KEY POINTS:
New Zealand captain Dan Vettori has put out a plea for the senior players to lead by example in today's deciding Chappell Hadlee ODI in Brisbane.
And he's not excluding himself from that call either.
Vettori has been targeted by Australia's batsmen during their wins in the third and fourth games of the series, and that squares with a theory that if they do well against Vettori - not so much in terms of pounding the left-arm spinner out of the attack, more by subtle but decisive means - it takes them a long way towards beating New Zealand.
They believe there is statistical data to back their view that not allowing him to put a chokehold on the innings, and keeping him wicketless, is a major step towards victory.
A look at Vettori's figures show his wicket-taking rate against Australia is roughly on a par with his overall figures. But the last couple of years make grim reading.
In 274 ODIs, Vettori has taken 238 wickets at 32.3.
Today will be his 51st ODI against Australia. He has taken 46 wickets but at a pricey 42.17 apiece.
In this series, he's taken one for 163 off 40 overs. Since the start of the Chappell Hadlee series in New Zealand in February 2007 - nine games - Vettori has taken four wickets for 367 runs, and they've cost him 91.4 runs each.
The idea is that Australia put a block on Vettori, whom they rate as a class bowler, and get their runs off lesser bowlers at the other end.
"We always talk about singling out opposition players," Ponting said.
"We know how important Vettori is to the New Zealand setup and his wicket-taking ability more than anything.
"The stats show we play him a certain way and don't give up wickets, then that generally means we're on track to winning the game. He's a quality bowler and we've played him very well, so full credit to our batters for doing that."
Vettori knows it. He helped put a stranglehold on Australia during the first two ODIs, which New Zealand won, but Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin, in opening with a stand of 135 loaded with a bolder attitude, didn't let Vettori settle. His 10 overs went for 52 that day in Sydney.
In Adelaide on Tuesday, albeit hampered by a slight hamstring twinge, Vettori conceded 54 from his 10 overs.
Vettori knows what Australia are trying to do and is aware he's got to kneecap the momentum they have gained in the last couple of games.
"My role is as a wicket taker and in the first two games Australia probably didn't attack me that much," Vettori said. "In the last two they definitely have. I've talked about the experienced players stepping up and I have the most experience, so it's up to me to lift my performance, and part of that is wicket taking."
The likes of senior batsmen Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor with the bat and key seam bowler Kyle Mills also need to deliver today.
"To come to Australia and have a chance to win a series is something you should always dream about," Vettori said. "Now we've got an opportunity and it's up to the senior guys to step up and lift their performance."
