KEY POINTS:
BRISBANE - A verbal rev-up from New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori is ringing in his players' ears as they target one of their most significant one-day international cricket results here tomorrow.
Vettori admitted stern words were uttered to certain individuals after their six-wicket defeat to Australia in Adelaide on Tuesday saw them hand up a 2-0 Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series lead and make game five the decider (4.15pm NZT).
For a young side, five of whom are playing their first ODI series in Australia, there is little understating the importance of tomorrow's match at the Gabba. New Zealand have never won an ODI series or tournament in Australia.
"It's always timely when a captain speaks, and talks about the responsibility a player needs to take for his own actions and to help a team win," Vettori said at a grey, rain-soaked Gabba today.
"For all the guys who let themselves down with the bat, and also with the ball and even in the field, need to know they have to lift for this game because this is the most important game a New Zealand cricket team's played for a long time.
"For these guys it's the best chance we've seen (to win an ODI series in Australia)... they're few and far between for a lot of players and this could be the start of something great for what is a very young team."
New Zealand have never progressed passed the World Cup semifinals, but their record in recent major ODI finals abroad is good.
They've tasted wins in the 2000 Champions Trophy (against India in Kenya), and three separate tri-series finals from 2003-05; against Pakistan in Sri Lanka, West Indies in England, and India in Zimbabwe.
But their momentum slowed after a magnificent start with the ball in Perth and Melbourne, with a torrid schedule of five matches in 12 days.
Inspired by promoted opener Brad Haddin's aggressive approach, Australia showed more intent with the bat in Sydney and Adelaide as New Zealand's standards slipped in the field.
Fitness doubts over vice-captain Michael Clarke might tip the scales New Zealand's way, with captain Ricky Ponting rating him doubtful with back spasms. A decision won't be made until the morning.
If Clarke is absent his opening partnership with Haddin, tactical input in the field and tight spin bowling will leave a big hole.
Vettori said he would play through his hamstring twinge and vice-captain Brendon McCullum would brave his shoulder injury which required a painkilling injection and hampered his batting in Adelaide.
There was a minor hiccup today when in-form batsman Ross Taylor suffered a knock to the face during a game of touch rugby and left the ground with his mouth bleeding, but he wasn't rated doubtful.
Vettori was also leaning towards recalling spinner Jeetan Patel for Craig Cumming to offer more bowling options after an unhappy night for the Otago batsman in Adelaide.
A weather-shortened game is a chance with showers, then persistent rain forecast for later in the evening.
A crowd of around 30,000 is expected in the 39,000-capacity ground.
Vettori said better execution of their bowling plans was the key must-improve aspect here, on a ground where New Zealand has only played Australia once in an ODI; a five-wicket defeat in 1988.
Ponting also stressed the significance of the match amid an unhappy home summer where his side lost test and ODI series to South Africa then went 0-2 down against New Zealand.
"It's very important to us. We want to win every game we play and this summer hasn't gone the way we would have liked," Ponting said.
"Tomorrow is everything, we want to finish the Australian summer on a good note."
Ponting, whose team hold the trophy, will equal Australian captain Allan Border's record of 178 ODIs as captain.
- NZPA
