It’s not often that the highlights of Australian summer cricket happen outside Australia. However, the prospect of a first Test trip to New Zealand in eight years, and the Black Caps at an all-time high, means expectations are high on both sides of the Tasman.
It is also a battle between the two World Test Championship champions so far; defending champions Australia versus inaugural champions New Zealand.
Sadly, given the limited batting between the two, the series only consists of two Test matches, starting at Wellington Basin Reserve on Thursday and concluding in Christchurch next week.
Pat Cummins, one of the few who had never played a Test match in New Zealand, got his advice from Australia’s bowling coach, the great New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori. “He’s always had good insight. He’s played a lot of games here,” Cummins said.
The Test captain, keen to bounce back from Australia’s shock Test defeat against the West Indies in their last outing, said Australia will field the same XI in this Test.
“It’s not surprising, it’s always good to have a full team to choose from,” Cummins said. “There is a real calmness around the team. Everyone has played enough Test cricket so it doesn’t feel like we need to reinvent the wheel.”
By contrast, the home side have been inconsistent, beleaguered by injuries and form. Devon Conway will miss the Test matches and possibly the entire series after failing to recover from a thumb injury sustained during last week’s T20 series.
He was joined on the sidelines by spearhead pacer Kyle Jamieson, who has a stress fracture in his back, and Neil Wagner. Wagner had caused problems for Australia, particularly Steve Smith, on the recent tour, but chose to retire this week after being informed by coach Gary Stead that he would not be selected.
New Zealand captain Tim Southee confirmed on Wednesday that young fast forward Will O’Rourke, who just scored nine on his Test debut two weeks ago, will feature in the match. A wicket score. Southee has confirmed Will Young will replace Conway, with the final selection – a seam-versus-spin battle between Scott Cuggeleine and Mitchell Santner – set to be decided before the toss.
The decision will depend on the pitch, where both sides were unable to train due to persistent rain in the capital on Wednesday.
While New Zealand’s pitches are generally lusher than those of other Test playing nations, Basin, last seen on Tuesday, had a particularly green-topped wicket.
Cummins said bowling was a “live option” if he won.
“Coming from Australia, it’s rare to turn on the TV and see a green wicket like the turf here, but here it’s normal,” he said. “I don’t think it’s as scary as it looks. There seems to be a lot of high-scoring first innings.”
Australia have dominated recent games against the Black Caps, who have recorded one Test victory in the past 31 years: in Hobart in 2011. Nathan Lyon, who played in that game, said he also looked to Vettori for advice.
“He gave us some really good insights into the minds of New Zealand batsmen, which was great,” he said of the spinner. “As someone who has a similar skill set myself, he has been extremely valuable to my career since he came on board in the last couple of years or so.
“It’s great to have a New Zealand legend in our dressing room telling all the secrets.”
Australia: Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc , Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Brundle, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry , Mitch Santner/Scott Kugellein, Tim Southee, Will O’Rourke.
