Quantcast

Haven't clicked yet: Haynes' ominous call ahead of final ODI

Australia won the first two one-dayers by margins of six wickets and 71 runs, but vice-captain Rachael Haynes has identified an area for improvement

Rachael Haynes wants to see Australia's batting line-up hit its straps as they seek a one-day international series whitewash against New Zealand in Tauranga on Saturday.

Forecast rain is threatening to turn a whitewash into a washout and spoil Australia's world-record run of 23-straight ODI victories, but should they get the chance to take the field at Bay Oval, Haynes said there would be no taking the foot off the accelerator.

Australia were in a strong position at 1-180 in the 34th over of Wednesday's second one-dayer and looked well on track to post a total above 300, but lost 6-91 to finish on 7-271 as off-spinner Leigh Kasperek ran rampant to claim a six-wicket haul.

It mattered little when New Zealand were bowled out for 200 as Australia sealed a series win.

But Australia have made big scores a habit of late – of the nine 300-plus scores Australia's women have scored in their ODI history, five of those have come during their current winning streak – and Haynes wants that trend to continue.

Haynes, Jonassen fire as Australia retain Rose Bowl

"If I'm going to be harsh and say something, I think our batting group hasn't quite clicked into gear as well as we have in the past (this tour)," Haynes said following Wednesday's game.

"There's been some really good performances, Ashleigh Gardner's hitting the ball extremely well at the moment.

"But while I think our bowling group has done a really good job and gelled together well, we haven't quite seen a polished performance form our batters yet.

"Hopefully in game three we can bring that to life.

"We've got some world-class players in that batting order, it's nice to have that luxury at the moment and we complement each pretty well too and we have been able to string together some good partnerships … but the one thing missing was just someone batting a little bit deeper to help us get closer to that 300-mark."

Australia fielded an unchanged line-up in the second ODI and are not expected to make many, if any, changes for the series finale.

One player who may sit out is fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck, who took the field in the first two ODIs but whose return to international cricket is being carefully managed following a serious foot injury.

It could open the door for fellow fast bowler Darcie Brown to make an ODI debut, or with the pitch expected to offer increasing assistance for the spinners, Australia could instead opt to recall left-arm orthodox bowler Sophie Molineux.

Super streak! Twenty-two and counting for awesome Aussies

Regardless of who takes the field, Haynes said the hunger would remain the same.

"(We want) to make sure we're always performing and that intensity and desire is always there," the Australia vice-captain said.

"To look at our bench and see some of the players sitting off at the moment, it would be disrespectful not to take the opportunity we have.

"I definitely think the motivation is still there our team wants to continue wining every game we play."

CommBank tour of New Zealand 2021

Australia ODI & T20I Squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Georgia Wareham, Belinda Vakarewa, Tayla Vlaeminck

New Zealand ODI squad: Amy Satterthwaite (capt), Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frances Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin (wk), Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

1st T20: Australia won by six wickets

2nd T20: New Zealand won by four wickets

3rd T20: Play abandoned due to rain

1st ODI: Australia won by six wickets

2nd ODI: Australia won by 71 runs

3rd ODI: April 10, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12noon AEDT

All matches will be shown live in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo