Cricket World Cup / Editor / 19 April 2007 / Leave a comment

World Cup Super 8's - Australia v New Zealand (Friday 14:30)

A lot has happened since these two sides last met. New Zealand eased to a 3-0 win in the Chappell-Hadlee trophy that preceded the tournament, but Australia have since dispelled suggestions that they are in decline. They go into this clash protecting a 100 per cent record and are now unbeaten in 26 World Cup matches. The defending champions trade as clear favourites to win their third consecutive World Cup, at 2.16.

The Black Caps have been highly efficient, kicking off their campaign with a win over England and losing just once since, to Sri Lanka. They are available as 6.2 outsiders in the winner's market, due perhaps to the convincing manner of that defeat by the Sri Lankans.

New Zealand did dispatch South Africa just as easily and the fact that none of the Aussies' rivals have made a clear break from the challenging group, suggests the favourites are streets ahead of the rest of the field.

South Africa and Sri Lanka were brushed aside with ease by Ricky Ponting's men and a good showing from the Black Caps in this clash would certainly earn the respect of their trans-Tasmin neighbours and lay a marker for the final should both sides progress.

Landing a psychological blow is about as much as either side can achieve, as the qualification places are all but decided. Australia are two points clear of the Kiwis and Sri Lanka and four ahead of South Africa.

The Aussies' vastly superior net run rate means that top spot is effectively out of New Zealand's reach, even if they win this clash. Scoring 300 from 50 overs and restricting Australia to 200 from 50 overs would still not be enough to overhaul the Aussies in the Super 8's table.

Australia will therefore plan for a semi final date with fierce rivals South Africa in St Lucia, whilst the Kiwis will face Sri Lanka in Jamaica. The Aussies trade at 1.47 to reach the final - which takes place in Barbados next Saturday - with New Zealand available at 2.16.

Both these well-drilled outfits will not be thinking beyond this particular Barbados clash though. Stephen Fleming's men have not played there yet and although Australia have, their swift win over Ireland did not enable them to have a close look at the Kensington Oval pitch.

There has been a suggestion that the toss winning captain might want to bat first and hope the pitch deteriorates, despite a trend for choosing to chase developing in the tournament. England failed to post a decent score against South Africa on Tuesday, but these sides are better equipped to put runs on the board.

However, chasing teams have been successful in 12 of the 23 One Dayers to be played on this ground and both teams will be aware of the manner in which the Kiwis achieved the targets set by the Aussies in their meetings in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

They achieved two of the three highest ever run chases as well as a 10 wicket mauling when in pursuit of 148. Ponting might therefore have second thoughts of batting first if the coin favours him, and if the Baggy Green batsmen do get going, punters might not rule out a Kiwi win as easily as they might once have done.

Those three wins certainly went against the form book. Before that Australia had lost just two of 22 ODI meetings between the two and have an overall win percentage of 69.44%, the highest of their records against any of the major Test playing nations. An Aussie win this time around is currently on offer at 1.5, with the Kiwis available at 2.98.

The World Cup record between these two is representative of their overall head-to-head history, with Australia winning four matches to the Black Caps' two. Their last meeting came in a Super 6 clash in Port Elizabeth in 2003 and there are likely to be as many as 11 survivors from that match, which Australia won by 96 runs.

Shane Bond took six for 23 that day in a man-of-the-match performance that exemplifies his penchant for facing the Aussies. He has taken 34 wickets in 11 appearances against them, at an average of 13.88.

The Black Caps' spearhead has the best economy rate and average of anyone bowling 100 or more balls in the tournament, although he is seemingly out of the running to top the wicket taking charts. Bond has 12 wickets, eight less than current leader Glenn McGrath and trades at 40 in the top wicket taker market.

This market is perhaps now a two horse race, between McGrath (2.12) and Muttiah Muralitharan (3.85). There is a three wicket gap between Murali and third placed Shaun Tait (12), who has taken three wickets for 150 runs from his three appearances against New Zealand.

The runscoring charts are also dominated by players from the teams who will comprise the semi finalists - there are two Australians, South Africans and Sri Lankans and one Kiwi in the collection of players to have scored more than 400 runs.

77 runs separate Jacques Kallis and Sanath Jayasuriya, but Matthew Hayden, Ponting and Scott Styris have a game in hand on their competition. Punters see Hayden as the man in form, as he is available at 2.44.

The big lefthander has passed 40 in seven of his last eight ODIs and started that run with an unbeaten 181 against the Black Caps, the highest ever ODI score by an Australian. That ton was his third in eight innings against New Zealand and Hayden for one will hope he gets to play them again in the final - he now averages 52.8 against New Zealand. An Aussie-Kiwi final trades at 2.7.

Just as this World Cup looks like becoming predictable, another shock comes along, although the Aussies will not agree with the sentiment that the tournament needs another upset. They are on course for a fourth World Cup win and do not want to lose momentum against New Zealand.