Black Caps must defy horrible history to beat Oz

Kane Williamson in the World Cup final - his only one day bat against Australia across the Tasman. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

The New Zealand cricketers will be fighting history in Australia next week.

Some Australians are already having a good old laugh at our expense as the Kiwis - minus Ross Taylor - head across the ditch.

To cut to the chase, we're no good at chasing or defending over there. New Zealand's record in and against Australia is being described as abysmal and it's a fair cop.

A news.com writer put it thus: "When it comes to 50-over cricket Australia knows no greater enjoyment (than playing New Zealand). It's like a big brother laying into his younger sibling who just never seems to grow up."

New Zealand have won just 18 of 61 one-dayers in Australia, the home side having claimed 39 victories.

What also stands out is the scarcity of matches in recent times between the trans Tasman rivals, but in the past 10 years New Zealand have won just two one dayers across the Tasman. Those magnificent triumphs came in 2009, which is the last time New Zealand played there, apart from the World Cup final last year.

At least this dreadful record has not directly tainted most of the current side - Tim Southee and Martin Guptill are the only survivors from seven years ago.

There is some other very slight good news, if you scratch around in the fine print. Thanks to a truly horrible record against Australia at neutral venues - one win from 19 - the record in Australia is a tad better than the overall record.

Scant comfort though. New Zealand has just 37 wins in 130 clashes overall. And brace yourself for this one - New Zealand has never won a one-day series in Australia since the opening defeat in 1980.

A potpourri of individual statistics.

* There have been only four centuries in Australia, from Grant Elliott, Stephen Fleming, Jacob Oram and Bruce Edgar.

* Ross Taylor's high score is 84, but he is missing this time. Martin Guptill's is 64 not out.

* Captain Kane Williamson made 12 in the World Cup final - his only one day bat in Australia.

* The just-retired Grant Elliott averaged 58.60 with the bat in six matches in Australia.