Watch live ODI cricket series between New Zealand v Australia live streaming free online ball by ball live score of 5th ODI from Australia at Brisbane – Feb 13, 2009.
Ball-by-ball coverage of New Zealand v Australia live
Match scheduled to begin at 13:15 local time (03:15 GMT)
Live cricket scores from Cricinfo.com
Team news
Michael Clarke, who has struggled with a hand problem since December, is now battling an upper-back injury and did not train during the optional session on Thursday. If Clarke isn’t fit, Australia will consider picking Peter Siddle in a bowler-heavy squad, leaving James Hopes as an opening option. In a rare sign of consistency Australia fielded an unchanged outfit on Tuesday – for the first time in 17 matches – and Ricky Ponting would prefer not to make any more alterations.
Australia (probable) 1 Michael Clarke, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 David Hussey, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Callum Ferguson, 7 Cameron White, 8 James Hopes, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.
Brendon McCullum’s shoulder will not stop him from playing and Daniel Vettori’s hamstring is fine, so New Zealand’s only choice is between using the extra batsman in Craig Cumming and employing slow-bowling support for Vettori. Jeetan Patel, the offspinner, was left out in Adelaide but even though the Gabba is made for quicks, the extra bounce might tempt them to return to the dual spin that was successful in the opening two games.
New Zealand (probable) 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Peter Fulton, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Neil Broom, 7 Kyle Mills, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Tim Southee, 10 Jeetan Patel, 11 Iain O’Brien.
Watch out for …
By the high standards of Nathan Bracken, now the world’s No. 3 one-day bowler behind Daniel Vettori and Nuwan Kulasekara, it hasn’t been the best series. He has taken seven wickets in four games, but in the past two matches has been expensive, giving up 65 runs in Sydney and 51 in Adelaide. Bracken, who was wearing a knee brace on his right leg, took an early look at the pitch on Thursday, folding his arms as he gazed over the surface, before loping off the ground. It should help him.
When Tim Southee was last in Brisbane he shocked Australia’s top order with three wickets in the first eight overs of the opening Test and his swing bowling should be nasty again, especially if New Zealand bowl second. As the lights start to take effect the ball seams around even more. If Southee can get his outswinger working he will be a huge threat and Kyle Mills and Iain O’Brien will also enjoy things.
Pitch & conditions
The Gabba outfield almost looks like it did last summer after overcoming a fungus that made it seem more like a club ground than an international venue. Only one strip isn’t lush and green: the pitch is straw-coloured with a few tinges for the bowlers. It was steamy and muggy as the teams trained on Thursday and similar conditions, including a shower, are predicted for match day.
Stats and trivia
* Ricky Ponting will move ahead of Allan Border’s Australian record of 178 ODIs in charge. Ponting has overseen 132 victories at a winning percentage of 78.23, compared to Border’s 61.42% and Steve Waugh’s 65.23% in 106 contests.
* The last time the sides were in Brisbane for the decider of a Chappell-Hadlee Series the match was washed out and the trophy was shared
* In the past three years New Zealand have won 22 of 36 games chasing and 16 of 32 when batting first
* In 15 matches as opener, Michael Clarke averages 48.07, six runs higher than usual, and has a strike-rate of 84.45, almost five better than lower down the order





