Australia will be looking for a series clean-sweep when they take on New Zealand in what will be Aaron Finch’s last one-day international before retiring from the 50-over format.
The Aussies lead the series 2-0 after beating the Kiwis by 113 runs on Thursday and they will be keen to send their captain out on a high before he calls it a day.
Finch will continue to captain the Australian T20 side as they prepare to defend their World Cup crown and his decision means he will now be free to focus on that format.
The decision also comes as no real surprise as Finch has been struggling with his batting in one day internationals for some time now.
He picked up another duck in the win over New Zealand on Thursday and with some suggesting it could be time to step aside, Finch has now announced his retirement.
However he will play one last ODI for Australia and would no doubt like to bow out with a win and some runs.
New Zealand will of course be playing for pride and as Australia showed against Zimbabwe they cannot allow complacency to creep in.
They were leading that series 2-0 only for Zimbabwe to upset the form book by snatching the third match. Australia will be keen to avoid a repeat.
Let’s take a closer look at both sides heading into the game.
What: Australia v New Zealand
Where: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns
When: 14:20 (AEST) Sunday 7th September 2022
How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel
Odds: Australia 4/7, New Zealand 11/8
Australia may have wrapped up the series 2-0 courtesy of the heavy win on Thursday but that was of course down to their bowling and the way they skittled the tourists out for just 82 runs.
There were issues with the bat once again and had it not been for one good innings from Steve Smith and the tail wagging, Australia could have been in trouble themselves.
Smith chipped in with a tidy 61 off 94 deliveries while the rest were dropping like flies. Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey were the only other players in the top seven on the batting order to make double figures.
It was left to Mitchell Starc to smash 38 runs, while Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood got 16 and 23 respectively.
So Australia really need to get their act together in the middle order in particular. Finch will need replacing after Sunday’s game and it will be interesting to see who will come in to partner David Warner going forward.
Warner will not play the third ODI in Cairns as he will be handed a rest in an attempt to manage his workload, so the Aussies have to make a decision on who will replace him.
Josh Inglis is the spare batsman in the squad and could step in to play alongside Finch. It has also been suggested that Marnus Labuschagne will move up the order and fill in for Warner.
Australia will also be forced into one other change for the match as Marcus Stoinis suffered a side strain on Thursday and has been ruled out.
The injury is not a serious one but they can prove to be problematic and Australia will be keen to have him available for the T20 series in India. Stoinis has returned to Perth for treatment.
Fast bowler Nathan Ellis has been called into the squad for the clash in Cairns and could now get the chance to add to his three ODI appearances.
The bowlers did their job in fine style in the second match with Adam Zampa the star of the show when taking five wickets for 35 runs.
Sean Abbott and Starc also chipped in with two wickets each and Australia could stick with the same attack, along with Ellis.
However there is also a chance Cameron Green will come back in as the all-rounder option. The WA star missed the second match after suffering with cramp in game one. He is now fully recovered and could return.
New Zealand will be keen to bounce back and should come out firing in an attempt to make up for their humiliating batting collapse.
Captain Kane Williamson has been under fire for his leadership and poor form with the bat, but coach Gary Stead has spoken out in support.
Williamson has had his injury issues but Stead says he is still the man to lead the side and is backing him to play his way back into form.
"Kane is one of the hardest workers I have seen on his game and he continues to be," Stead said. "A big score is around the corner. Kane is a very, very consistent trainer. Regardless of if he is scoring runs or not, he appears to me to train the same way."
