Life in a more sedate lane will begin in Hamilton after a frenetic finish to the two-match Twenty20 series, which left everyone in New Zealand breathless after Wining the second T20 International. The five ODIs for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy act as a more leisurely warm-up for the two Tests.
The hosts' triumph in Wellington ended Australia's summer winning streak and gave Michael Clarke his first loss in charge of the Twenty20 team. Ricky Ponting and a few 50-over reinforcements have arrived and will try to replicate the form.
New Zealand's last engagement in this format was a 3-0 success over Bangladesh and they are on a five-game winning streak, but they face a step up in class. After one poor Twenty20 in Auckland, they showed they can eyeball Australia and if Bond inspires his team-mates to fire the contest could be even.
Watch out for..
Shane Bond starred in the second with a series of nerveless yorkers that even managed to restrict the rampaging Cameron White. Bond is only 21 but the performance showed he is a classy operator. With Daryl Tuffey The pace-men, New Zealand need someone like Bond to build pressure throughout his 10 overs.
Ricky Ponting has had to get used to regular periods away from his side since retiring from the Twenty20 outfit last year. He got to Auckland before the majority of the squad and will be keen to stamp his influence on the series. Given Ponting's recent troubles with the short ball, his battle with Bond, who has dismissed him six times in 10 ODIs, will be essential viewing.
Team news
New Zealand have two new faces from their Twenty20 unit, with Scott Styris available to beef up the batting order with Neil Broom. The hosts have their usual dilemma over whether to include two spinners or call on an extra seamer. Daryl Tuffey was not impress with the bowl, Need to pick some wickets in the early of the innings
New Zealand (possible)
1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Jesse Ryder, 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Scott Styris, 6 Jacob Oram, 7 James Franklin, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Tim Southee, 10 Shane Bond, 11 Daryl Tuffey.
Australia's squad has undergone a makeover with the arrival of Ponting. Expect Ponting to come back in, while Hopes is also likely to figure. There is no Shaun Marsh, who is not not likely to play, so Hopes should keep his spot at the top with Shane Watson.
Australia (possible)
1 Shane Watson, 2 James Hopes , 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Cameron White, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Graham Manou (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Shaun Tait, 10 Brett Lee, 11 Doug Bollinger.
Pitch And Conditions
Hamilton is a ground that is usually full of runs and a good pitch. This would make it about three-quarters full. A maximum of 21C is forecast and conditions should become sunny later in the day.