FARIDABAD (India) Oct 28: A depleted Australian team will be hoping to bounce back from its loss to India when it meets trans-Tasman neighbor New Zealand in a crucial one-day tri-series match on Wednesday.

A win is vital for both sides, with host India already racing ahead with nine points after two games.

New Zealand and India both received three points when their opening match was washed out in Madras last week. India earned another six points when it defeated Australia by 37 runs on Sunday.

“The wicket will be a good one. We have been working hard on it for many days,” The Times of India newspaper quoted curator Sarkar Talwar as saying.

Australia will be expecting a stronger performance against New Zealand and will be better adjusted to Indian conditions after its first outing in the central city of Gwalior.

Australia collapsed against India after a flying start by openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, with the night dew helping the Indian spinners in the day-night match. The wicket became slow and the wet ball skidded after landing on the surface.

New Zealand is also expected to Test the Australians who are without their key fast bowlers Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillepsie and Brett Lee. All of them are nursing injuries back home.

The Kiwis have adapted well to slow Indian conditions during this month’s drawn two-test series that preceded the one-day games. They came close to defeating host India in the second Test in the northern Indian town of Mohali.

There will be 10 matches during the 27-day contest, with the finals to be played in the eastern city of Kolkata.

Meanwhile, New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns and Australia fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz have been ruled out of Wednesday’s one-day international through injury.

The 33-year-old Cairns is nursing a hamstring injury he suffered while bowling in the opening game against India last Thursday, which was abandoned due to rain.

Cairns participated in a net session on Tuesday but New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said he would not be playing.

“He is coming on well, but not well enough for this game,” Fleming told reporters.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting revealed that Kasprowicz has a sprained hip muscle.

“It’s unfortunate,” he told reporters. “We are keeping a close watch on him.”

Teams (from):

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Nathan Bracken, Ian Harvey, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Brad Williams, Michael Kasprowicz, Jimmy Maher and Michael Clark.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Paul Hitchcock, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent, Ian Butler, Kyle Mills and Chris Nevin.—AP