Black Caps, Australia prepare for second ODI

  • 05/02/2016
(Getty)
(Getty)

Australia's clearly delighted to be off the postage stamp-like Eden Park, with Australian batsman David Warner referring to Wellington's Westpac Stadium as an "actual cricket ground".

However, Black Caps big-hitter Corey Anderson isn't so convinced that it will represent a challenge too different to Wednesday’s venue in Auckland.

"It's still pretty short square to be fair, it sort of just feels like it's been swapped around -- pitch is facing the other way," he said.

In-form Australian batsman Usman Khawaja's averaging 126 in international cricket this summer, so ground dimensions don't appear to bother him -- but all of those runs were scored in Australia.

"Different conditions, different team -- not a big believer in form to tell you the truth, just got to go out and do the same things," he said.

In fact, it's his first match of cricket here since he was a 12-year-old -- and he's got some demons to banish.

"I just came here when I was at school -- Christchurch I think, just around the school grounds," he said.

"I remember we got bullied by the 17-year-olds -- there was one guy who was 6'6" and one 6'4" who hit about 36 off 4 balls. I don't even know if that's possible but he did it."

A win tomorrow would wrap up the Chappell Hadlee series for the Black Caps, but a strong performance for a number of players could wrap up lucrative contracts in the IPL auction too.

Anderson already has his pay-day, but Martin Guptill doesn't -- and he figures as one of the most sought after players available.

"Whatever Gupp goes for he's gonna deserve it -- he's been outstanding for us," Anderson said.

"I hope it continues because he's been amazing."

If he can continue, it'll go a long way towards a series win -- and compounding Khawaja's Kiwi misery.

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