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Plenty riding on trans-Tasman contest

Plenty riding on trans-Tasman contest

02/23/2010 03:24:27 AM

Get ready for a thrill a minute when the Aussies take on New Zealand in two Twenty20 Internationals this weekend.

With the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies in April, both teams will be using these matches as important hit-outs to get their team ready for the Cup.

If you are in the crowd in Wellington or Christchurch, make sure you bring a crash helmet. It's likely to be raining sixes.

Whether it be David Warner or Shane Watson. Or Brendon McCullum or Ross Taylor, the boundaries at both venues are going to get a working over.

I have had the suspicion in the past that the Aussies have treated Twenty20 as a frivolous accompaniment to the other fare on the cricket menu.

Their normally furrowed brows, etched with concentration, would be replaced with seldom seen smiles. Gosh, they even had time to enjoy a chat to the commentators if they were miked up.

Things have changed as the Twenty20 circus has become a more legitimate part of the landscape, and Australia is now more accepting and more serious about the concept.

As far as determining the fortunes of either team for the whole series, the Twenty20 internationals maybe don't have much influence.

But there is great upside for the Black Caps should they beat Australia this weekend.

The psychological boost this will give them would be huge and Dan Vettori will be well aware that a positive energy boost is just what is required before the Test and ODI battles begin.

Like everyone else I am looking forward to the individual stand-offs.

McCullum v Shaun Tait should be a beauty, and McCullum will surely be testing the old maxim that 'the faster they bowl, the further they can travel'.

And when Shane Bond runs in to bowl to Warner, there will be a sense of real anticipation.

Warner has crafted a reputation for himself as a Twenty20 specialist and is nigh on impossible to contain at his best.

Bond is also these days confined to limited overs play and is a player who loves the occasion; indeed Australia is an opponent Bond performs well against.

The scene is set. Bring it on.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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