Today, Jonny Bairstow and Ravichandran Ashwin played their 100th Test match. Tomorrow, 12865 kilometers away, New Zealand legends Kane Williamson and Tim Southee will receive their 100th Test caps together. Playing at home, Ashwin took an important 4-wicket haul and gave his side an upper hand. Southee and Williamson will look to do the same when they take the field in Christchurch for the NZ vs AUS 2nd Test.
First win over Australia at home in 31 years?
Shockingly, New Zealand haven’t had the touch of wood over their neighbors in the last 31 years at home. After a humiliating 172-run loss in Wellington, two of the greatest Kiwi cricketers will hope to create history, much like the West Indies did against Australia in January.
A lot of things need to change if the Kiwis want to level the series at 1-1. Tom Latham needs to get back into form. The southpaw last scored a fifty in March 2023 and has scored 106 runs at 17.66 this year. Their other opener, Will Young, has an average of 28.08 but scored a fifty in February against South Africa. Wicketkeeper batter Tom Blundell has been struggling as well, having last scored a fifty in February 2023.
In the bowling department, Tim Southee and Scott Kuggeleijn have been struggling. Southee hasn’t taken a 5-wicket haul since February 2023 and has just 4 wickets in 3 matches this year. Meanwhile, Kuggeleijn averages over 40 and has an economy of over 5 with just 6 wickets in 2 matches. Taking William O’Rourke’s spot, Ben Sears is all set to make his debut.
Marnus, Smith and Carey’s form a worry, but Australia is still too strong
Australia’s bowling line-up is one of the best in the world, but only South Africa and India give them competition. Skipper Pat Cummins will have no qualms about them, but the form of two of his best batters, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschange, is a worry.
Smith averaged 42.22 last year and 38.6 this year. Meanwhile, Labuschagne was averaging under 35 last year and under 25 this year. However, it’s Alex Carey’s form that should upset Cummins the most. The southpaw has a career average of under 30, which went down to 24.26 last year and 22.16 so far this year.
NZ vs AUS 2nd Test: Probable XIs
Australia: Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Scott Kuggeleijn, Matt Henry, Tim Southee (c), Ben Sears.
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