Former Kiwi all-rounder Chris Cairns has declared New Zealand have their best chance of beating Australia in a Test since 1985. The Black Caps tackle an injury-hit and inexperienced Australia line-up in a two-Test series starting on Thursday in Brisbane.
New Zealand have won only one series in Australia, a Sir Richard Hadlee-inspired 2-1 win in the 1985-86 summer which also provided the Kiwis’ only Test victories on these shores.
But Cairns, New Zealand’s third highest wicket-taker after claiming 218 scalps from 64 Tests, believes Michael Clarke’s team is vulnerable given they’ve selected a youthful bowling attack.
Uncapped trio Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Ben Cutting are vying for two spots alongside spearhead Peter Siddle and off-spinner Nathan Lyon for the Gabba Test.
“Since 85 when Hadlee took nine-for … we had a draw in 2001, but other than that it’s almost been just about trying to get a game to go three or four days, which we’ve struggled to do,” Cairns told AAP at a beach cricket event in Sydney on Tuesday.
“This New Zealand side is not overawed. They shouldn’t be because this attack Australia has at the moment is very inexperienced. They’ve just got to put pressure on them.”
Cairns says the selection of Starc, Pattinson and Cutting is a risk and that he’s surprised Australia didn’t call-up Tasmanian quick Ben Hilfenhaus to take on the Black Caps.
“Personally, you’ve got Siddle, I would have put Hilfenhaus in there as well,” he said.
“At least you know he’s played Test cricket, you’re going to have two guys that have never played Test cricket.
“If they don’t get it right in the first session, it plays on your mind.
“To expect the two young guys to come in, and you’ve also got the spinner Lyon, whose pretty inexperienced as well.
“New Zealand’s just got to weather it for a little bit and then put the pressure on them.”
Cairns says the series also represents a chance for captain Ross Taylor as well as star batsmen Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder – who all scored centuries in the warm-up match against Australia A last week in Brisbane – to set new standards in their cricket careers.
“It’s time now for McCullum, Taylor, Ryder to move into being excellent Test players,” he said.
“Going from being very good, which they are, into excellence.”
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