Women's rivals begin their six-match series tomorrow

Rosebowl cricket between the two best teams in the world of women's cricket resumes tomorrow when Australia and New Zealand meet at the Adelaide Oval.

The sides meet in a six-match series, having three games in Australia and three in New Zealand.

The two teams contested the final of the 2000 CricInfo Women's World Cup in New Zealand and this is their first clash since then.

When the Rosebowl was last played, Australia beat New Zealand 3-0 to retain the trophy.

Inevitably, comment on the re-matching of the World Cup finalists will centre on Australia looking for vengeance after New Zealand beat them to claim the world title for the first time.

But in reality it will be revenge in spirit only because the two sides have had so many changes since the World Cup.

Almost as soon as the event ended the sides were committed to rebuilding their sides with the next World Cup in mind. That was forced on New Zealand after the retirement of legendary batsman Debbie Hockley and long-serving players Catherine Campbell, Katrina Keenan and Clare Nicholson.

New Zealand's bid to quickly achieve replacements for them was hindered when their tour to India was cancelled as a result of no assurance being available from the organisers of their tour that security would be available should problems with the war against terrorism in Afghanistan affect the tour.

New Zealand has had two warm-up games in Australia, the first a low-scoring affair in Melbourne and the second a much more impressive game against South Australia in Adelaide.

New Zealand captain Emily Drumm said: "Our two practice games have been very good blow-outs. It was an opportunity to get the cobwebs out of the system and to prepare for the upcoming series."

The first game had been a low-scoring match because of problems in the outfield which did not allow full value for shots. "In Adelaide we stepped up a gear. The players took a lot more responsibility and that was very pleasing," she said.

Drumm will have nothing to do with comment about the matching of the two sides being a repeat of the World Cup.

"There's been so much time between these two events and we are a completely new team. We're looking forward and bringing a young team through.

"I haven't even thought about the World Cup. I'm just getting engrossed in a new series," he said.

Coach Mike Shrimpton said New Zealand had a slow start in their Melbourne game due to a very heavy outfield.

"We came a little unstuck but on a decent wicket our score would probably have been worth around 180. But we managed to bowl out the Australian Youth team for 21 less than what we scored.

"Then yesterday we scored 243 against South Australia and everyone had a good hit on a really good wicket. It was a full strength South Australia side that was only without Karen Rolton," Shrimpton said.

He did feel that one more warm-up game would have been beneficial for the side because it faced a very difficult week.

The team will also have to do without Nicola Payne for the first two games as she has injured a calf muscle, an injury she has had before and which is expected to take longer to heal because of that.

Shrimpton was hopeful she would be available in the third game of the series to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Shrimpton was pleased with the form of captain Drumm while the younger players in the side Aimee Mason, Nicola Browne and Frances King had done well.

"We will face a fairly formidable side, it is the same sort of batting side at the World Cup. Vengeance is very much on their minds for the World Cup.

"It is a hard ask but what I want to see is the team not bend in the wind and to fight hard. If they all get stuck in and try then that is all you can ask for," he said.

Australia started their preparation for the future by touring England last summer and 10 of Australia's players were on that tour.

Medium-pacer Emma Twining of the New South Wales Institute of Sport will be making her debut in the series while Victorian batsman Melanie Jones has forced her way back into the side.

The teams are: New Zealand (from): Emily Drumm (captain), Kathryn Ramel (vice-captain), Nicola Browne, Anna Corbin, Paula Flannery, Frances King, Aimee Mason, Anna O'Leary, Rachel Pullar, Rebecca Rolls, Haidee Tiffen, Helen Watson.

Australia: Belinda Clark (captain), Karen Rolton, Sally Cooper, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Michelle Goszko, Julie Hayes, Melanie Jones, Lisa Keightley, Therese McGregor, Julia Price, Lisa Sthalekar, Emma Twining.