David Leggat: Chance to avenge Aussie hammering

Mitchell Starc admitted yesterday that Australia had talked about the importance of making it 3-0. Photo / Photosport

Beat Bangladesh all you like, by all means praise their improving skills and acknowledge they had moments of putting the heat on New Zealand, but the goalposts are about to move for Kane Williamson's team.

Last month, they were given an old-fashioned touch up across the Tasman, losing the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in a 3-0 tonking.

Australia were sharp, at the top of their game; New Zealand were not and by the end of the third game in Melbourne, both captain and coach Mike Hesson had that slightly stunned look about them of men who've just seen their best-laid plans deposited unceremoniously into a bin by quality opponents, who kept their foot down throughout.

Mitchell Starc admitted yesterday that Australia had talked about the importance of making it 3-0. It gets no more resounding than that.

In truth, New Zealand are better than they showed in that series, where their bowling was ordinary in the first two games, the fielding lacking any edge or urgency, while the batting fell apart at the cavernous MCG.

Australia were formidable, anchored by three centuries between them from captain Steve Smith and blockbusting opener David Warner. That gave them a platform; the bowlers did the rest, supported for the most part by sharp, on-the-ball fielding.

It is something for New Zealand to aspire to. Now they have their chance to rebound at the next opportunity, in their distinctive conditions, which they know intimately.

The ball should nip about today early on, the boundaries are short, but only in parts of the ground. Batsmen can, lemming-like, fall into that trap square of the wicket.

But as much as anything, New Zealand need to rediscover themselves. The public hasn't been fooled. Until New Zealand go toe to toe with Australia, they'll have ground to make up.

No Smith, no Warner, so that makes Australia ordinary, right? Wrong. But it does make them more vulnerable.

Let's see if New Zealand are good enough to force open a door that was firmly bolted in Australia six weeks ago.