New Zealand v Australia ODI Series...Aussies Summer of Content

By Bigjoe

Commences Wednesday 01.00GMT

The Australians will be justified in paraphrasing William Shakespeare in declaring that this has been their summer of content and they will be looking for a glorious ending away to New Zealand.

Wed Mar 3 01:00 GMT	1st ODI - McLean Park, Napier
Sat Mar 5 23:00 GMT	2nd ODI - Eden Park, Auckland
Tue Mar 9 01:00 GMT	3rd ODI - Seddon Park, Hamilton
Thu Mar 11 01:00 GMT	4th ODI - Eden Park, Auckland
Sat Mar 13 01:00 GMT	5th ODI - Westpac Stadium, Wellington

It has indeed been an amazingly successful summer for the Aussies. They have swept aside both West Indies and Pakistan in all formats and done so in a dominating manner that would have done recent formidable Aussie sides proud.

After the first Twenty20 game on this tour to New Zealand it looked like that dominance was going to continue as some brutal hitting at the top of the order by Warner wrapped up a rather one-sided encounter. However the Kiwis fought back in the 2nd match and they prevailed in the super over

Has been a revelation Ryan Harris

after the main event ended in a dramatic tie.

That win will have given the Kiwis confidence for this ODI series and I believe they will provide the first real stiff test for the Aussies in recent weeks. The kiwis will also have pleasant memories of the previous ODI series at home against the Aussies which they won 3-0.

There is no Warner for Australia for these ODI games, but they still have master blasters Watson and White in great form as well as the reliable middle order of Ponting , Clarke and Hussey. On the bowling front Ryan Harris has been a revelation and along with Mitchell Johnson he forms a more then decent pace duo. However the back up bowling of Mckay and Hopes could be the weak link.

The Kiwis will again be relying heavily on the the likes of Mccullum, Taylor and Vettori, but they also have Guptil, Styris and Oram as potential power hitters. On the bowling front they have been bolstered by the recent return of Shane Bond and his spells along with the ever reliable spin of Vettori Will be crucial in this series.

Overall Australia are rightly favourites for this series. They are playing out of their skins, their confidence levels will be soaring and the must almost feel invincible at the moment. However, the Kiwis, on their home pitches, will represent a stiffer task then Aussies faced at home this summer.

Australia are priced up at 1.25 to win this series. That is obviously a reflection of their recent dominant form but I feel they, nor any other team playing away against another top 8 side, should be priced that low. The Kiwis have always punched above their weight, especially at home and they do tend to be inspired when they play the old enemy. I believe its well worth opposing the Aussies in this series and therefore my suggested bet is:

In The Series Outright Market:

LAY Australia for 3 points liability at 1.24 at Betfair.

In The Series Correct Score Market:

BACK New Zealand to win 3-2 for 1 point @ 6.0 at William Hill, Bet365 & Bwin

BACK New Zealand to win 4-1 for 1 point @ 19.0 at Bet365.

Join me as I believe this summer of content for the Aussies will not be made any more glorious by the Kiwis.

Bigjoe