Australia and New Zealand prepare to face off | Photos

Australia and New Zealand will meet in the opening clash of the VB One Day International (ODI) series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, December 4.

The two teams will face off for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy during the three-ODI game series.

The two men’s teams fronted the media at a conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

The New Zealanders also took to the field for a training session.

Game one will feature the return of paceman Pat Cummins for the Australian team.

Cummins has battled with injury in recent times, but is set to help lead the home side’s bowling attack on Sunday.

On a video on the Cricket Australia website, Cummins said it was great to be back in the side.

Cummins said it had been about 14 months since he had toured with the Australian team.

“I think this time around I’ve been a little more patient and that’s probably given me a few extra months to work on a few things,” he said.

“The body feels great… I don’t have to think about my body at all really when I play.

“I feel really strong and fit, and feel like I have to worry about bowling well rather than getting through a game.”

New Zealand is the current holder of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

The side retained the trophy with a win in the pool stage at last year’s Cricket World Cup, before securing a 2-1 series win in New Zealand in February.

On a video on the Cricket Australia website, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said young paceman Lockie Ferguson could make his ODI debut during the upcoming series.

“We are missing some key players and we’ve lost over 1000 One Day International games [of experience] since the World Cup,” he said.

“To replace those [players] is a challenge… I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t play at some stage during this series.”

The Australians and New Zealanders will face off in game one of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday from 2.20pm.