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BRISBANE - The mind games have begun, with Australia's cricket captain Ricky Ponting claiming a points victory over his opposite Daniel Vettori ahead of a tense Chappell-Hadlee Trophy decider here.
Not only did Ponting feel his batsmen's targeting of Vettori's spin was the key to their back-to-back wins
to level the series, he claimed New Zealand got it wrong with their selections and a bat-first approach in the hosts' six-wicket victory in Adelaide yesterday.
As the sides arrived in Brisbane tonight, Australia now take the momentum into game five at the Gabba on Friday after lifting themselves from the canvas at 0-2 down.
"We always talk about singling out opposition players and we know how important Vettori is to the New Zealand set up, his wicket-taking ability more than anything," Ponting said.
"They were showing some stats that if we play him a certain way and don't give up wickets it generally means we're on track to win. He's a quality bowler and we've played him very well."
Vettori, the world's top-ranked ODI bowler, conceded just 57 off 20 wicketless overs in the wins in Perth and Melbourne.
Then Australia's batsmen changed tack, with promoted opener Brad Haddin signalling his intent in Sydney and Adelaide with near-identical slog-sweeps for six early in Vettori's spells.
He took one for 52 in Sydney and none for 54 last night, albeit hampered by a left hamstring twinge, but vowed to lead from the front on Friday.
"My role is a wicket-taker and that's what I've done well over the past few years. In the first two games they didn't attack me that much and the last two they definitely have," Vettori said.
"I'm the most experienced player, it's up to me to lift my level of performance and part of that is wicket-taking. I'll be looking to that in the Brisbane game."
Ponting also zeroed in on New Zealand's selection change in Adelaide, when batsman Craig Cumming replaced spinner Jeetan Patel.
Having rated the fast, bouncy Gabba as one of the best ODI pitches in the world, Ponting said he would watch New Zealand's approach with interest.
"The experiment of not playing their two spinners and the extra batter probably hasn't worked for them," he said.
"Going to Brisbane where it tends not to slow down as the game goes on might just make them think about their selections once again."
Vettori had no regrets about the tactical change to bat first on winning the toss in Adelaide, but hinted a bowl-first approach was most likely in Brisbane.
With the extra batsman, New Zealand should have posted more than 244 for eight in Adelaide when 280 appeared a winning total.
Said Vettori: "It's a difficult one. We are more comfortable chasing but we thought if we could put that score on the board then we could apply some pressure.
"We weren't too far away, but we just weren't good enough in all departments."
While Ponting sought to apply the pressure on his opposite, the Australian skipper is also under the microscope.
Having been run out for five in Perth, then being rested in Melbourne, he slogged out to loose shots on 16 in Sydney and 15 in Adelaide, before the Hussey brothers' stand of 115 finished the contest.
Vettori will put the onus on his big-four of himself, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills and Ross Taylor to snatch back the lost momentum as they chase their first ODI series win in Australia.
However there are fitness issues with Vettori's hamstring, while McCullum was still troubled by his painful shoulder injury.
The vice-captain practically played with one good arm in Adelaide, his right arm numb from a painkilling injection which allowed him to play.
It showed in his measured batting approach as he didn't hit a boundary in his 33 off 55 balls to continue a frustrating series.
- NZPA
