Australia and New Zealand have just completed two comprehensive victories over their respective opponents, Pakistan and England.
This sets up beautifully the upcoming series commencing on December 12 at Optus Stadium. Tests also follow on December 26 at the MCG – where the Black Caps have not played a Boxing Day Test since 1987, when Kane Williamson wasn’t even born – then on to the SCG on January 3, 2020.
In terms of opposition, NZ will be slightly more battle-hardened after playing a virtually full-strength English team. They have, however, just thrashed them by an innings and 65 runs.
BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner and Neil Wagner were the heroes for the Black Caps.
The manner of victory bodes well for the series against Australia. The Australians also routed Pakistan, but against weaker opposition, will that give them an inflated view of themselves?
How will they fare against a very strong all-round NZ bowling attack? The Black Caps can select from Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Wagner, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson with Santner the spinning option. Add in the medium pace of Colin de Grandhomme and the Australian batting will be tested.
(Photo: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
How do the captains compare?
On batting, Williamson obviously wins, and the best leader? Tim Paine has done a great job in helping to change the culture of the Australian team and has critics who have underestimated his role. But if one team was selected from Australia and New Zealand, Williamson would be the captain.
The Black Caps do appear to have a weakness with their opening batsmen with Jeet Raval and Tom Latham not in great form against England. Raval’s batting average after 21 Tests is 34. Latham’s is better, with an average of 43 after 46 matches. But will Raval cope with the pace of Mitch Starc and Pat Cummins?
Ross Taylor and Williamson will be relied upon to provide solidity needed against Australia.
With Australia having Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, the batting advantage is with them.
So, on paper, Australia would appear to be favourites for the series against the Black Caps, but as was seen at the Cricket World Cup, NZ play very well as a team – a quality no opposition can underestimate.
The MCG Test should be a magnificent occasion with two highly competitive teams battling it out.
Capt Jack
Roar Rookie
I get the feeling here that NZ supporters respect Nsthsn Lyon more so than Australian.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Cantab I actually think Wagner is good for aussie conditions. Ironically he can be a great swing bowler for NZ as well, except the kiwis force him to be an exclusively short pitch bowler which has worked out well for them. Southee is the major flaw as he's a very average fast-medium swing bowler who gets exposed here as there's no green pitches and swinging conditions (except Hobart) like in NZ & England where he looks a million dollars. He's a one trick pony who has nothing else in his arsenal: he wouldn't even make an aussie Sheffield Shield team. Ferguson needs to be picked as outright pace can always cause trouble wherever the game is played. de Grandhomme needs to be used sporadically, either opening the bowling, or at least well within the first dozen overs while the ball is still swinging, then a few overs probably just before breaks to try and break a partnership. He will be cannon fodder if used like a frontline bowler as his pace is too slow to trouble the aussies whilst the ball isn't swinging or seaming around.
Bobbo7
Guest
Not so sure. Only Smith and Warner would make a combined top 7 for mine: 1. Warner 2. Latham 3. Williamson 4. Smith (has to keep Taylor out even though Taylor is the third best bat in either team) 5. Nicholls 6. Watling 7. De Grandhomme
Cantab
Roar Rookie
Haha, I love his effort and his heart and he won’t give up. I just can’t see him bowling a single delivery that will trouble these Australian batsmen at home on their mundane tennis ball bounce pitches. Ferguson- yip completely untested. But picking 3 medium paces in Australia has been well and truely tested by us (and other teams) over the last 20+ years. A dismal failure. If we don’t take 1 express quick we’re on a hiding to nothing
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
No doubt, but he is very effective with the short ball, surprisingly so for a guy who is not that tall and not super quick.
Lara
Guest
Australia at home , tough ask. The Kiwis at home ....maybe. The Kiwis will need to play out of their skins to win n needs some luck. They do have some real stars, but the conditions just don’t suit. 20% chance.
dat
Roar Rookie
Right now 6 of the Nz’s top 7 batsmen average 40 plus in tests.Even Raval who avg 34 seems somewhat capable of staying in for longer periods , which would be handy for the batsmen coming in down the order. Not sure how each of them do away from home ,but i recall both Nicholls and Watling doing well on the 2 subcontinental tours, so they could provide ample support down the order for Kane and Taylor.If a strong foundation is set Grandhomme can come in and score some quick runs too. With boult not available for the 2nd test against england(no word yet on the severity of the injury though) it even gives them a chance to test Ferguson out and with him likely to be in the squad to tour Australia ,the up coming series might be even more interesting.
Bobbo7
Guest
Agree. Wagner is a mad dog and just bowls and bowls. He did well in the UAE and has a massive engine. He does ok on roads because he is 100% effort and doesn't get disheartened.
@Micko: I haven't read that anywhere. Australia is one of the toughest country to tour, and the Blackcaps will be up against - and yep, there is always the chance for a calypso collapse or two, but what may make this series interesting, is that bar the freak, Smith, there are a few vulnerable Aussie batsman. Maybe it will come down to Kane V Smith - whoever gets the most runs their team wins the series. But, who the hell knows.
I really like Labuschagne. I'm a Kiwi but I don't think it is out of order for me to respect Aussie cricketers like this fella, that digs in and fights. He can play some shots too. I'm so sick of the T20 type flash in pan, hit a few sixes, get a $5m IPL contract type player - great to see "old fashioned" cricketers getting picked for Tests.
TimO
Roar Rookie
They just thrashed England, by an innings
@Dave J: Jos Butler will argue otherwise, as will his off stump that got shattered yesterday by Wagner.
Both Sommerville and Patel can bowl...I mean they can really bowl with just an inkling of turn, look out. Aussies wont know much about them - how many Aussies fans would have stayed up late on FoxSports to watch NZ recent tours of Paki and Sri Lanka. I'd say none to zich. So they will have that element of surprise. However, probably only one of them will get a match, and that be at Sydney. Santner probably booked his summer in the team after that performance in the first test against the poms. But if it were me, Santner and one other bowler would make way in Sydney, and at least one of them in Melbourne - but I doubt our selectors will be that brave.
Latham can get in some awful trots of bad form. I'd be happy if he averages 40 in the series against Oz. Means he might have picked up a century, a fifty and a couple failures. Raval is the issue. I can't see him getting many at all. He has one thing going for him - he is a fighter, but that is it. Awful slow strike rate, and I can see him nicking out early a number of times to the likes of Hazelwood. But who the hell am I. I don't rate Santner, yet he goes and has a magic match with both bat and ball against the Poms. So who the hell knows.
@Cantab: Wagner will just love the flat Australian decks…so I don’t know what planet you are on mate. In fact, If I had to pick a bowler to bowl for my life on a state highway…which NZ and Aussie pitches have often been of late – I’d choose Wagner. He’s a nut. He just doesn’t stop and would bowl 100 overs from each end if allowed. Ferguson is untested. Yep give him a go, but don’t expect miracles. If he gets 2 for 75 i’d be happy, as long as one of them is Steve Smith.
Cantab
Roar Rookie
His only weapon other than full tosses. 135km Lolly pops on a Australian roads against that Aussie batting line up doesn’t end well for us. But surely they won’t go with De Grandhomme, will be a complete passenger in Australia.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Yes, I was probably a bit harsh on Latham on recent form, but in the past he hasn't gone very well against Australia.
Targa
Roar Rookie
And he didn't review as inside edge on his LBW for his 8 - shouldn't have been out.
Targa
Roar Rookie
Black Caps. The Black Ferns are our women's rugby team.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Good summary, though I’d say the odds are slightly with New Zealand on the batting side, with Raval the only weakness. On Australian pitches, our bowling attack has a definite advantage, but the Kiwis are a very savvy Test team. Not sure how you can say Latham was in poor form vs England just because he got 8 in the one innings. His previous three innings were 154, 45 and 30 and he scored a double century last month in NZ first class. Though might be tested by the shorter stuff in Oz.