Brendon McCullum all set for a walk into sunset

The World Cup eluded McCullum and his men last summer but the Chappell Hadlee trophy would be a well deserved consolation for the Black Caps. The trophy, a piece of silverware that means a lot to the New Zealanders given their neighbourly rivalry with the Australians. 

McCullum started his oneday international career against Australia at the SCG back in January 2002. 

A public holiday in New Zealand on Monday, and combined with McCullum’s farewell and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy being up for grabs, it is no surprise that tickets for this third ODI at Seddon Park have sold out. 

Australia levelled the three-match series on Saturday with a four-wicket victory in Wellington, where Mitchell Marsh and John Hastings put on an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 86 that saw them home after some nervous moments following a mid-order collapse. 

Despite New Zealand taking four top-order wickets for 22 runs, and two in the middle order for six, their 281 was not enough of a target to defend after a century opening stand from David Warner and Usman Khawaja. New Zealand’s top order of Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson have put down foundations, though they have also been guilty of getting out at times when they should have consolidated, while Henry Nicholls scored a composed 61 in the first game at Eden Park.

New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner is in doubt for the final one-day international against Australia after complaining of a sore right foot following the second game in Wellington. 

The 24-year-old Santner was New Zealand’s best player in Australia’s four-wicket victory, that levelled the three-match series, scoring 45 not out and marshalling his side to 281-9 and then taking 3-47 with his left-arm spin. Leg spinner Ish Sodhi has been brought into the squad as precautionary cover, should Santner not be fit enough to play at his home ground at Seddon Park.  

Meanwhile, Australia pace bowler Kane Richardson is to return home for further examination on a back injury and has been replaced by Joel Paris in the squad.  Richardson, 24, did not play in Australia’s four-wicket victory in the second match in Wellington on Saturday.