New Zealand coach downplays Australia turmoil

Ahead of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy that begins on Sunday in Sydney, Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, has refused to mark Australia as a weak side despite its 2-1 Test series loss against South Africa.

New Zealand's sole aim is to win the series, according to Mike Hesson.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has declined to lay the boot into Australia on Thursday after a demoralising Test series defeat to South Africa, insisting its one-day team was a different beast.

Australia head into the three-game limited-overs Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, starting on Sunday in Sydney, on the back of that 2-1 series loss to the Proteas while New Zealand arrives fresh from a 2-0 Test sweep against Pakistan. "I think their one-day side is a heck of a lot more settled than their Test side," said Hesson. "The one-day side has been incredibly consistent, bar the recent South Africa (one-day 5-0 whitewash) series."

"They've been very good for a number of years and are ranked No. 1 in the world, so I don't think the unsettled nature of the Test side will lead into the one-day side."

The New Zealanders could take the World No. 1 ranking from the Aussies with a 3-0 series whitewash, but Hesson insisted that simply retaining the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy would be enough. "We won the Chappell-Hadlee the last couple of times, it's really important for us," he said. "Australia are our big brothers and winning a bilateral series against them is important. If the by-product of that is an increase in the ranking, then great."

Ferguson the key weapon

One of its secret weapons to unsettle the Australian top-order is expected to be express bowler Lockie Ferguson, one of two new faces in its squad along with spinner Todd Astle. The 25-year-old Ferguson bowls consistently above 140 kilometres per hour (86 mph) and occasionally tops 150 kph (93 mph) which sets him apart from New Zealand's trade mark stable of medium-fast bowlers.

"With Adam Milne missing, Lockie gives us a point of difference in our attack," Hesson said. "He hasn't played a huge amount up until the last two seasons. He's got over a lot of injuries, he's a strong bowler, he's certainly quick and I'd be very surprised if he doesn't play at some point during this series."

Along with Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan, George Worker and Corey Anderson were not considered for the tour because of injury.

The first match is in Sydney on December 4, followed by Canberra on December 6 and Melbourne on December 9.