Aussies hint at changes as NZ chase rare three-peat

Australia have hinted at changes to their lineup as the Black Caps eye the rarified air of three successive victories over their trans-Tasman rivals, at a favourite Twenty20 international venue now devoid of fans.

After the White Ferns take on England in their T20 opener, Kane Williamson’s team strides out at 7pm onto an eerie, empty Sky Stadium in Wellington today to try and clinch their series 3-0 with two to play.

Just three times in the history of transTasman men’s cricket has New Zealand won three straight in the same series: in 1983 and 2002 in tri-series across the Tasman, and 2007 at home when big guns Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist were rested for the preWorld Cup one-day internationals.

For this series, too, Australia are down on star power with David Warner, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins among the absentees, but that won’t quell any joy at a rare series victory.

‘‘To beat them, it’s tough. They don’t lie down and in the first two games we’ve had to be somewhere near our best and we’re going to have to be that again,’’ coach Gary Stead said.

Especially in T20 internationals, in which India swept the Black Caps 5-0 last summer including two Super Over defeats.

One of those was in Wellington when the hosts botched their chase for 166 and tied.

The winning formula in Christchurch

and Dunedin was similar: bat first and post an over-par total then defend like terriers.

Devon Conway (99 not out off 59 balls) and a rejuvenated Martin Guptill (97 off 50) set the tone, with early wickets with the swinging ball in Christchurch then crucial late overs from Trent Boult and Jimmy Neesham in Dunedin finishing both jobs.

‘‘That’s what Jimmy trains for. There were other balls that you could argue were really good and got hit out of the park,’’ Stead said.

‘‘You take the good with the bad, and we’ve had a number of bad things when you look at Super Overs so maybe Mother Cricket is coming back to support us.’’

Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald, standing in for Justin Langer who was meant to be in South Africa with the test side, hinted they would mix it up.

‘‘We haven’t got those middle overs right. That may be a reason for us to reinforce that area or make some changes that potentially strengthen that area with both bat and ball,’’ he said.

Spinner Ashton Agar could make way, with potential for the express Riley Meredith to come in for his T20 debut after some rapid spells for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League.

Neither the NZRL nor the Warriors are in any rush for there to be a second NRL team in New Zealand.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo raised the prospect of a second NRL team in the country as well as another one in Queensland in an interview with NRL.com on Monday, saying: ‘‘Having two teams in New Zealand creates a tribalism and a new rivalry in New Zealand.’’

However, NZRL CEO Greg Peters said the game isn’t yet in a place in the country where it could accommodate another professional team.

‘‘If we can grow the game from the base up and reignite the pathways at junior levels, which is what we’re starting to do with a new under-20s competition, then the long-term vision should be to do that and it should be one of the next stepping stones,’’ Peters told Stuff.

‘‘But on the immediate horizon there are significant commercial hurdles in a small economy, which has a number of professional sports codes already operating.’’

The Warriors have been taken aback by Abdo’s comments.

Club chairman Rob Croot said it’s the wrong time to be talking about expansion into New Zealand.

‘‘Officially, the NRL has told us that no decisions have been made and the process has yet to be agreed for reviewing expansion into the competition,’’ he said.

‘‘So to be honest, it was a bit of a surprise to see Andrew’s comments in the media.

‘‘But from what we’re seeing at the moment, New Zealand hasn’t got the capability of supporting another team commercially.

‘‘There are also some question marks over youth development and having enough good players at that level, without diluting the intensity of the competition.

‘‘So with the NRL, unless they’re thinking well into the future, anytime soon would be destructive for the game in New Zealand.’’

It could be suggested the reason the Warriors oppose a second NRL team in New Zealand is because they don’t want their New Zealand fan base reduced.

But Croot can see positives from having that rivalry between two NRL teams in the country.

‘‘If there is a marketplace for it then absolutely,’’ he said.

‘‘But my concern now would be diluting the intensity of it and there are a number of sports close to home and around the world that have increased their competition and diluted what the fans have wanted and the high quality of players at that level.

‘‘If you bring in two more teams, that’s another 60 players and I don’t see those players at the moment.

‘‘Fundamentally, when the time is right, the Warriors would absolutely support it. Our argument is that right now we’re on the bones of our ass and the team is stuck in Australia away from our fanbase, away from our sponsors and everything we stand for, so conversations about a second team in New Zealand isn’t good timing.’’

Having a second NRL team, outside of Auckland would help grow the game around the country, but if that team was to fall over after a couple of years it would cause irreparable damage.

The NRL did not respond to Stuff’s request for an interview with Abdo.