KEY POINTS:
New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori is comfortable with his inexperienced pace attack against Australia but feels spin bowling could be their trump card.
With Jesse Ryder (shoulder) absent for game one and allrounders Scott Styris and Jacob Oram still battling injury, batting looks New Zealand's biggest worry in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy starting here tonight.
But the focus shifted to the bowling after a poor tour opener in Canberra when Tasmanian batsman George Bailey and veteran Justin Langer took them apart as the Prime Minister's 11 chased down 272 for the loss of only four wickets.
Tim Southee will return today for his 16th ODI to partner senior paceman Kyle Mills, while Iain O'Brien (one ODI appearance) and Grant Elliott (11 ODIs) will need to bounce back from expensive spells in Canberra.
With senior men Chris Martin and Mark Gillespie not required, Vettori had few issues with his resources as they look to continue the pressure on an Australian top-order who collapsed to 53 for four in their 39-run defeat to South Africa on Friday.
"I think we understand Mark was out of form and it was hard to pick him, and Chris is working his way back into test match mode. They're two very good bowlers on their day but I still believe O'Brien, Southee, Mills and Trent Boult coming in, it gives us a lot of options," Vettori said.
"Particularly with Mills there, we've got the foundation of a pretty good bowling lineup. We just hope those guys at home start putting pressure back on these guys. If they're performing, the selectors have a right to change the side."
Vettori resisted naming his 11 at training in 34degC heat at the WACA, saying it wouldn't be confirmed until before the toss.
He still favoured playing five specialist bowlers, but said that needed to be balanced with having enough batting, which offered replacement batsman Craig Cumming some hope.
Vettori offered one morsel of good news, with vice-captain Brendon McCullum to take the gloves after not wicketkeeping in Canberra with a hip flexor injury.
"I'm very confident [McCullum will keep wicket]. I'm not allowing him any other option. We need him to keep to provide us with as many options as possible."
Vettori was encouraged by South African captain and offspinner Johan Botha's spell on Friday night, and on the same pitch felt he - the world's current top-ranked ODI bowler - and Jeetan Patel could give New Zealand an edge in one facet.
"Australia aren't going in with any specialist spin bowlers so hopefully myself and Jeetan can make that work for us."
The captain resisted numerous attempts to lure him into sinking the boot into Ricky Ponting's Australians, who crashed to a 4-1 series defeat against South Africa and surrendered the world No 1 ranking. Whether there was any psychological hangover would only be evident tonight, Vettori said.
He said Australia remained the toughest place in world cricket to tour but the hosts were in a similar boat to New Zealand with inexperience. They are without Matthew Hayden (retired), Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, Shane Watson and Stuart Clark (all injured).
For New Zealand, Martin Guptill, Neil Broom, Elliott, Southee and O'Brien were eyeing their first ODIs on Australian soil.
The top-order will likely face speedster Shaun Tait, who Ponting hinted would return after his fiery Twenty20 spell here against New Zealand a year ago.
South African coach Mickey Arthur predicted an even series, and labelled New Zealand a "bunch of scrappers".
Said Vettori: "I take it as a compliment. We've played South Africa quite a bit and haven't been successful against them. For him to say that means he thinks we have some ability within the team.
"If we scrap the whole way then we give ourselves a chance. If we're off for a couple of overs here or there then Australia will dominate us."
THE SQUADS
Australia (for first match): Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Brad haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Shaun Tait, David Warner, Cameron White.
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Trent Boult, Neil Broom, Craig Cumming, Brendon Diamanti, Grant Elliott, Peter Fulton, Martin Guptill, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor. (Jesse Ryder not available due to injury).
- NZPA
