for those who don't know, the CH trophy is an annual ODI series between NZ and AUS. first contested last season in AUS the trophy is currently shared after one quality game each way and the third being rained out.

this year it's three games in NZ at the start of december . . . how will they go?

NZ struggling for top order form at the moment and still losing games in the last over, AUS are pretty much just AUS - i'm not sure what else to say about that!

Obviously the visitors are favourites to take the trophy home - though i'm more nervous about what sort of pitches are going to be available after the rugby season! at least it's been unseasonally dry (touch wood)

Austalia's ond day form is blistering, I can't see anything other than 3-0 to Australia, New Zealands only hope is that every game is a white wash!

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Watch this for a perfect about.
James May

Surely NZ know what to do now: prepare pitches that make batting a nightmare and watch the Australians crumble. I'm sure you can find a set of medium pace seamers who can get the ball seaming and swinging - just trust them!

If the wicket seems McGrath will be devastating, and Lee will take wickets no matter what.

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Watch this for a perfect about.
James May

actually rachael you've just touch a nerve of mine. i don't know what the NZ selectors are thinking when they continually select someone like mills ahead of franklin. it REALLY grates me when they winge about 'not having someone with real pace' when bond is injured and yet continually overlook ian butler . . .

and yes, i'm expecting a 3-0 spanking but as long as the games are a good contest i'll be happy

Actually, I think NZ would have much more of a chance if they were playing in Australia. The Kiwis always seem to lift there game over there.

In fact since 2000 the stats looks something like this..
IN AUSTRALIA
NZ won 4
Australia won 2

IN NEW ZEALAND
NZ won 1
Australia won 9

Neutral Country
NZ won 0
Australia won 6

That's very interesting to see that NZ do better away rather than at home. Maybe they have more of yearning to compete in Aus. however the stats show that Aus. have the advantage and I don't think there will be any shocks.

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Watch this for a perfect about.
James May

I think its partly due to the seaming conditions were in New Zealand. We don't have the bowlers to properly utilise them, and McGrath and co. simply have a field day. This was very evident during their tour here last year, our batsmen basically had no show, bar a couple of good innings by Hamish Marshall.

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- VVVRulz..

the thing you have to remember about those stats was that 3 of the wins came during the 00/01 vb series when bond was both new to the scene and firing on all cylinders (before getting injured for the home series vs england).

the other win came in the first game of last years C-H trophy series - which was a cracker

i think the 'home' and 'neutral' stats are probably a fairer indication . . .

Can't wait for this....... though i think it's going to be a missmatch, we have players capable of winning games. Just need to again rely on dominance at the top from Flem and Astle....... and pray Shane Bond gets it right