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Daniel Brettig in Brisbane
November 29, 2011
New Zealand's batsmen can make a callow Australian attack sweat in the first Test, so long as they successfully manage the awkward adjustment from the easy surface of Allan Border Field to the more steepling bounce of the Gabba. All the visitors' key men have played themselves into decent touch ahead of the series, but tall scores in domestic cricket and the Australia A tour match will count for little without prudent judgment on a ground the hosts have dominated.
John Wright, the tourists' wise and well-travelled coach, said his side could not have enjoyed better preparation, but needed to concentrate for long periods in order to exploit an Australian XI with an odd mix of enthusiastic debutants and battling elders. In 2001 the touring team led by Stephen Fleming wore down a far greater Australian team with patience and planning, and went close to winning the series on its final day in Perth. Wright and his captain Ross Taylor will hope to emulate that.
"It can be [challenging], there is that adjustment and that's why your first half-hour of your innings is really important, and that's something we've got two days to work on," Wright said of adjusting "up" to the Gabba's bounce. "But I'm pretty hopeful we'll cope if there is extra bounce. There is a tendency to overestimate the pace and the bounce when you come to Australia. Generally they're very good batting conditions.
"We're just building quietly … I feel we've gathered a little bit of confidence from the trip to Zimbabwe, we were together for nearly a month, then coming here with good performances in the first-class game at home. We're pleased with our preparation, it's like anything, we're going to have to concentrate very hard on the first two hours or the first day, and then take it from there. Certainly from experience any cricket team, if you can get them under pressure, any team is vulnerable."
While the pitches will vary greatly from one match to the next, Australia's surfeit of injuries means the bowling will not. Wright was gratified that the likes of Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder, centurions all against Australia A, made their runs against the same bowlers now close to a Test debut. Ben Cutting and Mitchell Starc are duelling for the final place in the XI, while James Pattinson is likely to share the new ball with Peter Siddle.
The composition of New Zealand's bowling attack appears settled, with Wright indicating Daniel Vettori's erudite left-arm spin will support Tim Southee, Chris Martin and Doug Bracewell. Next to Australia's giddy youth, this quartet looks quite accomplished.
"We got a lot out of that game against Australia A," Wright said. "Particularly since they were kind enough to include three of the attack that are going to be here. We enjoyed that experience of facing some of the bowlers we're going to have to bat against here. I think we can [put them under pressure], but it is about batting long periods of time. That's what we got out of the last match we played, we'd like to repeat some of those performances.
"It is different because it's Test match cricket and it's a big occasion and that applies to them as well. Two of those players were actually involved in the Emerging Players Tournament in July, and we've got some of our players who were at that tournament also. So from our point of view we know a bit about them as well. It will be different but they are in the same boat we are, making their debut and we've got a number of lads who haven't played a lot of Test cricket so it is a good opportunity."
Australia's approach to the New Zealand series has a sense of the longer term about it, as resources are husbanded to ensure the team can remain strong against India. The visitors, however, have been building to peak in this series. Wright expressed hope of a stirring contest, perhaps even New Zealand's first series win in Australia since 1985.
"They had an impressive last Test as a team, but we know that if we can achieve some of the goals we set ourselves, that will give us a good chance of getting what we'd like in this series," Wright said. "We think that we've got the players that can do very well against this team.
"From our point of view we've got nothing, we've got everything to play for, and our changing room we've got some young cricketers with a mixture of some of the experience we've got, who're really looking forward to playing in this match. We're certainly not daunted."
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