Battered Australia take on in-form New Zealand

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Stand-in captain George Bailey insisted now was not the time for Australia “panic stations”, despite their crushing opening Champions Trophy defeat by England.
Australia, bidding to win a third straight Champions Trophy, will look to get their Group A campaign back on track against New Zealand — the team they beat in the 2009 final in South Africa — at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
The manner of Australia”s 48-run defeat by England at Edgbaston last week, and the fact they suffered another poor top-order display in the absence of injured captain and star batsman Michael Clarke, led to many dire forecasts about what might happen to the side in the Ashes series starting next month.
New Zealand, who have not played an ODI against Australia since losing to them in Nagpur during the 2011 World Cup, come into Wednesday”s match on the back of a nail-biting one-wicket group win over Sri Lanka in Cardiff.
Kiwi left-arm seamer Mitchell McClenaghan and new-ball partner Kyle Mills took six wickets between them at Sophia Gardens and Bailey was well aware of the threat posed by the Black Caps, who before the Champions Trophy beat hosts England 2-1 in an ODI series.
“They”re in good form. I think both their opening bowlers have been in pretty good touch. Kyle Mills is shaping the ball and I guess a bit of a one-day stalwart for New Zealand,” Bailey said. “They”re playing some really consistent cricket. They”re not relying too heavily on any one player, which is always a key.”