Kiwis calm before Chappell-Hadlee storm

The Black Caps will be keeping things low-key as they prepared for the first of three Chappell-Hadlee one-day internationals against Australia.

There won't be any obvious ramping up of intensity as New Zealand prepare for Wednesday's opening one-day international against Australia.

Coach Mike Hesson, speaking after the Black Caps' three-wicket win over Pakistan on Sunday, says consistency is the focus going into the three-match Chappell-Hadlee series.

"We'll operate the same way we normally do - if we start ramping up and ramping down, we're not going to get the consistency we're after," Hesson said on Monday.

"The key for us is to prepare well, and make sure we're really consistent with how we go about things."

Hesson said his team would need to do their homework, despite having played three Tests against Australia across the Tasman in December.

"There's new faces, guys we haven't faced, so that's going to take a little bit of time to adjust," he said.

"But we'll look at enough video footage, familiarise ourselves with their actions and variations, and hopefully put on a bit of a show on Wednesday."

Hesson was expecting the new-look Australian ODI line-up to attack the Eden Park boundaries, with memories of New Zealand's World Cup pool win at the same ground last year long gone.

"It's a different group, it's led differently. It's got a different attack but also a pretty explosive batting line-up.

"I'm sure they'll look at those boundaries and look to be relatively aggressive."

Hesson said returning captain Brendon McCullum had pulled up well enough after his first outing in a month since injuring his back in an ODI against Sri Lanka.

"It was quite a heavy ground, so I think all the guys are pretty stiff and sore.

"With Brendon not having played for a month, it was obviously going to affect him but he got through it all right and at the end of the game he was fine."

McCullum injured himself crashing into an advertising hoarding against Sri Lanka while trying to prevent a boundary, and had Hesson on edge when he did exactly the same in the ninth over against Pakistan.

The 34-year-old skipper needed to receive on-field treatment, but Hesson said that wasn't unusual, given the commitment with which he played.

"He plays cricket at one speed," he said.

"When you don't play for a month, then stand around for three-and-a-half hours and dive, it's going to hurt.

"But he got through it all right. Brendon is, as we know, fiercely determined and he's really looking forward to the next month or so."


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Source: AAP


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