New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said the collapse in Australia`s
one-day form meant the World Cup starting next month is wide open. 
The five-wicket defeat of the world champions in Auckland on
Sunday was the first time in ten years that Australia had lost four one-day
matches in a row, and meant they relinquished the top spot in the rankings,
to South Africa, for the first time.
New Zealand reached 337 for four to achieve the second highest
run chase in history with eight balls to spare to secure the Chappell Hadlee
Trophy.
The Kiwis won the first match of the series in Wellington on
Friday by ten wickets, the first time Australia had ever lost by such a margin.
"I think that`s just where international cricket is at
the moment, we`re going to a World Cup with teams beating each other,"
Fleming told reporters after the epic win.
"I guess that`s the exciting thought, and the scary thought,
that on any given day one of eight teams could win this World Cup."
Having looked dominant in the group stages of the tri-series
against England and New Zealand, the Australians have suffered injuries and
a collapse in form.
They lost the finals 2-0 to England and have lost Brett Lee
and Andrew Symonds to injuries that could rule them out of the Mar 14-Apr
28 World Cup in the Caribbean.
The five-wicket defeat of the world champions in Auckland on
Sunday was the first time in ten years that Australia had lost four one-day
matches in a row, and meant they relinquished the top spot in the rankings,
to South Africa, for the first time.
New Zealand reached 337 for four to achieve the second
highest run chase in history with eight balls to spare to secure the Chappell
Hadlee Trophy.
The Kiwis won the first match of the series in Wellington on
Friday by ten wickets, the first time Australia had ever lost by such a margin.
"I think that`s just where international cricket is at
the moment, we`re going to a World Cup with teams beating each other,"
Fleming told reporters after the epic win.
"I guess that`s the exciting thought, and the scary thought,
that on any given day one of eight teams could win this World Cup."
Having looked dominant in the group stages of the tri-series
against England and New Zealand, the Australians have suffered injuries and
a collapse in form.
They lost the finals 2-0 to England and have lost Brett
Lee and Andrew Symonds to injuries that could rule them out of the Mar 14-Apr
28 World Cup in the Caribbean.
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