The Kiwis are all set to play the Kangaroos at their homeland in a few days” time. Both the sides are ecstatic after their respective Test series wins against the English and Pakistan. They will be looking forward to creating an impact in this series to make progress in ICC World Test Championship.
However, the visitors will be going into the series without even a practice game. Last time, when these sides played a series in 2016, it was the start of a new era in Test cricket.
The Trans-Tasmanians are the first sides to engage in a pink-ball Test. Though the hosts won the Test series comfortably, it was highly remembered for the marathon partnership of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor.
The series commences on December 12 and lasts till the first week of the new year. The sides will resume their rivalry in limited-overs in the month of March in a three-match ODI series.
Schedule and squads
1st Test- December 12 – Perth – D/N
2nd Test- December 26- Melbourne – Day Test
3rd Test- January 3- Sydney – Day Test
Australia squad :
Tim Paine (c, wk), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.
New Zealand squad :
Kane Williamson (c), Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wk)
The visitors had an injury scare as their star players Boult and Grandhomme weren”t fit a few days ago. Now, the board has declared them fit and they already joined the squad at Perth.
Will we witness another high scoring affair in this Test series? One thing cannot be ignored, the battle of talents.
BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and a plethora of pacers. What else can cricket enthusiasts ask for? We are all set for a great cricketing season from this week.