AUCKLAND — Australia and New Zealand will not only vie for top spot in Pool A of the World Cup when they clash in Auckland Saturday, but the winner will also lift the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, it was announced Tuesday. If there was not enough hype around this weekend's clash between the World Cup co-hosts, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, contested by the two nations since 2004, would be up for grabs. Australia currently hold the trophy by virtue of their win over New Zealand in a 2011 World Cup match held in Nagpur, India. Remarkably, the trans-Tasman rivals have not met in a one-day series since then. The only Australia-New Zealand ODI match in the intervening four years was a rain-marred no result at Edgbaston during the 2013 Champions Trophy in England. But now two of the leading contenders to lift the World Cup trophy will meet for another piece of silverware in front of what is set to be a packed Eden Park. “The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy brings to mind the rich history of New Zealand-Australia one-day contests and two of the families who played such prominent roles in the early rivalry,” said NZC chief executive David White in a statement. “Having it contested alongside such an important fixture as an ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 match only reflects its significance for both Australians and New Zealanders.” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland added: “The trophy is named after two of our great cricketing families and so to have it at stake in this highly anticipated match is entirely appropriate. “Australia and New Zealand are two of the most in-form sides in world cricket at the moment and matches between us have invariably produced excitement and drama. “I do not expect Saturday's action to be any different and I think everyone is looking forward to the match-up between two attack-minded sides.” Sutherland said officials were looking into ways in which Australia and New Zealand could play more one-dayers against one another. “We are due to play Test cricket against each other next summer and we are examining the schedule to see what options we have for playing each other in One-Day Internationals on a more regular basis in the future.” The trophy is named after the Chappell family — with three brothers, Ian, Greg and Trevor, all playing cricket for Australia — and the Hadlee family, with father Walter and his three sons Barry, Dayle and Richard all representing New Zealand. Cricket World Cup favorites Australia and New Zealand are circling each other warily ahead of their pool game at Eden Park Saturday, as a lack of familiarity breeds respect. While they won't be lacking intelligence on each other — both use analysts to minutely explore the strengths and weaknesses of opposing players, and most play with and against each other in Twenty20 leagues — facing each other as national teams will be a new experience.
