Cricket: Warne predicts NZ to get a hiding from Aussies

Shane Warne and Graeme Hick watch the ball during yesterday's charity match. Picture / Fotopress

Shane Warne can see Australia dishing out a hiding to New Zealand in next month's one-day series if the standard of cricket pitches doesn't improve in a hurry.

The World 11 captain launched a scathing attack on a "terrible" Westpac Park surface last night after New Zealand won the series decider by four wickets chasing just 82 to win.

Just 164 runs were scored and 16 wickets fell in three hours of playing time.

The game was played before a full house of 11,500 to end a series where $1,088,000 was raised for Sri Lanka's tsunami relief fund.

Warne will miss the five-match one-day series, having retired from one-day cricket, but will return for the three tests in March.

He said New Zealand would struggle to compete if variable, seaming pitches were dished up.

"The grounds are absolutely tiny and one of the biggest concerns is going to be the pitches... one-day cricket's all about making runs and you don't want things that seam around, jump or stay low," Warne said.

"The pitches will really come into play and if you've got to face Kasprowicz, Lee, McGrath and Gillespie on that, I think 150 will be a good score. Out there (yesterday), 50 would be a good score against that attack.

"It's going to be hard work for New Zealand if they try to play on wickets like that."

Coupled with the injury clouds over key allrounder Jacob Oram and No 1 spinner Daniel Vettori who are both battling back problems, Warne rated Australia hot favourites.

"New Zealand are ranked second in the world, they're a very good side and tough to beat at home.

"But I think a lot will depend on if Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori are right. If they're not playing then Australia could win quite easily."

Warne was staggered yesterday's match was played on a newly-laid strip, and called for Australia's one-dayer here on March 2 to be shifted elsewhere.

"I think the authorities will probably move the game knowing the way the pitch played today. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets moved, I think it was sub-standard."

Not much can be read into the World 11 series, with the first and third matches one-sided contests.

It still proved a popular concept with the cricketing public starved of international cricket, with players arriving from all over the world to help raise funds, and over 50,000 people attending the three matches

The biggest positive was Jeff Wilson's comeback, with two excellent spells in the final two matches including three for six off four overs yesterday.

Despite the helpful conditions, Wilson showed he had quickly regained his old touch after 12 years away from international cricket, and wouldn't be out of place as Oram's replacement if the giant allrounder was ruled out.

Chris Cairns also continued to show he was an invaluable member of the side, taking a man of the match six for 12 yesterday and ending as New Zealand's bowler of the series.

He admitted he didn't get much out of a low-key series but felt his allround game was on track for Australia, having been written off as an effective bowler a year ago.

Cairns returns to the Canterbury team for their State Shield match against Northern Districts here tomorrow, hopefully on an improved pitch.

"Australia's a huge series, but for me personally I'm not really tuned into it yet.

"It's still a few weeks away but it's a series that I've looked forward to for a long time. I'm excited about it but prediction wise I'll hold off."

- NZPA