WELLINGTON, New Zealand: New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first against Australia in Wellington today (Thursday) at the start of the opening cricket Test of a two-match series.
captain Tim Southee said he wanted to take advantage early of the green wicket at the Basin Reserve with plenty of movement expected.
“We have played enough here to know it’s a pretty good surface, it’s been under covers for the last 24 hours so hopefully there is a little bit early on,” New Zealand captain said.
“The boys are looking forward to this, a bit of nerves mixed in with excitement,” Southee said further as New Zealand chase their first Test win over Australia since 2011.
Australia captain Pat Cummins fielded the same team that lost the second Test at home to the West Indies in January. It is likely that Steve Smith will again open the batting with Usman Khawaja.
“We were going to bowl, but I’m not too upset with that. There have been some big first inning scores here so that is the aim,” he said.
New Zealand had no option but to change on the eve of the Test when opener Devon Conway was ruled out with the thumb injury.
Teams
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Will Young, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Scott Kuggeleijn, Matt Henry, Tim Southee (capt), William O’Rourke
Australia: Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Umpires: Michael Gough (ENG), Marais Erasmus (RSA)
TV Umpire: Nitin Menon (IND)
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
