New Captain, different team, same result. Australia's lean run continued, with a six-wicket loss to New Zealand in the second Commonwealth Bank one-day international at the MCG on Friday night.
Not even a stellar 98 from stand-in captain Michael Clarke and an intelligent 75 from his deputy Michael Hussey could prevent Australia from sinking to its sixth defeat from seven matches.
Playing only his 13th game, Grant Elliott proved the unlikely hero for New Zealand, making a career-best 61 not out to steer the visitors past Australia's modest 5-225 with seven balls to spare.
Australia's best chance for victory came after Ross Taylor threw away his wicket on 47 with an unnecessary slog but an unbeaten 50-run stand off 44 balls between Elliott and Neil Broom snuffed out hopes of a come-from-behind win.
Chancing their arm, Elliott and Broom regularly cleared the fingertips of desperate Australian fieldsmen by only a matter of inches.
Grant Elliott
The loss saw Australia move down to third place on the latest ICC rankings, one point behind India and only four clear of the Kiwis.
Another victory in Sydney on Sunday for the Black Caps will give them an unassailable three-nil lead in the best-of-five series and ensure the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy heads across the Tasman.
This was a match which the visitors assumed control of almost from the get go.
Fielding one of its most inexperienced line-ups in recent times, Australia could not afford another poor start with the bat.
If Clarke's promotion to open the batting was designed to calm a relatively inexperienced top order, it did not work.
David Warner, Brad Haddin and David Hussey were all back in the pavilion by the 18th over - the trio guilty of a rush of blood or a lack of judgement, or in Warner's case a bit of both.
Warner made just two, continuing a topsy-turvy start to his international career.
Predictably, Australia appeared most settled when its two most senior batsmen - Clarke and Michael Hussey - were at the crease.
Showing the patience that comes through experience, the pair took few risks in their 133-run stand, preferring instead to pick holes in the field.
Not that the Black Caps, with Kyle Mills and Iain O'Brien more than capable bookends to their bowling innings, gave them many balls with which to find or clear the rope either.
Mills, who claimed 1-12 from his six overs with the new ball, and O'Brien denied Australia a final flurry at the death.
O'Brien was particularly effective, taking the key wickets of Clarke and Michael Hussey.
Despite an early wicket from Nathan Bracken, Australia's attack again lacked penetration.
James Hopes, a non-descript all-rounder who rarely lets the team down, lifted the home side's spirits by removing Peter Fulton and key man Brendon McCullum.
Hopes was the pick of the Australian bowlers, taking 2-30 from 10 overs.
With victory in sight, the composure Taylor showed early in his innings evaporated.
He was dropped on 37 in the deep by Michael Hussey in the 37th over then surrendered his wicket four overs later when he was caught behind trying to slog Mitchell Johnson into another postcode.
Fortunately for Taylor, Elliott and Broom ensured his mistake did not spark a remarkable comeback.
Not even a stellar 98 from stand-in captain Michael Clarke and an intelligent 75 from his deputy Michael Hussey could prevent Australia from sinking to its sixth defeat from seven matches.
Playing only his 13th game, Grant Elliott proved the unlikely hero for New Zealand, making a career-best 61 not out to steer the visitors past Australia's modest 5-225 with seven balls to spare.
Australia's best chance for victory came after Ross Taylor threw away his wicket on 47 with an unnecessary slog but an unbeaten 50-run stand off 44 balls between Elliott and Neil Broom snuffed out hopes of a come-from-behind win.
Chancing their arm, Elliott and Broom regularly cleared the fingertips of desperate Australian fieldsmen by only a matter of inches.
Grant Elliott
The loss saw Australia move down to third place on the latest ICC rankings, one point behind India and only four clear of the Kiwis.
Another victory in Sydney on Sunday for the Black Caps will give them an unassailable three-nil lead in the best-of-five series and ensure the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy heads across the Tasman.
This was a match which the visitors assumed control of almost from the get go.
Fielding one of its most inexperienced line-ups in recent times, Australia could not afford another poor start with the bat.
If Clarke's promotion to open the batting was designed to calm a relatively inexperienced top order, it did not work.
David Warner, Brad Haddin and David Hussey were all back in the pavilion by the 18th over - the trio guilty of a rush of blood or a lack of judgement, or in Warner's case a bit of both.
Warner made just two, continuing a topsy-turvy start to his international career.
Predictably, Australia appeared most settled when its two most senior batsmen - Clarke and Michael Hussey - were at the crease.
Showing the patience that comes through experience, the pair took few risks in their 133-run stand, preferring instead to pick holes in the field.
Not that the Black Caps, with Kyle Mills and Iain O'Brien more than capable bookends to their bowling innings, gave them many balls with which to find or clear the rope either.
Mills, who claimed 1-12 from his six overs with the new ball, and O'Brien denied Australia a final flurry at the death.
O'Brien was particularly effective, taking the key wickets of Clarke and Michael Hussey.
Despite an early wicket from Nathan Bracken, Australia's attack again lacked penetration.
James Hopes, a non-descript all-rounder who rarely lets the team down, lifted the home side's spirits by removing Peter Fulton and key man Brendon McCullum.
Hopes was the pick of the Australian bowlers, taking 2-30 from 10 overs.
With victory in sight, the composure Taylor showed early in his innings evaporated.
He was dropped on 37 in the deep by Michael Hussey in the 37th over then surrendered his wicket four overs later when he was caught behind trying to slog Mitchell Johnson into another postcode.
Fortunately for Taylor, Elliott and Broom ensured his mistake did not spark a remarkable comeback.
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