GREEN MAMBA ISN’T SO SCARY
Pitch no worries for Pat
Like opening batsman Usman Khawaja did the day before, Australian Test captain Pat Cummins declared green New Zealand wickets were not “as scary” as they looked as he backed his star bowling attack for a sixth straight game.
Cummins will lead an unchanged line-up from Australia’s last match, a shock loss to the West Indies at the Gabba, into Thursday’s clash against the Kiwis in Wellington.
That means Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon will do the bowling for the Aussies for a sixth straight game.
The only changes to the lineup in that time have been veteran opener David Warner out through retirement, with Cameron Green coming in.
Cummins said bowling first was a “live option” given the friendly conditions in New Zealand, but he wasn’t afraid of the wicket either.
“Coming from Australia, it’s rare to turn on the TV and see a green wicket … but over here, it’s pretty normal,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s as scary as perhaps what it looks.
“Seems like there’s plenty of first-innings that have been big.
“The range goes from 180 to 550 or something like that. We’ll have a look (today) and make up our mind.”
The last time Australia fielded a different attack was the been scores final Test of the Ashes campaign at The Oval when Todd Murphy filled in for injured spinner Lyon.
“We’ve had a good run. It’s always nice to have a full contingent to pick from,” said Cummins, who is playing his first Test in New Zealand.
“We feel in a really good position. The last couple of years we have been successful with these guys. We feel like if anything happened we are pretty well placed.
“There is a real calmness around the group. Everyone has played a lot of cricket, it doesn’t feel like we need to reinvent the wheel.”
Cummins conceded the batsmen would have to “shift” a few plans after the surprise pre-match retirement of Kiwi fast bowler Neil Wagner, who tormented Steve Smith with short balls the last time the teams played.
The skipper said he had not bowled too much in the lead-in after a “massive” workload in the past 12 months.
“It’s the balance of being fresh and ready for this series,” he said.
“Having a lighter last two or three weeks really helped.
“Everyone is in a really good spot.”
The Australian cause has been helped by New Zealand ruling out star batsman Devon Conway, who injured his hand in the T20 series.
Basin Reserve, Wellington Starts Thurs 8am AEST Watch live: &
Australia XI: Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Possible New Zealand XI: Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Tim Southee (c), Will O’Rourke.