Guptill shows Finch the way back

Australia’s cricketers are rallying around their struggling captain Aaron Finch as he tries to save his spot and avert a trans-Tasman rarity: three straight defeats to New Zealand.

After Martin Guptill burst out of his form slump in spectacular fashion in Dunedin, and Finch’s continued, the sides reconvene in Wellington for game three on Wednesday night with a Black Caps Twenty20 series win beckoning.

With the Black Caps up 2-0 after Christchurch and Dunedin sellouts, NZ Cricket reported 13,000 tickets issued, and were hopeful of a capital crowd near the 20,495 who watched the 2016 ODI against Australia.

Just three times have New Zealand won three in a row against big brother in any format: in the 2007 one-day international series at home (when Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist were rested), and across the Tasman in the 1983 and 2002 tri-series.

For Finch, the regular white ball skipper leading a side without big guns David Warner, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, it’s been a horror start to 2021.

Since he scored 114, 60 and 75 in the pre-Christmas ODIs against India, Finch averaged 13.76 in 13 Big Bash League T20s – finishing with a run of eight sub-15 scores – then opened this series with one and 12. Tim Southee nicked him off in Christchurch, then Finch skied a catch off Ish Sodhi on Thursday.

Said allrounder Marcus Stoinis, who nearly hauled Australia to victory chasing 220 in Dunedin: ‘‘As for Finchy, there’s full confidence that he’s going to perform for us.

‘‘I see it as a long-term picture, because come the World Cup we need him firing.

‘‘He’s arguably the best Twenty20 batter in the world over a long period of time.

‘‘His record is so good, he’s our captain . . . we just trust him.’’

Still, the Black Caps bowlers will sense a pressure point in the three remaining matches and should Finch continue missing out, tough conversations will be required with the T20 World Cup in India looming in October.

Another 34-year-old opener, Guptill, provided the blueprint in Dunedin, scoring 97 off 50 balls after having looked bereft of form and confidence for Auckland and New Zealand this summer.

‘‘I’ve been pretty clear the last couple of innings. I knew what I wanted to do, and in Christchurch it didn’t come off. Today it was nice to get a wide half-volley first ball to get under way,’’ Guptill told Spark Sport.

‘‘When you’re not scoring runs you always question a few things and I’m the same, there were a few things I was questioning.

‘‘But I just tried to go out and watch the ball, each ball as it came down and it worked out for me.’’

‘‘His record is so good, he’s our captain . . . we just trust him.’’ Australian allrounder Marcus Stoinis hails captain Aaron Finch