The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy contests have usually made for riveting 50-overs cricket. As we get ready for the latest series, of three games, here's a throwback to some of the great moments over the years.
Melbourne 2004: New Zealand 247 for 6 beat Australia 246 for 9 by four wickets
The trophy was given a strong start under the roof at what was then called Telstra Dome (now Marvel Stadium). Australia were clear favourites with three overs to go, New Zealand needing 30 to win. However, it all went pear-shaped for Michael Kasprowicz, who conceded 22 - including five wides - against Hamish Marshall and Brendon McCullum, who, you will notice, becomes a theme of these matches. With five needed from six balls, McCullum scooped Shane Watson to fine leg and New Zealand got home with two balls left.
Sydney 2004: Australia 261 for 7 beat New Zealand 244 by 17 runs
Three days later, there was another thriller, even though the scoreline suggests it was more comfortable. Australia had recovered from 161 for 6 through Darren Lehmann and Brad Hogg, and then with New Zealand 86 for 6, the game looked over. However, New Zealand's lower order kept the chase alive with Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills adding 70 for the ninth wicket. When Vettori was run out with 26 still needed, an injured Chris Harris came out at No. 11, having dislocated his right shoulder in the field earlier. It came down to 18 off 18 balls when Glenn McGrath removed Harris to level the series.
Wellington 2005: Australia 322 for 5 beat New Zealand 320 by two runs
A breathtaking finish to a high-scoring epic. From 101 for 4, Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke added 220 for the fifth wicket, Symonds hitting eight sixes in his 127-ball career-best 156. A number of useful contributions, led by Lou Vincent's 49-ball 71, kept New Zealand in touch but the target always appeared distant until McCullum cut loose. It came down to six needed off the last over with two wickets in hand. The bowler was debutant and supersub Mick Lewis. McCullum was brilliantly run out by Clarke, and then with three needed off two deliveries Lewis managed to collect a parried drive from Mills and complete a run out at the non-striker's end.
Christchurch 2005: New Zealand 332 for 8 beat Australia 331 for 7 by two wickets
Did we mention breathtaking finishes to high-scoring epics? Let's try that again. Three days later it was New Zealand who got over the line with a stunning lower-order performance. Mike Hussey's 88 off 56 balls from No. 7 had bolstered a stuttering Australia, but from 61 for 3 in reply Scott Styris' century guided New Zealand's effort. Still, when he and Jacob Oram fell in three balls to Stuart Clark it left 74 needed off seven overs with two wickets in hand. Then along came McCullum and a vital hand from Vettori. With 20 needed off the last two it probably still favoured Australia, but this time Lewis was taken down as McCullum reached a 25-ball fifty and the home side did it with an over to spare.
Auckland 2007: New Zealand 340 for 5 beat Australia 336 for 4 by five wickets
Clearly went too early with the notion of high-scoring thrillers. Australia were going through some pre-World Cup issues this time and had been trampled by ten wickets in the opening match of the series. Hussey, who was captain, scored a century, Brad Hodge 97, and Cameron White 42 off 19 balls to lift Australia to a vast total. Ross Taylor anchored the reply with a measured century, while Peter Fulton (76 off 65) and Craig McMillan (52 off 30) got things moving in the latter stages with a dose of McCullum, once again, to help finish things off with eight balls in hand.
Hamilton 2007: New Zealand 350 for 9 beat Australia 346 for 5 by one wicket
New Zealand completed a whitewash in astonishing style. It meant Matthew Hayden's unbeaten 181, during which he suffered a broken toe, finished on the losing side. The home side seemingly had no chance of getting near the target after falling to 41 for 4 in the tenth over. However, McMillan built a 67-ball hundred, firstly in the company of Fulton and then, in a stand of 165 in 24 overs, with McCullum. Still, when the eighth wicket fell, 44 were still needed. Mark Gillespie smote 28 off 15 balls before being run out, but McCullum was able to get the strike for the final over with seven required. The first delivery was a knee-high full-toss from Nathan Bracken which McCullum sent over fine leg.
Perth 2009: New Zealand 182 for 8 beat Australia 181 by two wickets
A change of pace from the run-gluts above with a low-scoring, controversial tussle that came down to the last ball. The major talking point came when Neil Broom was seemingly bowled by Clarke, but replays showed that, firstly, Brad Haddin had taken the ball in front of the stumps - which is a no-ball - and that the keeper's gloves dislodged the bails. It led to some heated comments from both camps that went on long after the game, which was decided when Vettori slashed away the final delivery from Bracken after New Zealand had been comfortably placed at 168 for 5 in the 47th over.
Napier 2010: New Zealand 281 for 8 beat Australia 275 for 8 by two wickets
Another case of New Zealand's lower order getting them across the line. A flying opening stand between McCullum and Peter Ingram set up the chase and Taylor's run-a-ball 70 kept things under control, but it was slipping away at 246 for 8 in the 47th over. However, Styris, who was not meant to be playing until Vettori was a late withdrawal, held firm alongside No. 10 Shane Bond, who struck two boundaries in the 49th over to level the scores.
Auckland 2015: New Zealand 152 for 9 beat Australia 151 by one wicket
By now the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy had become a much rarer event and was up for grabs in this one-off group game at the 2015 World Cup. It was a ridiculous occasion that was completed inside 55 heart-stopping overs. Australia were 30 for no loss after 13 balls when Tim Southee castled Aaron Finch, and again 80 for 1 in the 13th over when Shane Watson fell to Vettori. Trent Boult tore through the middle and lower order in a second spell of 5-3-3-5. Haddin's 43 gave Australia something, but when McCullum surged to 50 off 21 balls it barely seemed to matter. Mitchell Starc caused a wobble either side of an interval, but at 131 for 4 the game appeared decided. Then things got silly. Corey Anderson gave it away against Glenn Maxwell, setting the scene for a devastating burst from Starc which left New Zealand nine down and needing six. Boult survived two balls from Starc (who had one over left) and at the other end Kane Williamson had seen enough. Facing Pat Cummins, he lofted him straight down the ground for six.
Auckland 2017: New Zealand 286 for 9 beat Australia 280 by 6 runs
Back at Eden Park two years later and New Zealand survived a magnificent innings from Marcus Stoinis, who almost single-handedly stole victory. Australia were in tatters at 67 for 6 chasing 287 and even after James Faulkner and Cummins had held firm alongside Stoinis, 61 were still needed in seven overs when No. 11 Josh Hazlewood came to the crease. Over the next four overs, Hazlewood did not face a ball as Stoinis went to a century and 35 came off the 44th and 45th overs. When he plundered Southee for consecutive sixes, Australia needed seven. Southee produced a full delivery which Stoinis dug out towards Williamson, who had brought himself in at short mid-on, and with some brilliant awareness the New Zealand captain under-armed it into the non-striker's stumps with Hazlewood unable to get back.