The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy can become cricket's equivalent of the Bledisloe Cup, Australian captain Ricky Ponting and his New Zealand counterpart Daniel Vettori believe.
Australia became the first holders of the trophy with a 2-1 win in the one-day series which finished here on Saturday. Last year's series in Australia wasdrawn 1-1 after the third game was washed out.
Aside from New Zealand's heavy loss in the first match of this series in Auckland, all games have been evenly fought. The second two games last week in Wellington and Christchurch were among two of the best seen in this country.
Vettori believed the rivalry would continue to grow and welcomed a comparison with rugby's Bledisloe Cup.
"It'd be great if we can get it to that level," Vettori said.
"If you keep coming up with it every year, we'll get a better feel for playing Australia and knowing what we need to do as opposed to meeting them every 2-3 years. And therein lies more chance to beat them."
The only question hanging over the future of the annual three-match series is timing, with next year providing a good test case as Australia host England in a highly anticipated Ashes test series.
This year the Chappell-Hadlee series kick-started the Black Caps' home summer but was awkwardly placed for Australia, between test series against the West Indies and South Africa.
"It's not ideal for us as far as getting prepared for a test series but it's just what you have to do these days. It's professional cricket," Ponting said.
However, Ponting said it would be very disappointing if the series disrupted the Ashes next year, anticipating it would be played about now, just as the English arrived in Australia.
"The cricket has been fantastic, and as long as we can get the timing right for everyone involved, this concept has got a great future," Ponting said.
"The overall concept is great. Any time you get Australia and New Zealand playing any sport, it's a great contest, as we've seen both times we've played the series. All I'll say is it wouldn't be ideal if it was in the middle of an Ashes series."
