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Unchanged Australia bat first at the MCG

Australia chase a 3-0 series victory against the Black Caps at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

Australia have named an unchanged line-up for the third and final Victoria Bitter one-day international against New Zealand, meaning allrounder Glenn Maxwell has missed out on selection once again.

Maxwell and legspinner Adam Zampa are the two players to miss out of Australia's side with the hosts naming an unchanged XI from the side that hammered the Black Caps on Tuesday night.

The hot form of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head has convinced selectors to stick with the same team that won at Manuka Oval during the week.

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It's the 13th one-day international in a row that Maxwell has missed.

The home side will bat first after captain Steve Smith won the toss.

New Zealand made two changes to the side thrashed by 116 runs on Tuesday in Canberra, with Henry Nicholls and Lockie Ferguson coming into the side.

They replace Jimmy Neesham, who was struck with a Mitchell Starc thunderbolt in the Canberra ODI, and paceman Matt Henry.

A Black Caps spokesperson said Neesham suffered stiffness and bruising after he was struck on the elbow by Starc during his knock of 74 from 83 balls, but the injury wasn't the sole factor in his omission for this match.

Henry was expensive in Canberra, his 10 overs plundered for 91 runs, and young speedster Ferguson has been recalled in a bid to give the tourists the sort of lift Pat Cummins has done for Australia.

Neesham cops a Starc thunderbolt to the arm

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, George Bailey (c), Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (c), Henry Nicholls, Colin Munro, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

PREVIEW 

Glenn Maxwell has been praised for his response to being fined for "disrespectful" comments about a teammate and remains a chance to force his way into the Australia XI for the final Chappell-Hadlee match on Friday.

The allrounder was publicly rebuked by Australia skipper Steve Smith and fined for his comments about Australia and Victoria teammate Matthew Wade, where he lamented batting behind the wicketkeeper, his state captain.

Maxwell, Australia's reigning one-day international Player of the Year from January's Allan Border Medal ceremony, has had a year to forget – dropped for Australia's one-day tours of Sri Lanka and South Africa earlier this year and left on the sidelines for the opening two matches of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

But Darren Lehmann today praised the way Maxwell has been around the group.


"He's been fantastic, full credit to him, the way he's handled it and the way he's been around the group and getting prepared to play each and every game," Bupa Support Team Head Coach Lehmann said.

"We've named the team quite late both times because we've only got down to the ground just before basically, so it's been a late call.

"He's missed out last minute and he's handled that really well.

"I'm really pleased the way he's gone about it, and I know the players are, the way he's dealt with it.

"For him, he's just got to be ready to play, as we say to all our squad members. If he gets his opportunity, away he goes."

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While Maxwell has been left on the outer, South Australian young gun Travis Head has taken his chance with back-to-back half-centuries in two thumping wins in Sydney and Canberra, where he also delivered seven overs of tidy off-spin to keep the Kiwis tied down.

With rain in Melbourne keeping both sides off the training track on Thursday, Lehmann said it would be another late call on Maxwell's inclusion where home ground knowledge could be a factor.

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"Home track, he's a chance," Lehmann said. "Once we see the wicket we'll have a better idea. Everyone is a chance. "

While Maxwell's participation still remains clouded, it's full steam ahead for Australia's pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

Starc and Hazlewood were today named in Australia's Test squad for the Commonwealth Bank Series opener in Brisbane on December 15 and Lehmann quashed suggestions they would be rested.

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"I would think they would be playing ... they've got to bowl some overs and get ready for Brisbane anyway," Lehmann said.

"And they're fine, they've pulled up ok so unless something happens in the next 24 hours, we expect them to play.

"I know the captain is quite keen for them to play."

Cummins bags four in Canberra demolition

While Starc and Hazlewood are Test certainties when fit, Lehman said there was no rush to get Cummins back into the Test arena.

The 23-year-old quick took a career best 4-41 in Canberra, regularly topping 150kph, while also used a clever change of pace to force Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson into an error that cost him his wicket.

As Cummins continues to impress with performances, Australia's coach – one member of the four-man selection panel – wants to see him transfer that success into the Sheffield Shield before Tests come on the agenda.

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"We're slowly slowly with him … it's exciting though isn't it," Lehmann said.

"Even Sydney, he was a bit wayward there obviously, but it's just exciting to see.

"Everyone's dream is to see Cummins, (James) Pattinson, Starc and Hazlewood all in the one side. That would be fantastic – it would be like the West Indies in the '80s.

"For him, it's a bit like make sure he gets through these three games, reassess what's going on, he's got Big Bash and then work out what we do from there.

"We've got one-dayers (a five-match series against Pakistan in January) and then get him some cricket somehow in the longer format.

"When you get someone like that that's coming back and just goes 'bang' like that with a performance in Canberra, you go 'Wow, we just want him in'.

"So you've got to sit back and work out what the best way to go about it is. It's very difficult when they're young, fast bowlers but god they're exciting to watch. I love watching them." 

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