Australia vs New Zealand 2015 2nd Test: Match Preview

Can McCullum’s men bounce back at the WACA?

Brendon McCullum’s New Zealand will hope that their recent tendency of starting slowly before bouncing back strongly will continue at the WACA as they look to stay alive in their series against Australia. The Kiwis were comprehensively beaten in the first Test at The Gabba, as no one aside from Kane Williamson managed to stand up to an Australian bowling attack, which relished the comfort of playing at home.

Although Williamson scored nearly 200 runs in the match and continued to enhance his ever-growing reputation, the result proved that he can’t do it all on his own, so he will need support from his fellow batters, especially the openers and the experienced Ross Taylor, if the visitors are to mount a serious challenge.

While at least one batsmen found his feet, none of the bowlers were able to produce any magic as they took just eight wickets across two innings at an average of 102 in the first Test. With a cloud hanging over Tim Southee’s fitness, his bowling partner, Trent Boult will have to take over the mantle as they look to stop Australia’s batsmen from running away from the series.

For the hosts, it is more of the same, as Steven Smith got off to the perfect start to his first home series as captain. The top three scored runs and the extra pace of Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson, proved too much for the visitors. All the players executed their plans perfectly and another game like that will secure a first series win as captain for Smith, at the WACA.

Team News

Australia

Captain Steven Smith made no changes from the side that beat New Zealand comprehensively at The Gabba. After the fantastic form displayed by the top three batsmen and all the bowlers, changes looked unlikely for a side that is looking to avenge the Ashes loss with another series win over their Trans-Tasman rivals.

The only doubt was over the selection of Josh Hazlewood. Despite the heavy workload endured by the tall fast bowler this year, he was picked ahead of Peter Siddle as the hosts look to wrap up the series in Perth.

“Josh’s loads are quite high at the moment, so it was definitely spoken about. But we think he’s going to do a great job out here in Perth. He bowled really well last time he was here, against the South Africans in the one-dayers, so hopefully he can do a good job for us out here this Test match,” Smith told ESPN Cricinfo.

New Zealand

Unlike the settled Australian side, there will at least be one definite change for the Kiwis after Jimmy Neesham flew home with a back injury. Neesham joins Corey Anderson in the sidelines and Brendon McCullum will have to wait until Friday morning before finding out whether Tim Southee, who didn‘t bowl in the second innings in Brisbane, can play or not.

Due to injuries to Neesham and Anderson, Mark Craig will move to No.7 and will be the side’s all-rounder as the visitors look set to play a four-man pace attack. While Matt Henry will probably replace Neesham, the fitness of Southee will determine whether Neil Wagner gets his 17th test cap or not.

Pitch & Conditions

"Conditions are going to be pretty similar to the Gabba, the groundsman thinks there's going to be a fair bit of pace and bounce,” Smith told ESPN Cricinfo on Thursday. The surface will provide plenty of assistance for the fast bowlers like WACA pitches have always done, with their famous pace and bounce.

The weather will not be a concern like it was late in the Gabba Test as temperatures are expected to reach as high as 36C on the first couple of days.

Recent Form

Australia: W-W-L-L-W (most recent first)New Zealand: L-W-L-W-W

Line -Ups:

Australia: Steven Smith (c), David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (c), Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling (wk), Mark Craig, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.

Broadcast Details:

Date: 13th November 2015

Time: 08:30 IST; 02:30 GMT.

Venue: The WACA, Perth

TV Channel: Star Sports 2, SS HD 2.

Key Stats

1. David Warner will become the fourth-fastest Australian to cross 4000 Test runs, behind Don Bradman, Matthew Hayden and Neil Harvy, if he scores 72 across his next three innings.

2. David Warner’s 2527 runs is the most by any batsman in the world in the last two years and nobody has more hundreds during that period than Warner’s 11.

3. Mitchell Johnson is just one wicket away from moving past Brett Lee and holding sole custody of fourth position on the list of most Test wickets for Australia.

4. Kane Williamson’s Test average of 47.19 is the highest of any New Zealander with at least 1000 Test runs.