Australia are yet to name an XI for the third Test, while three sick New Zealand players are racing the clock to prove they are ready to play at the SCG.
Australia and New Zealand will both wait until the last minute to reveal their respective XI for the third Test at the SCG, albeit for vastly different reasons.
Tim Paine and Justin Langer have suggested Australia are likely to name an unchanged side after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series with victory at the MCG.
However, a last-minute pitch inspection could prompt a rethink that would result in Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson making his Test debut.
“We’ll have a look in the morning,” Paine said in his pre-match press conference.
“We’re just weighing up whether we play the second spinner and if we did, how we would do that.”
The visitors’ plans have been thrown into disarray by the fact captain Kane Williamson, batsman Henry Nicholls and spinner Mitchell Santner are all sick.
Williamson and Nicholls both failed to train on Wednesday and Thursday because of flu-like symptoms.
Former NSW off-spinner Will Somerville, who has spent the majority of his life in Sydney but made his Test debut for New Zealand in 2018, remains in the mix for a call-up.
“We’ll have a look at the wicket and assess that. I’m sure we’ll have a few options depending on who’s right and who’s not,” opener Tom Latham said.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Paul, I do not know if my first reply went through so will try again. Toss (cricket) - Wikipedia "Half an hour before the start of play the two captains convene and exchange team selection sheets. This list cannot be changed, other than in the case of a concussion substitute. Then with the supervision of the umpires a coin is tossed". Sides can only be named at the toss. This was enacted due to match fixing/betting etc. Tasmanian women's player Emily Smith was recently suspended for 12 months for naming the Tassie women's team an hour before their match. This breached CA's code of conduct rules. Even today we found out at the toss that we were going with the same team, despite all the speculation re Swepson playing. And that NZ would be without Southee, Williamson, Nichols etc. It was only at the toss that Latham gave the news of the five changes, even though there was speculation beforehand. And if I remember correctly there was some talk of Langer contravening rules when he indicated the team before the previous test.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Paul, I do not know what happened two weeks ago. Because of match fixing, the ICC bought in the rule that teams must be named at the toss. This would eliminate illegal betting, match fixing etc. Today both captains were asked at the toss, and that is when teams were named, ie Paine saying the team was unchanged. There was speculation only that Swepson might play. Nobody knew who NZ were playing till the toss, eg Boult surprisingly out, as well as Williamson, Nichols etc. The Tasmanian women's player Emily Smith was banned for 12 months for releasing team details on her instagram account just an hour before the toss.. She was suspended for breaching CA's anti-corruption code. If you look on CA sight on upcoming games it clearly states teams will be named at the toss.
Paul
Roar Guru
Your comment is at odds with what happened only two weeks ago, TG. In the previous Test,they publicly named an unchanged XI at least 24 hours before the game started. I was not aware of any changes to the rules where sides hand over their team lists at the toss, but sides can be named well before then.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
It was 99.9% certainty that we were going to play the same side. NZ making 5 changes virtually makes it impossible for them.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Paul, according to ICC rules they are not allowed to name the team till the toss. They know who is playing, and players would have been told well beforehand.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I'm hearing 5 changes. Williamson, Nicolls, Santner, Southee & Boult all out. Reval, Phillips, Astle, Somerville & Henry in.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Ronan is safe then...
DingoGray
Roar Guru
No Williamson for NZ. Latham captain and they have a debutant.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
Leave it unchanged. Marnus has shown enough as the second spinner. Swepson won’t outdo any of the quicks, and is also less of a batsman than all 3. Why weaken the team to keep Warnie happy?
Paul
Roar Guru
I wish Langer and now Paine would stop these stupid games around team selections. If they haven't worked out by now what XI are going to play, they shouldn't be our national captain and coach. They've obviously spoken at length to the curator who has no doubt given his opinion and told them exactly what the pitch will look like, so why not tell everyone who's playing? I also wonder what sort of message this is sending the team? Most can assume they're going to be playing but there will be a few who will have doubts and is this the way Langer & Paine a) want to treat their players and b) have them going into a Test questioning their positions in the team? This reminds me of playing junior cricket a few decades ago and blokes coming out to bat, taking guard left handed, then turning around and facing up right handed. Total childishness, IMO.
Tony Tea
Roar Rookie
Australia are going to pick SIX bowlers.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Illnesses must be serious enough, they've rushed another batsmen out for coverage
Paul
Roar Guru
he might have to play, that's the concern I think
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
NZ selectors may be relieved if illness takes the decision out of their hands.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Is Santner being sick an issue? Would he keep his place anyway?