Michael Clarke headed back to his country after his fiancé Lara Bingle’s nude photo had been published in the magazine. Clarke went home to support her and should return for the test series starting Friday.

It will be a tester for Michael Clarke, perhaps his final hurdle before the Australian cricket board finally, decide on who will captain the test side once Ricky ponting decides to call it a day. Many experts including current and former players are fully backing Clarke on becoming test captain in spite of his off field problems of injuries and now personal.

The aussies were coming off a wonderful home summer and as expected they delivered, perhaps not how well as expected, but nevertheless they did. After not a single loss at home which included over 19 matches (6 tests, 10 ODI’S, 3 T20’S) a similar drubbing of the black caps was expected. But, the black caps gave the aussies a reality check—not to fall ahead of themselves at this stage.

1. 1st T20 International— Wellington— 26th February, 2010
Result: Australia won by 6 wickets with 24 balls to spare

2. 2nd T20 International— Christchurch— 28th February, 2010
Result: New Zealand won (1 over eliminator)

3. 1st One day International— Napier— 3rd March, 2010
Result: New Zealand won by 2 wickets with 4 balls to spare

4. 2nd One day International— Auckland—6th March, 2010
Result: Australia won by 12 runs (D/L Method)

5. 3rd One day International— Hamilton— 9th March, 2010
Result: Australia won by 6 wickets with 16 balls remaining

6. 4th One day International— Auckland— 11th March, 2010
Result: Australia won by 6 wickets with 17 balls remaining (D/L Method)

7. 5th One day International— Wellington— 13th March, 2010
Result: New Zealand won by 51 runs

Clearly, New Zealand have been Australia’s toughest fight. After a sedate start to their campaign the aussies were in for a surprise during the 2nd T20 match where the black caps, McCullum in particular seems to have woke up the right side of the bed that morning. He went on to smack one of the most memorable 100’s this format has seen or will see.

In spite of the short boundaries McCullum played the scoop to great effect, in fact he was seen doing it to perhaps the fastest bowler in the world at the moment, Shaun Tait. The match was a great spectacle for the fans as it went into a super over which the home team eventually won.

That was the best match of the summer, as far as Australia is concerned. It was a close series—some of the numbers put above go to show how close the games were.

The aussies eventually showed their class and went on to win their 3rd one day series of the summer. You’d expect the aussies to cream the black caps in the test series beginning Friday. But, the same was thought about the ODI’s, time will tell…

Mitchell Johnson

It was Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris who were Australia’s heroes with the ball at the end of the second ODI. Australia survived a late scare from the new Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori after his he displayed a wonderful array of shots all round the wicket en route his innings of 70 of just 49 balls. Vettori exposed his stumps all day as he moved across his stumps and flicked for boundaries in the square leg, long leg region. New Zealand were in tatters before Daniel Vettori walked in with the score being 131 for 6 and the black caps still needing another 135 off 114 deliveries.

Earlier in the day ponting had called right for the second time in a row and surmisably Australia decided to bat first. The Australians failed to convert another good start provided by their openers Watson (47) and Haddin (53). Both the openers failed to carry on and were dismissed in an attempt to increase the tempo. Ricky ponting and his deputy Michael Clarke both fell to dismal strokes leaving Australia in trouble at 116 for 4. It was up to Cameron white and Michael Hussey to dig them out of the hole that they had created from themselves to a substantial total.

Call him Mr. Cricket or Mr. Fixit, Michael Hussey always comes up with the goods when the Australians need him. And so he did this time around too as he put on a game changing partnership of over a 100 with Cameron white. The duo were flawless and looked set to help Australia put on a score off over 300 before Cameron white holed out in the deep to Brendon McCullum. The wicket fell just against the run off play and halted proceedings for a while as Australia once again posted a below par score off 273.

White fell before hammering two consecutive massive sixes of James Franklin who later stretched his hamstring. He (white) fell in an attempt to clear the boundary on the third instance. The strategy seemed logic less as it was the 43rd over and Australia still had their batting power play in hand. Had they taken it white would possibly have carried on.

New Zealand started their chase with Brendon McCullum attacking Doug Bollinger. Bollinger really had one of his off days, perhaps his worst of the summer. Ponting was very pro-active throughout the day. He saw that, and immediately brought in a change he brought in Mitchell Johnson to bowl in the 5th over of the New Zealand innings.

The crowd with their ‘booing’ tried to put Johnson off his game all day but only inspired him to perform better. Johnson, on the day let the ball do the talking by picking up a 4-for. Before he started his spell, Johnson at the top of his run up turned, faced the west stand and kissed his Australian coat of arms and accounted for McCullum in his first over itself. Ponting in the post match presentation said that the emotional quickie was only spurred on “if anything” by the whole saga today.

Johnson was seen accompanied by a security personnel while fielding at the boundary. Ryan Harris struck with a couple of L.B.W’s off consecutive balls putting Australia in front before the rain finally came. The match was then reduced to 45 over one with the black caps needing 266 to win (D/L method). Australia were in the driver’s seat before Styris (Australia’s undoing the last time round), Hopkins and Tuffey all played well around their skipper Daniel Vettori who gave the Australia some butterflies.

In the end it came down to 13 off 11 balls as Vettori tried another of his flicks only to see his stumps rattled by Ryan Harris. How ironic it was that the match had to end with Vettori playing his, for the day ‘flick’. The anguish was etched on Vettori’s face after he was dismissed for a classy 70. Ponting later said that this wasn’t Australia best performance by any stretch of imagination and they had a lot of work to do. Australia do need to do some “fine tuning” before they go in to Hamilton’s fixture on Tuesday.

New Zealand’s hero was set to miss the match as he decided to rest his neck but was forced to play after Ross Taylor injured his leg during practice. With Oram also missing Vettori had to play. However, Vettori showed “A wounded man can still hurt you”—just.

Although the visitors ended up on the losing side in the opener, there really wasn’t too much to choose between the two teams. And hence, all they must look to do is put up an improved batting as well as bowling performance, with the latter being more important. Luckily, they do not have any injury worries at the present moment.

Openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin are in supreme form while the skipper himself can be expected to perform to keep his side in the hunt in this prestigious rivalry. The Aussie middle-order is as strong as any in the world today, with the classy Michael Clarke and suave Michael Hussey ably backed by the big hitting of Cameron White and James Hopes. What’s more, all of them have been among the runs lately, scoring heavily at that.

The Australian bowling suffered at the hands of Ross Taylor and co in Napier, but expect them to fight back strongly at Auckland. Mitchell Johnson won’t get a warm reception at the venue following his run-in with Styris. However, he shouldn’t mind it if crucial wickets come his way. Ryan Harris will find it difficult to repeat his heroics against Pakistan, but even if he is half as effective, the Aussies will be benefited amply. Doug Bollinger and Clint McKay have impressed more often than not whenever given the responsibility and whoever plays at Auckland will be expected to do the same. Ditto with Nathan Hauritz, who is slowly settling into his job as the side’s frontline spinner.

Unlike the Aussies, the Kiwis have a few injury worries, which will give them headaches despite the 1-0 lead, none more troublesome than the painful neck of their effervescent skipper Daniel Vettori. If the left-arm spinner doesn’t play, it would mean than Taylor will have to continue leading the team. And although, he did an admirable job in the opening encounter, the home side would want Vettori to be back as soon as possible, considering he has an impressive record against the number one ODI side in the world.

All-rounder Jacob Oram is another one on the hurt list. A tear of the patella tendon has ruled him out for one month which means additional responsibility on the seniors like Brendon McCullum and Taylor. Among the bowlers, spearhead Shane Bond will have to stand up and be counted once again.
The small ground means another high-scoring game is on the cards, but it should be a tight contest nonetheless.