Cricket: Black Caps daring to think the unthinkable

SYDNEY - What a difference a day, or at least a day-nighter, can make.

New Zealand, written off as an embarrassment last week, are now being touted as potentially the game's best one-day side and a candidate for next year's million-dollar Super Series against the Rest of the World.

The possibility, however faint, of being usurped has not gone unnoticed in Australia, who have long been expected to qualify for the matches on the basis of their leading position in the test and one-day international rankings.

The Rest of the World teams will square off against the No 1 test and one-day sides, as determined by the International Cricket Council rankings on April 1, in Melbourne and Sydney next October.

Another win in tonight's second match of the Chappell-Hadlee series would push New Zealand ahead of Sri Lanka into second place on the ladder and, in the unlikely event of a clean-sweep at Brisbane, within seven points of Australia.

New Zealand then return home for 10 one-dayers against Sri Lanka and Australia, and the prospect of taking pole position just before the cut-off date.

The Super Series, an ICC initiative, will comprise three one-dayers at Melbourne's Telstra Dome, and a test match at Sydney.

"I think we had all just pencilled in Australia for those matches," New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said yesterday.

"But I guess with the teams we're playing at home being number one and two, we have to be contenders. Our record's been great, so there's no reason not to talk about the possibility, that's for sure.

"Putting it in practice is another thing, but I guess as a dream it's a lot closer than we thought."

Australia will play six one-dayers against the West Indies and Pakistan this summer and probably the best-of-three final series before heading for New Zealand, while Sri Lanka (apart from their upcoming visit) have no further one-day commitments before April 1.

New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns said the suggestion of qualifying for the Super Series was not a mere flight of fancy.

"When you look at it, we really just have to do well against Sri Lanka and Aussie at home and we'll be really close to qualifying. That would be a huge turn-on and the boys would be really fired up for it."

New Zealand have an impressive one-day record, winning 17 of 19 completed matches in the past 12 months, including the NatWest Tri Series in England.

But their record against Australia has been weak, Sunday's win breaking a seven-match losing streak. Another win tonight and that will all be history.