsafety reasons.New Zealand has had a tough time in Sri Lanka in recent years, withtours coinciding with terrorist attacks in 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2001.Fleming singled out fast bowler Shane Bond and all-rounders Scott Styrisand Jacob Oram – New Zealand’s answer to big Tom Moody – as the playersto look out for.”Shane Bond is an exceptional talent, a fast bowler with genuine pacethat we are very lucky to have. Jacob Oram is an exciting all-rounderand Scott Styris had a successful tour of the West Indies.”