The Aussie public doesn’t know half its team let alone the touring New Zealanders' – yet expectations are fever pitch on the Black Caps to finally defeat the Australian Test team for the first time in 17 years.
We've heard it all before. Trust me. If you follow New Zealand's cricket team, they have been talked up as much as the Ipad, Iphone or Ipod when they first were released. Yet the results has more often produced a Walkman which works only every now and then ( in a manner of speaking). World-beaters, capable of reaching the World Cup semi-finals... but a poor test record. However......
Much has been written about Australia fielding three debutants. This includes an unproven pace attack with honest toiler Peter Siddle suddenly anointed the attack leader (news to him too), whilst colleagues Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Ben Cutting were savaged by New Zealand in the Australia A tour match; a scratchy batting line-up headed by Twenty20 supremo David Warner and Phil Hughes, the latter a batsman capable of scoring runs but equally as falling cheaply in trying something rash. Former skipper Ricky Ponting has been written off by every Australian who watches cricket and ex-NZ all-rounder Chris Cairns as being past his used by date. Brad Haddin, the wicket-keeper, was tipped to be dropped by some newspapers after the South Africa tour. Yet he was appointed vice-captain ahead of this series (news to him also). Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke are the in-form batsmen, as well as the experienced heads apart from Ponting.
New Zealand will point to their strong looking batting line-up and confidence in their bowling attack as areas to be confident. Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum form a complementary opening partnership – Guptill has excelled in the past 12 months as opener in tests and ODIs, while McCullum averages 50 as a test opener – then there is young Kane Williamson, heralded as a batsman of extreme talent capable of emulating Martin Crowe’s feats, with captain Ross Taylor and Jess Ryder rounding off an impressive middle order, with ex-Aussie Dean Brownlie looking promising in his early career. Tim Southee and Chris Martin are experienced as an opening bowling duo, with confident newcomer Doug Bracewell and classy Daniel Vettori providing further impetus. Martin has had success at the Gabba, with 9 wickets at 27 in 2 tests.
In short – New Zealand will need to bat well, score more than 400, then unleash their pace attack and get amongst Ponting and Hussey.
Australia will also want to bat first as they traditionally do at home and amass a big score themselves.
Look for Guptill, Williamson and Ryder to make an impact with the bat, Bracewell and Southee with the ball. The Aussies need production from Hughes – anything from Warner is a bonus – and expect Ponting to make a half-century. The Aussie bowling is less clear.
The Black Caps have a very poor test record of late - against the Aussies it is worse - however now is the time to at least put in a much better, competitive performance. Bring on the first ball.
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