History supports Aussies in the clutch

Australia will confidently enter tomorrow's Chappell-Hadlee Trophy decider with an imperious record in clutch one-day internationals behind them.

Steve Smith's men levelled the three-match series against New Zealand at one-all with a rear guard six-wicket win in Wellington yesterday to set up the series decider tomorrow in Hamilton.

Quick Single: Marsh, Hastings help Aussies level series

While the tourists' fast bowling stocks have been depleted through injuries to first James Faulkner and then Kane Richardson, Australia will be difficult to beat if their recent form in sudden-death ODI contests continues.

A close inspection of Australia's ODI record over the past five years, stretching back to the 2011 Cricket World Cup in India, reveals a dominant period for the men in varying shades of green and gold.

In 23 series, Australia have been on the winning side on 15 occasions while losing only five times – the last of which was against the Black Caps in the embedded one-off Chappell-Hadlee fixture during the 2015 World Cup.

But it's in the big games where the five-time world champions have thrived. In matches requiring a victory to either win or draw the series, including one-off contests, Australia are an imposing 11-3.

Quick Single: McCullum farewell 'no distraction'

Among the 11 triumphs is the World Cup final of March last year, in which Australia defeated the Black Caps by seven wickets with 101 balls to spare to exact revenge for the group-stage hiccup at Eden Park.

On three occasions Australia clinched victory abroad in must-win matches, downing England in Manchester last September, Pakistan in Sharjah in 2012 and South Africa at Kingsmead in October 2011. 

WATCH: Australia seal series in Manchester

And twice – in January 2015 and February 2012 – Australia produced the goods in a tri-series decider; the former against England in Perth and the latter versus Sri Lanka in Adelaide.

Australia have also been effective in saving a series.

Against the West Indies in March 2012, Australia came from 2-1 down to square the series in the final ODI, beating the hosts by 30 runs in St Lucia.

Ten months later Australia again had to salvage a five match series. Again trailing 2-1 after a washed-out fourth match in Sydney, Australia levelled the series in Hobart with a 32-run win. 

WATCH: Australia triumph in tri-series decider

But Australia's record isn't perfect.

Those three losses have come in the past two-and-a-half years, the first on the sub-continent against India.

The series, played on small grounds and flat pitches, was completely dominated by bat. Not even a stunning maiden ODI century from Faulkner could save Australia after Rohit Sharma blasted 209 in India's first innings total of 6-383.

October the following year, South Africa romped to a six-wicket win in Harare to win the tri-series tournament which also included hosts Zimbabwe.

But since that defeat, Australia have won 26 matches and lost only seven.

New Zealand's task on Monday has become harder with allrounder Mitchell Santner in doubt with foot soreness. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi has been called into the Black Caps squad on standby.

Western Australian paceman Joel Paris has been parachuted in as cover for Richardson, though it's unlikely Australia will make a change to the side that won at the Cake Tin.