Looking Ahead: NZ vs Aus

First up, commiserations to those who've been hit by the devastation in Christchurch. Against this backdrop, tomorrow's game has been granted Chappell-Hadlee status, and although NZ have surpass themselves in C-H clashes, it is worth noting that they have never beaten Australia in the subcontinent.

While Australia are no doubt formidable, the gap between the two sides is not as large as it once was so NZ really should back themselves. The Aussies' spin attack is not as stifling as the ones NZ have struggled against in recent times so the batsmen - Guptill, McCullum, Ryder, Taylor - have even more incentive to handle the Lee-Tait-Johnson trio sensibly.

We've tended to do well against Australia when we pack the side with slower bowlers and frustrate their middle order, but there's an urgent need for strike-power as well (Geoff Allott's 4-37 in 1999 and Shane Bond's 6-23 in 2003 come to mind). As a result, Hamish Bennett will keep Kyle Mills out of the side. Mills has often saved his best efforts for Australia, so that puts a bit more pressure on the hit-and-miss Bennett to deliver tomorrow.

Jonathan Millmow gives us a glimpse of what to expect tomorrow, in a list of player-vs-player matchups. I would add one more to his list: Shane Watson vs Hamish Bennett. Either the young Cantabrian nails Watson and allows NZ an early crack at Australia's underperforming middle order, or Watson smacks him all over the park on the way to another big score.