Black Caps toss up over Boult

Black Caps captain Kane Williamson will weigh up Trent Boult’s lethal record with the pink ball against risking his involvement in the Boxing Day test in what looks a 50-50 call for the first test against Australia.

Ever since Boult walked off Bay Oval on November 25 with a painful muscle injury around his ribs, the race has been on for the pace spearhead to make today’s (6pm NZT) much-awaited series opener in Perth.

Williamson gave Ross Taylor the all clear after he took a nasty a knock on the thumb in the nets on Tuesday, and said key allrounder Colin de Grandhomme was ‘‘tracking nicely’’ with his abdominal injury.

That leaves Boult as the question mark after bowling for half an hour in the nets at a decent clip on Tuesday and appearing to be making good progress.

‘‘Trent, we’ll have another look at [on Wednesday night] before deciding anything,’’ Williamson said. ‘‘You look at it long-ish term, in terms of this whole series. He has tracked really nicely and felt good yesterday, so there’s a number of factors in that decision.’’

Last time New Zealand played a test in Australia, four years ago, Boult took 5-60 and seven for the match as the hosts snuck home by three wickets in the inaugural day-night test in Adelaide.

After the England day-nighter last year, Boult has 16 test wickets at 12.5 with the pink ball and the Black Caps would love to let him loose against dangerman David Warner and fellow lefties Travis Head and Matthew Wade. Not to mention swinging the ball in to star batsman Steve Smith who along with Williamson loom as the influential figures of this three-test series.

It’s a tough call but if Boult feels confident he may be the best judge of his readiness, and would provide the tourists a huge boost if picked.

Otherwise Lockie Ferguson looks set for a test debut, an exciting but untested prospect at 150kmh in forecast 40degC temperatures for the first four days. The pitch looks enticing for the quicks with the prospect of cracks opening up in the heat and causing uncertainty.

‘‘It is different cricket here and that’s why you need to adapt as quickly as possible. It can be hard to dismiss certain players but trying to play the long game and stay in the fight for long periods is important,’’ Williamson said.

There is well founded optimism around the Black Caps’ chances – ranked second in the world after six wins and a draw from their last seven series.

It’s a similar lineup to Brendon McCullum’s 2015 team who arrived with high expectations but were outplayed in Brisbane, earned a narrow points decision on a flat one in Perth then took the hosts to the wire in the pink ball test.

From those Adelaide XIs New Zealand have seven returnees and Australia six; the Black Caps walking taller this time with a prolific batting lineup and confidence from closing out hard-fought test victories on flat pitches this past year.

Still, the pundits and bookies forecast one-way traffic on New Zealand’s record of three wins from 31 tests in Australia and a solitary 1985 series victory. That’s fair: Australia at home are back to their dominant selves, with Smith and Warner leading a powerhouse top-four and the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and world No 1 Pat Cummins the best combination around.

With the extreme heat there are a few uncertainties in just the second test at Optus Stadium, a year after Australia beat India by

146 runs with spinner Nathan Lyon taking eight wickets.

New Zealand have competed strongly in Perth before. At the nearby Waca Ground, New Zealand clinched a golden series win in

1985, and Mark Greatbatch batted 11 hours to save a draw four years later. In 2001 they were a whisker away from a series victory; then in 2015 Taylor plundered 290 and Williamson 166 as they racked up 624 against Starc, Hazlewood and Mitchell Johnson.

Australia go in as hot favourites, as per usual, but Boult’s presence would certainly lift New Zealand, with the belief this Australian side is beatable if the Black Caps’ stars all fire.

At a glance

What: Australia v New Zealand, first cricket test Where: Optus Stadium, Perth

When: 6pm today (day one of five)

Likely teams:

Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, Tim Paine (captain), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult/Lockie Ferguson.

TAB odds:

Injustice rating

1987: Third test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, day five:

Danny Morrison v Craig McDermott (on 10), lbw at 230-9 The villain: Dick French

The damage: McDermott survived the final ball of Morrison’s over, leaving Richard Hadlee to bowl the last six deliveries of the test with still one wicket required for a New Zealand victory. No 11 Mike Whitney played it out safely and a jubilant Australia clung on for a draw and a

1-0 series win.

Result: Draw (Australia ended 230-9 chasing 247 to win)

Those of a certain vintage will recall exactly where they were when dastardly Dick French declined Morrison’s appeal and left the disbelieving young fast bowler sprawled on the MCG pitch.

Morrison recalled to Stuff in 2017: ‘‘It was missing leg and missing off. It looked like it would cannon into middle, halfway up.

‘‘I was just trying to get it straight and because the ball was older it just hugged in. LBW or bowled was the big mode of dismissal to knock over 10 and 11. We all went up with the big appeal. It felt like a long time, then I rolled onto my back and thought ‘s..t he’s not going to give this’.’’

In the box, co-commentator Rod Marsh drily observed the New Zealanders could count themselves ‘‘reasonably unfortunate’’.

Whitney, who was at the other end, told Stuff in 2017: ‘‘It was frighteningly close. Given today’s technology I think Craig may have been fairly adjacent.’’

Injustice rating: 10

2001: First test at the Gabba, Brisbane, day one:

Chris Cairns v Justin Langer (on 0), lbw at 0-0

The villain: Daryl Harper

The damage: Langer went on to make

104 before he was removed by Craig McMillan, and with his great mate Matthew