Vettori gets ready for a real scrap

The New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori is expecting a "scrap" as his team head in to the Chappell-Hadlee series against Australia. The five-match one-day international series begins in Perth tomorrow, with the hosts looking to bounce back from their 4-1 defeat to South Africa.

That setback saw Australia relinquish their place at the top of the International Cricket Council's ODI rankings to the Proteas - but Vettori said: "Playing Australia in Australia is still the toughest challenge in world cricket, so naturally we are going to be underdogs. "They will be trying to rebound pretty quickly. If we scrap the whole way that gives us a chance. If we are off for even a couple of overs then Australia will dominate us."

Still, Vettori acknowledges Australia appear to have lost the aura that has helped them win the last three World Cups. "I think you look at them differently. But you understand they still have a really good side and really good players," he said. "Any time that Ricky Ponting is in a team, with his record and experience, you know his team are going to fight to the end and be pretty hard-nosed." All-rounder Jacob Oram may be called up mid-series for the Kiwis, having returned to action in New Zealand state cricket after injury. Vettori has also ruled out the possibility of wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum playing solely as a batsman as he struggles with a hip injury.

"I'm not allowing him any other option," the captain joked. "I don't want to follow that option. His keeping allows us a lot more balance within our side. We need him to keep to maintain that." * With agencies