Two changes for Black Caps

Kane Williamson says his New Zealand cricketers are ready to seize their big opportunity in the Boxing Day test, after confirming two changes from the Perth demolition.

With Sports Minister Grant Robertson a special guest to present the caps at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the skipper confirmed Trent Boult’s return from a two-test absence with a rib muscle injury, and Tom Blundell’s first test in two years in the unfamiliar opening role.

After they dropped a struggling Jeet Raval, Williamson and coach Gary Stead resisted the urge to go further as spinner Mitchell Santner held off Todd Astle despite bowling 41 wicketless overs in Perth, where Australia cantered to a 296-run victory.

‘‘It’s a brilliant opportunity. I guess there’s a sense of romance about being involved in the Boxing Day test . . . the guys have all grown up watching whoever’s been involved so it’s quite cool to be part of it,’’ Williamson said after a Christmas Day net session.

‘‘At the same time it’s about removing a little bit of that and bringing the focus back to the cricket and making those improvements we need to.’’

With Kiwis flocking into Melbourne and the day one crowd tipped to be 70,000-plus, Boult’s return is a major boost, the senior man restoring the bowling attack to full strength for the first time since the first test victory over England at Mount Maunganui.

It’s the batting where New Zealand face the most scrutiny after they were skittled for 166 and 171 on a bouncier Perth pitch, on an MCG drop-in sporting more grass than usual in a bid to liven up a usually docile surface.

Williamson will wait until the morning for a definitive assessment but it means a nervous time if he calls correctly at the toss. Tradition in Australia dictates a side bats first and for New Zealand, at 1-0 down and needing to make the play, that’s the positive option.

But it’s a bold call, too, asking middle order man Blundell to pad up against Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson, the world’s best pace attack sensing some New Zealand top-six vulnerability.

‘‘He’s a positive player and a smart cricketer so it’s just trying to adapt to the conditions. It’s important he goes out and plays his natural game,’’ Williamson said of Blundell.

‘‘He’s been a very good player for a long time and he’s a mature head . . . it’s a really exciting opportunity for him.’’

New Zealand will be better for the run in Perth where they were ambushed, losing a crucial toss in 40degc heat, then having to bat against Australia’s quicks under lights with a tricky pink ball where the bounce was too steep to handle. With 10 days to recover and acclimatise further, with temperatures in the pleasant mid20s this week, they’ll expect to provide a much sterner test with red ball in hand.

How much they can improve is the big question.

‘‘Perth was tough and Australia are very good and tactically sound. It’s important we learn from some bits of Perth but turn our focus to Melbourne and changing conditions and perhaps not be too reactive to that performance,’’ Williamson said.

Australian skipper Tim Paine was surprised at the grass on the pitch and declined to confirm his XI until match morning.

He has an embarrassment of riches, with Pattinson likely to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood with a record against

New Zealand of 20 wickets from three tests at 17.70.

Australia’s selection discussion surrounds allrounder Michael Neser playing as a fourth seamer instead of batsman Travis Head.

The rationale is easing some of the workload on Starc, Cummins and company especially if the MCG flattens out to its usual dream batting surface.

‘‘We think we know what we’re going to get [from the pitch] but we want to make sure tomorrow,’’ Paine said.

One thing’s for sure, Paine feels he has the best in the world at his disposal, notably Cummins who sold for $3.29 million to Brendon Mccullum’s Kolkata Knight Riders at last week’s Indian Premier League auction.

‘‘He’s relentless, his line and length is outstanding. He’s always at the batsman and builds pressure and if you can do that to any batter you take wickets.’’