AUCKLAND, 17 February 2005 — New Zealand and Australia square-off in a Twenty20 cricket match here today, using the new rapid-fire form of the game to try to ignite interest in their upcoming series which includes five One-Day Internationals and three Tests.
New Zealand, although ranked second in the world in limited overs cricket, go into the series plagued with injuries while Australia arrive off the back of a series in which they trounced both Pakistan and the West Indies.
Four players in the New Zealand squad — Kyle Mills, Jeff Wilson, Daniel Vettori and Scott Styris — have injury niggles bringing a lop-sided feel to the series and waning public interest. Twenty20, though, is “ideal for marketing the tour and starting the juices flowing,” former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe wrote in a weekly newspaper column.
The new cricket phenomenon is designed to push people through the turnstiles and hold them for three-hours of non-stop scoring, rather than the day-long, stop-start nature of 50-over one-day cricket where public interest appears to be waning.
“In three hours you can’t get away from an exhibition of fast and furious action,” Crowe said. “There will be little thought from captains compared to ODIs and little strategy compared to “Tests.”
Although the tour focus remains firmly fixed on the opening one-day international in Wellington on Saturday, New Zealand coach John Bracewell said the Twenty20 match was a good opportunity to have an early “sighter” of each other.
Statistics may favour New Zealand who have not lost a home series in four years and in the 1974 calendar year won 76 percent of all ODIs, shading Australia’s 73 percent, but statistics count for nought compared to current form where Australia have an aura of invincibility.
Double All Black Wilson, who returns to the international line up after a 12-year lay-off, said it was no secret Australia were viewed as the toughest opponent on offer, but he took confidence from the form of the New Zealand side over the past 12 to 18 months.
“The Aussies are the world’s premier team but we’re a pretty accomplished one-day side too, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the challenge,” he said.
