Cricket: Aussies play a straight bat to Kiwis

SYDNEY - The Australian cricket team and the parochial media in Australia have acknowledged that New Zealand will provide a stumbling block as they seek to continue their steamrolling record this summer.

Fresh from blitzing both India and Pakistan 3-0 in home test series, the all-conquering Australians now face those two opponents in the triangular one-day series before an intriguing tour of New Zealand begins next month.

The Black Caps' resurgent form this year has been noted by Australian captain Steve Waugh. After his team demolished India inside three days in the third test on Tuesday, Waugh said New Zealand were now "obviously a tougher unit" than a year ago.

He said the Black Caps would provide a stiff challenge for his world champion team who he has labelled the equal of any Australian side in history.

Of most interest will be the test series. If Australia win the first test in Auckland starting on March 11 they will equal their country's best test match-winning sequence of eight, set in 1920-21.

After the Pakistan series last month, the confident Australian media were already predicting the record would fall, tipping 3-0 whitewashes of India and then the New Zealanders.

They began eyeing the world test sequence of 11 set by Clive Lloyd's West Indies side in the early 1980s.

However, New Zealand's thrashings of the West Indies this summer, on top of other quality results in 1999, have thrown an air of caution into more recent forecasts.

One writer, when making his prophecies for 2000, even lowered himself to predict New Zealand could give Australia "a scare" on the tour.

The Sydney Morning Herald yesterday reported the assured performances of the Black Caps were extinguishing unhappy memories for New Zealand sport fans over the last 12 months.

"The mood of despondency in New Zealand has begun to be replaced by one of optimism," the paper said. "The general view seems to be that New Zealand, on their softer pitches, are capable of beating Australia in any match, provided they enjoy a reasonable share of luck."

Former New Zealand captain and now coach of English county Kent, John Wright, said New Zealand would need to be tough mentally to overcome their transtasman nemesis.

"I wouldn't concentrate too much on the Australians, but I'd concentrate inwardly on the New Zealand team and how to get the best - every ounce of ability - out of the side. They need to work hard and go into it confident and aggressive."

Wright regarded playing Australia, who he rated the best in the world, as a benchmark for establishing one's place in world cricket.

- NZPA