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After Wednesday’s rain caused the pitch to remain
under cover all day, New Zealand will decide just before the toss whether to
select Mitchell Santner, a specialist spinner, or Scott Kuggeleijn, a fourth
seamer, for the opening Test match against Australia at the Basin Reserve.
Due to a thumb injury, opener Devon Conway was ruled out on Wednesday morning.
Will Young, who was already in the Test XI, took his spot at the top of the
order to begin with Tom Latham. Following his absence from the second Test against
South Africa due to a foot injury, Daryl Mitchell returns to the No. 5 spot.
Following their victory over South Africa, captain Tim
Southee, Matt Henry, and William O’Rourke will be the three seamers; the fourth
bowler is still up for grabs. Due to the heavy rain in Wellington, Southee was
unable to view the pitch on Wednesday and stated that a decision regarding the
starting lineup would not be made until Thursday morning.
“The majority of the team is settled,” he said. “We’ll have one
final look obviously with the weather around and one final decision on whether
an extra seamer or a spinner will play, but obviously with Devon Conway’s
unfortunate injury Will Young comes in and will open the batting.
“Injuries are part of cricket. But it also presents opportunities for
other people. Will Young’s coming off 60-odd not out in the Test in Hamilton
against South Africa.”
After learning he wouldn’t be selected for this series
against Australia, Neil Wagner, the fourth seamer in that XI, declared his
retirement. New Zealand used four fast bowlers in their last Test match at
Hamilton.
In spite of O’Rourke taking nine wickets on his debut to be named Player of the
Match, South Africa’s Dane Piedt took eight wickets for the match, while Rachin
Ravindra took four and Glenn Phillips two. On Tuesday, New Zealand coach Gary
Stead acknowledged that his decision to select a specialist spinner in Hamilton
was a mistake.
“Yeah [it does], and I think you throw in Daryl Mitchell as well as
another bowling option,” Southee said. “It’s just great to have those
guys, like the Australian side have the likes of Cam Green and Mitch Marsh. It
helps to balance the side when you’ve got guys in the in the top seven that are
able to help out with the ball as well.”