The injury-hit New Zealand side will take on Australia in the third ODI of the series at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The series is currently evenly poised with both teams having won one game each, and it is difficult to gauge with which side will the momentum lie.

With the absence of Jacob Oram, and the chance that even Ross Taylor may not play and Daniel Vettori is half fit, the already-strong Aussie side will go into the game as favourites to make it 2-1; Boylesports offering 2/5 for the tourists to take the lead. New Zealand, on the other hand, seems to be doing all the running but for now, the loss of key players could reduce their chances drastically and Blue Square offers 9/4 for them to win the game.

If Taylor (7/2 at Ladbrokes to top-score for New Zealand) does not become fit in time for the game, there could be a new Kiwi cap handed out to Shanan Stewart (11/2 at Stan James to top-score for the Kiwis on debut). James Franklin had also limped off while bowling in the second ODI, and his participation is in doubt again, which will make the role of Scot Styris (7/1 at Stan James to top-score for New Zealand) even more important.

Martin Guptill (4/1 at Boylesports to top-score for the Kiwis) hasn’t had a couple of great games in the series so far. He is usually a technically sound batsman and can play the waiting game, which is what the Kiwis may expect from him in the third ODI. My man to put the money on, in that case!

The Australian side have had their own set of issues. The batsmen had all got starts – except Ricky Ponting (7/2 at Boylesports) and Michael Clarke (11/2 at Boylesports, both, to top-score for their side) – in the second ODI, but not one could get to 60. Michael Hussey (6/1 at Blue Square to top-score for the side) has been quietly notching up the runs, and could do with a promotion, while Shane Watson (7/2 at Bet Fred to be the best batsman for Australia) seems to have got into a rut with not being able to get to those centuries he had earlier.

Man to man, there cannot be much debate about the fact that the Aussies are far superior. However, the Kiwi habit of clawing back from the dumps will make them a tough opponent, and the Australian side will do well to not under-estimate them.

Tips:
Favourites: Australia (2/5 at Boylesports)
Top Australian batsman: Michael Hussey (6/1 at Blue Square)
Top New Zealand batsman: Martin Guptill (4/1 at Boylesports)