Australian fast-bowler Glenn McGrath has delivered his most cutting snub yet to the New Zealand cricketers - and before even setting foot in the country.
The world-class paceman, who usually makes a habit of nominating his quarry for each series, yesterday overlooked the upcoming tussle in New Zealand and instead
named Englishman Andrew Strauss as his next target.
The decision is likely to cause outrage among the Black Caps' faithful, most of whom believe a series against Australia doesn't really start until McGrath has named his sacrificial bunny.
Australia travel to England for the much-anticipated Ashes series this winter, but before that will play three tests against New Zealand next month and in April.
McGrath enjoys piling the pressure on whomever he considers the most dangerous batsman in the opposition camp, and has previously put the names of Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Mike Atherton, Brian Lara and Inzamam ul-Haq in his cross-hairs.
But yesterday's oversight will be a galling one for the hosts, who will doubtlessly take the view that McGrath doesn't believe any of their batsmen are a particular threat.
Herald columnist Adam Parore said yesterday that he imagined the New Zealand camp would be incensed by the brush-off and would struggle to regain their poise as the one-day series started.
"It was intimidating enough when McGrath was naming his target, but this has got to be the ultimate insult - he hasn't even bothered," Parore said.
"It's a new low-point in transtasman relations."
Parore said it only remained to be seen whether Aussie coach John Buchanan would deliver the coup de grace and cease his habit of leaking his strategy notes to the opposition.
