2001–02 VB Series
| 2001–02 VB Series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 11 January 2002 – 8 February 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result | Won by  South Africa2–0 in final series |
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| Player of the series | Shane Bond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Australia
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 New Zealand
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South Africa
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| Captains | |||
| Steve Waugh | Stephen Fleming | Shaun Pollock | |
| Most runs | |||
|
Ponting 254 Bevan 251 Martyn 226 |
Cairns 314 Fleming 309 McMillan 275 |
Rhodes 345 Kallis 322 Gibbs 293 |
|
| Most wickets | |||
|
McGrath 14 Bichel 8 Lee 8 |
Bond 21 Cairns 12 Harris 8 |
Ntini 14 Pollock 13 Donald 12 |
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The 2001–02 VB Series was a One Day International (ODI) cricket tri-series (14 matches) where Australia played host to New Zealand and South Africa. After drawing with New Zealand and defeating South Africa in the preceding Test series, Australia went into the tournament as favourites; however, they failed to reach the final; and captain Steve Waugh was consequently sacked as ODI captain, replaced by Ricky Ponting.
South African Jonty Rhodes, was the leading run-scorer for the series, while New Zealander Shane Bond was the leading wicket-taker.
Australia needed a bonus point against South Africa to qualify for the finals. They won the toss and elected to bat; however, they struggled early and were 7/195 in the 40th over, before Brett Lee scored 51 from 36 balls. Australia finished on 7/283, consequently needing to restrict South Africa to less than 227 to gain the bonus point. Nevertheless, it was not to be for the Australians, as Jacques Kallis compiled an unbeaten century (104), helping South Africa reach 227 with 16 balls to spare. They eventually finished on 250, and despite an Australian victory, the local team were out of the competition, upsetting many home fans. Australian captain Steve Waugh wrote:
A lot has been said about the rights and wrongs of the bonus point system that ended up separating the three teams on the final ladder for the VB series, but much of it ignores one simple reason behind our early exit from the tournament. We were slow out of the blocks and we paid for it ... with the short time between the end of the Test series and the start of the VB series, there was no chance for a lead-up game, our opponents enjoyed, and without such a rehearsal we lacked the sharpness required at the top level in our first three games, we found ourselves under the pump.
South Africa continued their good form against New Zealand with a comfortable eight wicket win, set up by a strong bowling performance from Makhaya Ntini. Despite winning the toss and opting to bat, New Zealand lost both of their openers early, to Ntini. However a 109 wicket partnership between Stephen Fleming and Craig McMillan put the innings back on track. Once Lance Klusener dismissed the New Zealand captain for 50, they began to lose wickets regularly, with only Andre Adams making it into double figures. Ntini took the wicket of Adams to claim his second ODI five wicket haul and the innings was soon closed when Shane Bond was run-out by Jonty Rhodes. South Africa in reply lost their second wicket with 52 runs on the board but Boeta Dippenaar, who was dropped in the gully by Fleming on 40, and Jacques Kallis, guided South Africa to victory with 29 balls remaining.
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