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New Zealand tour of Australia 2019/2020 [postponed due to Coronavirus Pandemic Post#52]

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Australian Test squad for the Domain Test Series against New Zealand.

The National Selection Panel (NSP) has named the following 13-player Australian squad for the Domain three-Test Series against New Zealand.

Australia:

Tim Paine (c) (Tasmania)
Joe Burns (Queensland)
Pat Cummins (vc) (New South Wales)
Josh Hazelwood (New South Wales)
Travis Head (vc) (South Australia)
Marnus Labuschagne (Queensland)
Nathan Lyon (New South Wales)
Michael Neser (Queensland)
James Pattinson (Victoria)
Steven Smith (New South Wales)
Mitchell Starc (New South Wales)
Matthew Wade (Tasmania)
David Warner (New South Wales)

National selector Trevor Hohns said: “As we said prior to the Pakistan Series we are striving to maintain a core group of players. The performance of the team against Pakistan was very impressive across all areas, while there is always some room to improve.

“David Warner has been in exceptional form with the bat. The support he received from Joe Burns in Brisbane and Marnus Labuschagne in Adelaide was exactly what we had been asking for from the top order. They delivered, setting up both matches in what was an outstanding all-round performance.

“We are backing the current batting line-up to continue their form across the next three Tests. Whilst not a part of this squad, Cameron Bancroft remains one of the standby players. Similarly, depending on conditions, we reserve the right to add a player to the squad at any time during the Series.

“Michael Neser and James Pattinson will continue as cover for Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood through the Series. Michael will play for Queensland against New South Wales in the Marsh Sheffield Shield game at the SCG, as James did last week for Victoria.”

Tim Paine captains the side with Pat Cummins and Travis Head his vice-captains. The Domain Test Series commences with the first Test at Perth Stadium from December 12-16.

Domain Test Series between Australia and New Zealand:

December 12-16: First Domain Test, Perth Stadium (d/n)
December 26-30: Second Domain Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground
January 3-7: Third Domain Test, Sydney Cricket Ground
 
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Australian captain Tim Paine has been cleared to play in next week's first Test against New Zealand, after he bruised his right ring finger this week.

Paine hurt himself while wicketkeeping during the second Test against Pakistan in Adelaide but played out the game.

The national selectors had sought clarity before confirming Paine's selection in the 13-man squad to face the Black Caps. He has bruising and has been in contact with medical staff this week. However, with the Perth day-night Test not starting until Thursday, Paine is seen as a certain starter.

Fortunately for Paine, he did not re-injure the right index finger that has caused him significant grief through his career and almost led to his retirement.

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc will also make the trip to Perth on Saturday, having battled a sore toe and appeared to role his ankle in the first innings in Adelaide. Starc tore skin under the toe and later said "it took a few balls to get that pain threshold away".

Having managed only the one Ashes Test, with Australia demanding a tighter, more disciplined line of attack, Starc was at his best against Pakistan, claiming a series haul of 14-238 at an average of 17.00. Pakistan, by comparison, had managed only 13 Australian wickets combined through the two Tests.

The Australians will have their first training session in Perth on Monday.

New Zealand have injury worries about spearhead Trent Boult and allrounder Colin de Grandhomme, but the Australians appear a settled unit heading into the summer's marquee series.

That the opening Test will also be played with a pink ball could give the home side an advantage, having already had to deal with its nuances in Adelaide.

Spinner Nathan Lyon said the Australians were focused on maintaining their momentum. Lyon has happy memories of Perth, having been named man of the match with match figures of 8-106, in a 146-run victory over India at Perth Stadium last year.

The Harry Trott wicket is set alight, after it was subjected to 12mm of rain, as a means of drying the grounds before play.

"It’s fantastic that we have the chance to play another day-night test within the space of a few weeks. The fact that we are now able to play the first ever day-night game in Perth is great news for fans," he said on Friday.

"The team has done very well with the pink ball in the past and, hopefully, our form continues."

Officials in Perth hope that strong form will attract an attendance of about 80,000 over the opening four days, with the Western Australian Cricket Association keen to turn this fixture into a major annual event. Attendances were disappointing for the Gabba Test (45,000) and in Adelaide (91,879) in the two Tests against Pakistan.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sp...ed-to-take-on-black-caps-20191206-p53hgz.html
 
New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme have recovered from their injuries and are cleared to tour Australia for the three-match Test series, beginning 12 December in Perth.

Both Boult and de Grandhomme had been ruled out of the second Test against England, after having sustained injuries in the previous game in Mount Maunganui. While de Grandhomme had sustained an abdominal muscle injury, Boult had experienced pain on the right side of his ribs, which forced him to leave the field after bowling just one over on the final day of the first Test at the Hagley Oval.

The duo have made a steady progress since then and it has been confirmed that they'll travel with the squad ahead of the first Test in Perth. Earlier this week, Gary Stead, the New Zealand head coach had sounded positive on their return to the team. "I don't know if I'm really confident, but I'm quietly optimistic they're tracking where we want them to be," he noted.

The pair's return further bolsters the New Zealand side, which has been unbeaten in their last seven Test series. While Boult has been the team's premier fast bowler across formats, de Grandhomme has evolved as a Test cricketer and is currently ranked ninth on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings for all-rounders.

Boult and de Grandhomme were replaced by Matt Henry and Daryl Mitchell respectively in the playing XI in the second Test in Hamilton, while Lockie Ferguson had earned his maiden Test call-up. Their return to the squad leaves the management with some tough decisions to make ahead of their second series in the ICC World Test Championship.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1519300
 
This is probably the most complete NZ team I have seen arrive in Oz since the Fleming & Cairns days. The fast bowling depth is actually far better, the batting better, spin is weaker without Vettori but slowly NZ has raised their standard, still produced a couple of world class players like always but now surround them with very competent, even good quality Test guys, unlike the past when they always had a number of "talented club cricketer" level guys making up the numbers.

Oz cricket has been on the way back up over the last couple of years but this is a real test. NZ have experience & enough weapons to worry Oz if they play well. Interesting series will show if NZ are really the #2 Test team in the world or just keeping the seat warm for a little while until Oz shoot past them.
 
Cricket Australia statement on Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch

Cricket Australia will work closely with Melbourne Cricket Ground staff to ensure the best possible wicket is prepared for the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand.

Play was suspended at the MCG on Saturday with two deliveries remaining in the 40th over after an Andrew Fekete delivery struck Marcus Stoinis with Western Australia at 3 for 89. Victoria had earlier won the toss and elected to bowl on day one of the Marsh Sheffield Shield match.

Umpires Phillip Gillespie and Geoff Joshua asked groundstaff to roll the pitch in the interests of player safety but, after a subsequent inspection, play was abandoned for the remainder of day one. An inspection will take place on Sunday morning, with play scheduled to begin 30 minutes early at 10:00am AEDT.

Peter Roach, CA’s Head of Cricket Operations, said the wicket used for this Marsh Sheffield Shield match is a different strip to the one being prepared for the Boxing Day Test.

“We’re very disappointed at today’s play being abandoned in the Marsh Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Western Australia,” Roach said. “But we also acknowledge that there have been two previous Shield matches at the MCG this season without incident.

“Matt Page and the MCG groundstaff have more than two weeks to ensure the Test surface, which is a different pitch strip to the one being used in this match, is of international standard.

“We will seek to better understand the issues that resulted in variable bounce at the MCG on Saturday. We will also work closely with MCG groundstaff in the lead up to the Test match.”

Roach praised the decision of umpires Gillespie and Joshua to put the welfare of players first and suspend play at the MCG on Saturday.

“The safety of our players is always our highest priority,” Roach said. “The decision to suspend play and roll the wicket in an effort to address the variable bounce was the correct one and I applaud umpires Gillespie and Joshua for the decisive action taken.”
 
When he had his second turn at bat in the second test against England, Tom Latham did something he hadn't done in any of his past 16 innings.

He faced the first ball, bowled by Stuart Broad, with his out-of-sorts opening partner Jeet Raval waiting at the non-striker's end.

Since the pair came together at the top of the order for the Black Caps towards the end of 2016, they have walked out together on 35 occasions.

In nine of those innings, including last Monday's, Latham faced the first ball, while Raval did so in the other 26 – including 16 in a row from last year's series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates to the first dig in Hamilton.

"We just thought we would change it up," was Latham's response when asked on Saturday.

"In terms of the first ball, there's no reason why he takes it, but we just thought we would try change it up."

Was it because Raval had been having a tough time, scoring 61 runs in five innings going back to the tour of Sri Lanka in August, and his partner wanted to ease his burden, even if only slightly?

"No, not at all," Latham said.

"You've got to face your first ball at some point and I just decided to take it first."

While that's true, the decision to change routines is still a curious one – and it will be interesting to see who heads to which end the first time the Black Caps bat against Australia, when their three-test series begins this week.

Latham and Raval's 35 innings together at the top make them second-most experienced opening partnership in New Zealand's history, behind only Bruce Edgar and John Wright, who had 56.

They will make it 36, and potentially 37, in Perth, where the first test starts on Thursday, but if Raval's form doesn't improve – he's been dismissed for single-figure totals in 12 of his last 21 innings, though he did score his first test century in that time – they could soon be consigned to the history books.

Having cemented himself as one of the best openers New Zealand has ever had over the past 12 months, Latham was sure Raval would bounce back sooner rather than later.

"He's a quality player," Latham said.

"He's got a lot of experience at first-class level and he's done really well in his test career so far. It's just one of those patches you go through, where the harder you try, the worse it gets.

"For him, it's about going back and doing the basic things really well. From my point of view, he's been training really hard and doing all the right things, so it's just a matter of when really, rather than if."

This week's test in Perth will be just the second day-night fixture Latham and Raval have played together and they don't have long to prepare to face the pink ball, having flown out from Auckland on Saturday.

"Starting well is always important in a test series, but for us the next few days are going to be vital in terms of adapting to conditions and getting used to the pink ball," Latham said.

"[Australia] have come off a pink-ball game against Pakistan last week, so they're obviously a little more familiar with it and I'm sure most of them have played at Optus [Stadium] before, but hopefully we can start well and adapt to the conditions and go from there."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/crick...and-jeet-raval-make-sudden-change-of-approach
 
Aussies are favourites.

But this is arguably one of the best NZ teams in past many years IMO. They were terrible in 90s and improved a bit with Fleming and Cairns days in early 00s but we're again poor till the early 10s before McCullum turned things for them.

The current NZ team has quality players in Williamson, Taylor, Boult, Wagner, Watling and Latham. They may draw a game atleast but don't think they will win even one.
 
NZ always underperform against Australia in Tests. I don't even remember the last time they won a Test against Australia.
 
labuschagne is turning out to be a pleasant surprise for Aussies.

He really has improved a lot. Still untested in subcontinent, nz. and south africa but he seems to be on the right track.
 
was that after smith smashed him and was just asked to go for shots?

He got plenty of runs but we had the same attack and Boult was the one getting him out. Plus ya know, the part where he has the best record in Aussie of our current options.
 
He got plenty of runs but we had the same attack and Boult was the one getting him out. Plus ya know, the part where he has the best record in Aussie of our current options.

getting him out after he blasted him for runs doesn't even matter especially when the game is already over. N.z should have faith in lockie. He has potential. drop southee and play Henry instead. Atleast he has pace.
 
getting him out after he blasted him for runs doesn't even matter especially when the game is already over. N.z should have faith in lockie. He has potential. drop southee and play Henry instead. Atleast he has pace.

You are missing the point again and Lockie is injured.
 
Can't say that I know much about him, doesn't look fast but he looks like he's 6'2+ from this video.


 
Okay, he's 6'8 and can bat. He scored a 110 ball century against England.

Might be interesting to go with the 4 pacers - Boult, Southee, Wagner and Kyle.
 
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Auckland Aces pace bowler Kyle Jamieson has earned his maiden call-up to the BLACKCAPS as an injury replacement for Lockie Ferguson.

Ferguson is returning home from Australia after sustaining a grade two right calf-muscle tendon strain while bowling in the first Test in Perth.

The injury is expected to require four to six weeks of rehabilitation.

Coach Gary Stead confirmed 24-year-old Jamieson would join the Test squad in Melbourne in preparation for the second Test at the MCG on Boxing Day.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for Kyle who has impressed in the Plunket Shield domestic four-day competition,” Stead said.

“We’ve also been really encouraged by his progress in the NZC winter camps and his performances for New Zealand A.

“Standing at over two metres tall he obviously gets good bounce and brings something different to our other pace bowlers.

“He’ll play for the Aces today in their Super Smash T20 match against the Kings, before making his way to Melbourne on Wednesday.

“It will be his first time in camp and we’re looking forward to welcoming him into the BLACKCAPS environment.”

Jamieson boasts 72 wickets in the Plunket Shield at an average of 27.9 and was a member of the New Zealand squad for the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Ferguson will travel home on Tuesday and Stead said the whole team was feeling for him.

“We’re all absolutely gutted for Lockie,” he added.

“He’d worked really hard to earn his Test debut and to have it cruelly halted by injury was truly unlucky.

“He’ll return home to begin his recovery with an eye to India’s tour of New Zealand starting in late January.”
 
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Cricket's 'Bodyline' war between Aussies and Black Caps heats up before Boxing Day test

Could the cricket series between Australia and New Zealand turn nasty in Melbourne?

Cricket greats want the Bodyline war to go into overdrive, urging Australia to pick their scariest "enforcer".

The legendary leg spinner Shane Warne and former England captain Michael Vaughan want fast bowler James Pattinson selected for the Boxing Day test over the veteran Peter Siddle.

The Telegraph wrote: "Australian captain Tim Paine has vowed to be more ruthless as calls grow for selectors to unleash the beast and make James Pattinson their Bodyline enforcer'. Pattinson was also described as an "attack dog".

New Zealand's medium fast bowler Neil Wagner lit the first test fuse, after leaving Aussie batsman Matthew Wade "battered and bruised" as the Telegraph put it.

Memories of the infamous Bodyline series between Australia and England 87 years ago are being revived, with claims that New Zealand's short-pitched bowling has unnerved the great Aussie batsman Steve Smith who fell to Wagner bouncers.

"Pretty simple for me – get Pattinson in, unleash him," Warne told News Corp.

"He's aggressive and I want him to come in and I want him to bowl fast and be aggressive and smash it into the wicket."

Vaughan said bodyline comparisons made by Australian captain Paine was a declaration of war.

"That's why James Pattinson has to play. Pattinson comes in for (the injured) Josh Hazlewood," Vaughan said on Fox Cricket's 360.

"I don't think it's even a discussion. Pattinson bowls at 145km/h with Cummins and then Starc and a bit of Nathan Lyon. I wouldn't change anything."

Vaughan said most of the New Zealanders looked "a bit like rabbits in the headlights" after the humiliating first test defeat in Perth.

"This is one Test match win for New Zealand in 29 … whether it's one day cricket or Test cricket I really think the Australians have the wool over the New Zealanders eyes," he said.

Mike Hussey, the former Australian player and now TV commentator, said Wagner may have started the bumper fight, but Australia would win it.

"(Tim Paine) knows he's got the artillery in his camp," Hussey said on Fox's 360.

"They've got Wagner who has a good go but he's in the 130s, Tim Southee is in the 130s, maybe high 120s… I know which camp I'd rather be in if they're bowling Bodyline."

Paine has said Australia is still going through the process of rediscovering its ruthless streak after big wins over Pakistan and New Zealand.

"It was great theatre, wasn't it," Paine said. "We were just having a laugh before when we were bowling at their tail, we think it's going to be a bit of Bodyline for a lot of the series.

"There's been a lot of talk about it, but regardless of the pace of the two teams they are very, very skilled at executing that ball and they set great fields for it."

The fiery Pattinson was supposedly battling Starc for a place in the team which played Pakistan, but ran into trouble over a verbal altercation – allegedly involving a homophobic slur - in a Sheffield Shield match.

Australian coach Justin Langer is considering playing five bowlers, and veteran Peter Siddle has also been mentioned as a possible Hazlewood replacement.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12294397
 
The kiwi seamers did fairly well in the conditions. However the batting is to dependant on KW and Taylor.

Also please get rid of Jeet Raval, cant keep having KW practically opening in every test.
 
so atleast our batting didn't fold like Hobbits the 2nd rank team on the planet, even though our bowling sucked, but there wasn't any other outcome possible considering how rookie and misfit selection we made in bowling.
 
Due to the extreme high-temperatures forecast for Melbourne on Friday the BLACKCAPS and Cricket Victoria have decided to cancel the opening day of their warm-up match at Scotch College.

Coach Gary Stead confirmed the team would rest tomorrow with temperatures expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius.

The squad will then train at the MCG on Saturday morning in much cooler conditions before batting first in a full-day match against the Victoria XI on Sunday.
 
Australia's batting coach Graeme Hick has raised doubts over the legality of New Zealand's bowling tactics used during the first test.

While Hick had no issues with the Kiwis targeting his men with bouncers, which Australia captain Tim Paine likened to the Bodyline tactics of the infamous 1932-33 Ashes series, he questioned why umpires did not penalise the visitors for what he termed their "negative bowling".

Hick did not list specific examples, but left-arm quick Neil Wagner targeted left-hander Matthew Wade from the leg side bowling around the wicket in the second innings. In those instances, New Zealand gloveman BJ Watling set up so his line of sight was down Wade's leg side.

"I wondered if at any stage the umpires felt it was negative bowling," Hick told The Sydney Morning Herald.

"A while ago if you bowled a certain number of deliveries consecutively the umpires would step in, especially if it was used to control the game.

"I wonder if that comes into play at all. There were quite a few consecutive deliveries a foot down leg side. There's another train of thought where the umpires need to step in. It's not my position to run the game."

Under the International Cricket Council's test playing conditions, umpires can call wides if they believe a bowler to be "bowling down the leg side as a negative tactic".

"The strict limited over Wide interpretation shall be applied," law 22.1.4 reads.

The rule is rarely applied, but Australia were on the receiving end during India's second innings in last year's Boxing Day test.

Umpire Marais Erasmus called a wide on a ball that Pat Cummins sent down leg side to wicketkeeper/batsman Rishabh Pant so that spinner Ravindra Jadeja would be on strike for the first ball of the next over.

Erasmus later explained to Paine that it did not matter it was the first such delivery as the wicketkeeper had set up for it.

"If he had bowled a ball down leg and then you had then dived, I would not have deemed it to be deliberate," Erasmus said.

Hick's comments will undoubtedly raise more awareness of the Kiwis' controversial tactics in the lead-up to next week's Boxing Day test.

The Australians are expecting the Black Caps to persist with the short ball, which Hick believes to be a defensive play designed to slow down the pace of the game.

"The situation of the game, if you try to set up the game and move the game forward, you're tempted to try and attack it, which plays into their hands," Hick said.

"You have to have a clear plan and be very disciplined. Whatever your plan is, execute it well. It's without doubt they'll use it again.

"We won the test match quite convincingly. It'll only get them ahead of the game if we don't play it well. If they were ahead of the game, they'd be bowling in better areas to start off with."

Some batsmen chose to attack Wagner and met their demise that way, while Wade opted to take the hits to the body during his stirring contest with the Kiwi enforcer.

Hick will let each player devise his own plan to tame Wagner, who claimed five of his seven wickets with the short ball – a delivery which has brought him a large portion of his 194 test victims.

"If a batter ducks every short ball for five overs and has the discipline to do that they're [New Zealand] not accomplishing much and the game's not really moving anywhere," Hick said.

"The wicket will determine how they'll play it as well. There's a lot of things that will come into making those plans. Once you get out there you'll get a feel of how the wicket is playing and you can go to plan A or B.

"It's all part of batsmanship. You have to think on your feet for a lot of the time. There's a lot of research, so it's in your mind when you go out there and then you have to put your plan in place."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/crick...ons-legality-of-new-zealands-negative-bowling
 
Justin Langer confirms Josh Hazlewood’s replacement for Boxing Day Test

Australian coach Justin Langer has removed any lingering doubt that James Pattinson will replace the injured Josh Hazlewood in the line-up for the Boxing Day Test.

Langer raised eyebrows when he brought veteran quick Peter Siddle into the 13-man squad this week, but the coach has confirmed Pattinson will get the nod ahead of Michael Neser and Siddle.

“I am really looking forward to seeing Patto bowl and bowl well in this Boxing Day Test, which is his home ground as well,” Langer told 6PR on Saturday.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...r/news-story/f10cd95c3587da4a12953d9cd0bfaf96
 
New Zealand have confirmed two changes to their XI for the Boxing Day Test, with pace ace Trent Boult to return from injury while Tom Blundell will replace Jeet Raval at the top of the order.

Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson confirmed his line-up on Christmas morning as his team went through their paces for a final time before the start of the second Domain Test.

Left-armer Boult missed the first Test in Perth after injuring his ribs and side in a Test against England last month.

Blundell opened for the Black Caps in place of Raval in a tour match on Sunday, scoring 59 before being retired against a Victorian XI in Melbourne.

Having played just two Tests previously in 2017, Blundell is on the tour as a back-up wicketkeeper and batsman and has previously been used in the middle order.

"He’s a positive player and at the same time a smarter cricketer ... it’s important he goes out and looks to play his natural game," Williamson said on Wednesday.

Raval has averaged just 7.3 in his past nine Test innings and New Zealand need change after he scored just one in each innings of their 296-run Test loss in Perth last week.

On Tuesday, New Zealand quick Tim Southee said the Black Caps had refused to completely wipe their Perth pink-ball horror show from memory.

The Kiwis' lack of experience in day-night Tests showed at Optus Stadium, crumbling to a 296-run defeat against Australia to open the series.

Despite the Trans-Tasman battle reverting back to the red-ball for Boxing Day, quick Tim Southee said the team analysed their first Test performance thoroughly.

"It's different, the pink ball...but I don't think you park it," Southee told reporters on Tuesday.

"There's things we did well in Perth, there's things we didn't do so well.

"I think the strength of the group is we look at those areas and we look to improve, we're always looking to improve.

"Although it was a different type of Test cricket, there's still things we learned from that."

New Zealand will play their first Boxing Day Test at the MCG since 1987, with a crowd of about 75,000 expected for day one.

Domain Test Series v New Zealand

Australia squad: David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Michael Neser, Peter Siddle

New Zealand: Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson (c)

First Test: Australia won by 296 runs in Perth

Second Test: December 26-30, MCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Third Test: January 3-7, SCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/new...lia-kane-williamson-blundell-boult/2019-12-25
 
MELBOURNE - Australia could play five specialist bowlers against New Zealand during the second Test, captain Tim Paine said Wednesday, with the decision being left until the last moment.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground track has been lifeless during the past two Boxing Day Tests, making it hard to take 20 wickets, although a Sheffield Shield match there this month was abandoned due to a dangerous pitch.

With this in mind, Paine said a decision would only be made after a late inspection.

But one scenario could be a five-pronged attack, in which Queensland seamer Michael Neser likely makes his debut.

"We'll find out tomorrow. The wicket is a bit unknown... but we've got a plan in place for both scenarios (with five bowlers or without)," Paine told reporters on Wednesday.

"We've probably got two different teams (in mind), to be honest, so we'll make the final call tomorrow."

Australia traditionally play only four frontline bowlers - three quicks and a spinner.

According to Cricket Australia, they have only fielded five once before in the past decade - at the 2013 Sydney Test against Sri Lanka.

If they go down this route on Thursday, Neser is set to line up alongside Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, with James Pattinson replacing the injured Josh Hazlewood.

Travis Head is expected to be the fall guy, with wicketkeeper Paine moving up the batting order to six.

"Our batting team has been scoring a lot of runs so if we were to go one more bowler, we would be comfortable they could do the job," said Paine.

"The bowlers we would be bringing in can all bat so while we're taking a batter out, we're probably lengthening our line-up."

Australia head into the Melbourne clash on the back of three wins at home this summer - two against Pakistan before their 296-run thrashing of New Zealand in the first Test at Perth, a day-night affair.

Marnus Labuschagne has been their star batsman, smashing his third century in a row at Perth before a second-innings 50.

In contrast, Steve Smith, their hero during the Ashes against England this year, has managed only 43 and 16 in his last two innings, out twice to short balls from Neil Wagner.

It followed a quiet series against Pakistan and he is keen to pile on some runs in Melbourne.

"I've been facing a fair bit of short stuff in the nets because I'm expecting a bit (in Melbourne)," Smith said.

"It's going to be completely different with the red ball as opposed to the pink ball, particularly (compared) to the second innings in Perth when it was a bit up and down with cracks and stuff.

"It's going to be different, but I'm looking forward to it.

https://ewn.co.za/2019/12/25/austra...ay-test?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
 
Mitchell Swepson joins Australian squad for third Domain Test against New Zealand in SydneyQueensland leg spinner Mitchell Swepson has been added to the Australian squad for the third match of the Domain Test Series against New Zealand in Sydney.

Swepson will join the squad for preparation during the Domain Boxing Day Test at the MCG and move onto Sydney with the squad.

National Selector Trevor Hohns said the 26-year-old Queenslander was ready for selection given his form this summer with 12 wickets from six Marsh Sheffield Shield games at 26.58.

“Having Mitch in Sydney gives us the option to play two specialist spinners if the conditions demand,” Hohns said. “We will make those assessments when we get to Sydney.”

Swepson was a member of Australia's Test squad for tours of India and Bangladesh in 2017. He took two wickets on his international debut in a T20I match against England at Edgbaston in 2018.

Hohns added paceman Peter Siddle would be released back to the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL after Australia chose James Pattinson to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood in Melbourne.

“Having Sids (Siddle) as the 13th man and his experience at the MCG has been invaluable. His insights have greatly assisted the fast bowlers for this Test and it was great having him around the group.

“James has been with the squad through the summer, has performed well Marsh Sheffield Shield matches and is thoroughly deserving of his recall to the team.”

Domain Test Series between Australia and New Zealand:
December 26-30: Second Domain Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground
January 3-7: Third Domain Test, Sydney Cricket Ground
 
Boult ruled out of series with fractured hand

New Zealand's difficult tour of Australia has become all the more challenging with news that left-arm paceman Trent Boult has suffered a fracture in his right hand and will miss the remainder of the series.

Boult was struck on the hand by Mitchell Starc while batting in New Zealand's first innings at the MCG on day three of the second Domain Test, and was treated on-field before resuming his innings. He was the last Black Caps wicket to fall with tourists capitulating to 148 all out to surrender a 319-run first-inning advantage.

Boult then got through nine overs with the ball but the diagnosis seems likely to rule him out for the rest of the match, in which New Zealand now trail by 456 runs.

"Trent Boult suffered a fracture to the second-metacarpal of his right hand after being struck while batting on day three of the second Test against Australia in Melbourne," a press statement from New Zealand read.

"An X-ray during the tea break confirmed the undisplaced fracture which will require around four weeks of rehabilitation, meaning Boult will return home to New Zealand at the end of the Test.

"A replacement player will be confirmed in due course."

Boult missed the first Test of the series due to a rib issue, with Lockie Ferguson debuting in his stead, however the express quick suffered a calf injury mid-match and was replaced in the touring party ahead of the Boxing Day Test by rookie quick Kyle Jamieson, who is yet to play a match for New Zealand in any format.

"We've been really encouraged by his progress in the New Zealand Cricket winter camps and his performances for New Zealand A," coach Gary Stead said.

"Standing at over two-metres tall he obviously gets good bounce and brings something different to our other pace bowlers.

"It will be his first time in camp and we're looking forward to welcoming him into the Black Caps environment."

Jamieson or the more experienced Matt Henry, who is also in the squad, could be in line for a call-up for the third Test at the SCG, beginning January 3.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/tre...elbourne-mcg-australia-new-zealand/2019-12-28
 
Somerville to replace injured Boult for Sydney Test



Auckland Aces off-spinner Will Somerville has been called into the BLACKCAPS Test squad for the third and final Test against Australia in Sydney on January 3.

Somerville will replace pace-bowler Trent Boult who is returning home to New Zealand after suffering a fracture to his right hand.

Coach Gary Stead said the inclusion of Somerville was a nod to the expected conditions in Sydney.

“There’s no secret the SCG pitch is one of the more spin-friendly in Australia,” said Stead.

“Will offers something different to our two other spinners in the squad with his right arm off-spin and height.

“The fact he’s played a lot of cricket in Sydney during his career for New South Wales will also be helpful as we prepare for this final Test.”

Since debuting against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi one year ago, Somerville played two further Tests for the BLACKCAPS in Sri Lanka in August and boasts 14 wickets at an average of 25.

Somerville will link up with the squad in Sydney on Tuesday.
 
Bushfire smoke hangs heavy over Sydney test

SYDNEY, Jan 2 (Reuters) - The New Year's cricket test at the Sydney Cricket Ground is one of the great fixtures on the Australian sporting calendar but this year it will be heavily overshadowed by the bushfire catastrophe unfolding around the country.

While there was never any chance of any of the hundreds of blazes raging around the country reaching the leafy suburbs of Sydney where the SCG has sat for 171 years, the smoke from the deadly conflagrations is a different matter.

The skies were clear on Thursday when the hosts and New Zealand made their final preparations for the third and final test of the series but there is a very real prospect of thick smoke halting play at some point after the five-day contest gets underway on Friday.

"We won't be putting the players' health at risk, nor will we be putting the health of match officials, or fans at the match at risk," Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts said at the ground.

"This is quite a unique situation but we're as confident as we can be that we've got the right expertise around us and that good judgment will be exercised and the safety of everyone at this great ground will be put first.

"We need to be treating this like rain delays if we have smoke delays."

Temperatures are forecast to soar above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) along the south coast on Saturday, bringing the prospect of renewed firefronts to add to the around 200 current blazes and apossible increase in smoke.

A domestic Twenty20 match in Canberra was abandoned because of bushfire smoke on Dec 21.

The ultimate decision over whether to suspend play rests with the match officials, who have the discretion to call the players off the field if the air is considered hazardous or visibility is greatly reduced.

https://www.eurosport.com/cricket/c...heavy-over-sydney-test_sto7593485/story.shtml
 
For the second straight day New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was unable to train at the SCG due to illness and is racing against the clock to be fully fit for the third Domain Test.

Williamson is suffering from flu-like symptoms and has been quarantined from the Black Caps squad with less than 24 hours until the first ball of the series finale in Sydney.

Williamson and middle-order batter Henry Nicholls have missed the past two days of training while left-arm orthodox spinner Mitchell Santner has also pulled up unwell and did not practice on Thursday.

Opening batter Tom Latham filled Williamson's shoes in the captain's pre-match press conference and said it would take a lot for his skipper to miss the New Year's Test with pride and World Test Championship points on the line having already lost the series.

"He's obviously a great leader amongst this group and he's passionate about this group," Latham said.

"If there's any chance of him paying, even if it's a small chance, he'll certainly be playing.

"It's gone around the team a little bit which isn't ideal, but fingers crossed they're resting up today and hopefully they'll wake up in the morning and be good to go."

Losing Williamson, the No.3-ranked Test batter in the world, to illness would be a hammer blow to the tourists despite the visiting skipper's lean campaign.

In four innings this series he's scored just 57 runs and was out in both innings at the MCG to tearaway quick James Pattinson.

Despite the uncertainty around his participation in the annual Pink Test, Australia captain Tim Paine is expecting his counterpart to be taking the field on Friday.

"We're planning for him to play and I think if Kane Williamson misses a couple of days’ training I don’t think it's going to affect him too much," Paine said today.

"A player of his quality knows what he is doing. He knows how to prepare himself and how to get himself up for big games.

"We're preparing for the best of Kane Williamson and if he’s not there then we saw last game, a guy like Tom Blundell can come in and take it right up to us so we know they've got some very good players.

"We're not sure what XI they’re going to go with but what we've done is prepare ourselves and looked really closely at all their players they've got here.

"We're prepared for everyone of them."

Should Williamson and Nicholls be ruled out, reserve batter Jeet Raval, who was dropped after the first Test, would return, while leg-spinner Todd Astle, who has two first-class centuries, could be included.

Whoever takes the field for the Black Caps, Latham – Williamson's likely replacement as skipper if unavailable – is confident in his squad to compete with a red-hot Australian side.

"If we lost those guys it would be a little bit disappointing, but I know we've got a squad of 15 here that are passionate about this team and whatever side we do end up playing we've got the backing of the whole group that it's the right team that to go out and do the job," Latham said.

"We haven't necessarily played our best brand of cricket since we've been over here.

"I know the guys are really excited about getting out there over the next five days and putting in a good performance on the board."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/kan...-zealand-third-test-scg-tom-latham/2020-01-02
 
Glenn Phillips on his way to Sydney as batting cover

Auckland Aces batsman Glenn Phillips is flying to Sydney this evening to join the BLACKCAPS as batting cover for tomorrow’s third and final Test against Australia at the SCG.

It’s the 23-year-old’s first call-up to the Test squad and comes as Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls continue to battle viral infections which have prevented them from training the past couple of days.

Phillips has made a strong start to the 2019-20 season by scoring centuries in all three formats, including an impressive First-Class hundred against the star-studded England Test side in Whangarei in November.

BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead stressed Phillips’ inclusion was precautionary and they were still hopeful both sick players would be fit.

“We’ve obviously got a few balls up in the air at the moment and we want to be on the safe side and have options,” Stead said.

“Glenn has been in terrific form this season and has good versatility with where he can bat and the roles he can play.

“He’s been around the BLACKCAPS T20 team for the past couple of years so should feel comfortable in the environment.

“We’re still hopeful Henry and Kane will pull through and we will give them every chance to prove their fitness.

“If one or both are ruled out then we will consider our options and most importantly how they balance the side for this final Test.”

Phillips holds an impressive First-Class average of 42.5 with four centuries to his name and has previously played 11 T20 Internationals for the BLACKCAPS.
 
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World Cup pace trio return as BLACKCAPS chase ODI history in Australia

The BLACKCAPS will have their front-line ODI pace attack to call on for the upcoming Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series in Australia with Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson all fit for the three-game series.

The trio were ruled out of the recent one-day series victory over India with injuries but will return as the specialist seamers alongside Tim Southee and rising rookie Kyle Jamieson, with Hamish Bennett and Scott Kuggeleijn missing out.

There’s a familiar feel to the 15-player squad who will attempt to become the first New Zealand side to win an ODI series in Australia.

BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead said they would need to be at their absolute best to retain the prestigious trans-Tasman trophy.

“Playing Australia in Australia is one of the great challenges in world cricket and you know you will be severely tested in all aspects of the game.

“Our one-day unit is a pretty settled one with plenty of experience and I think that showed in the recent series against India.

“It’s great to welcome back the class of Trent, Matt and Lockie who spearheaded our run to the Cricket World Cup final last year.

“Kyle’s made every post a winner since his international debut this season and he’ll be a handy asset to have in Australia.

“It’s an honour to compete for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and I know it means a lot to the players to have the trophy stay in New Zealand.”

BLACKCAPS ODI squad

Kane Williamson (c)

Tom Blundell

Trent Boult

Colin de Grandhomme

Lockie Ferguson

Martin Guptill

Matt Henry

Kyle Jamieson

Tom Latham (wk)

Jimmy Neesham

Henry Nicholls

Mitchell Santner

Ish Sodhi

Tim Southee

Ross Taylor


The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series starts in Sydney with two games at the SCG on Friday March 13 and Sunday 15, before moving to Hobart for the final match on Friday 20.

The BLACKCAPS depart for Australia on Monday March 9.

The ODI series and the T20I series in New Zealand later this month will see both teams donning retro playing shirts chosen by public vote.

The BLACKCAPS will wear the teal of the late 1990s, while Australia will be sporting the shooting stars last seen at the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
 
Australia’s three-match Gillette One-Day International series against New Zealand will proceed as scheduled, however fans will not be admitted into the venue.

The matches impacted are March 13 and 15 at the Sydney Cricket Ground and March 20 at Blundstone Arena.

All fans who purchased public tickets are eligible for a full refund and will be contacted directly by Ticketek.

Media with current accreditation will be admitted into the venues and a precautionary perimeter will be established around players and staff during media engagements.

A decision will be made in due course regarding Australia’s three-match Twenty20 International tour of New Zealand. The matches are currently scheduled to play in Dunedin (March 24), Auckland (March 27) and Christchurch (March 29).

Cricket Australia will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation at home and overseas before making a decision on Australian men’s international matches beyond the Australian leg of the ODI tournament.
 
Black Caps' series in Australia to be played behind closed doors

New Zealand's three-match one-day international series against Australia will be played behind closed doors, Cricket Australia (CA) announced.

The Black Caps will now play two matches in an empty Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday and Sunday, with a third match against their trans-Tasman rivals scheduled for next Friday in Hobart.

All fans who purchased tickets are eligible for a full refund, a CA statement said. And while media and broadcasters will be allowed access, a precautionary perimeter between them and the players and team staff will be enforced.

"We believe this is the right decision to minimise the risk of public exposure to the coronavirus, which the World Health Organisation declared a global pandemic on Thursday," said CA chief executive Kevin Roberts.

"Cricket Australia has been monitoring the coronavirus situation for several weeks, particularly looking at advice provided by DFAT and other relevant government agencies, including the Australian Institute of Sport, which has outlined a coordinated approach for all Australian sports. We have also consulted with an infectious diseases specialist.

"Our players and staff have been adopting recommended sanitary practices during this time to minimise the chance of exposure and will continue to do so."

Stuff understands abandonment of today's series opener was under serious consideration before CA ultimately decided to proceed in an empty stadium.

CA also confirmed the planned six-game tour of South Africa by the Australian women's team has been suspended until further notice.

They are keeping options open for any subsequent series for both men's and women's teams, including the men's T20 tour of New Zealand that will immediately follow the third ODI in Hobart.

Sydney has had a heightened number of people going into self isolation after US movie star Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive on the Gold Coast this week.

Hanks had visited Sydney.

Interviewed on Thursday, Black Caps captain Kane Williamson said he was unaware of any drastic measures being considered. It is understood the situation had changed rapidly since he spoke.

"Obviously a lot of uncertainty going on with large crowds at the moment," Williamson said.

"Hopefully it's no issue here in playing these games and hopefully we get some really good healthy crowds, but it seems to pop up almost all of a sudden where some of those decisions are being made and obviously it's being taken incredibly seriously."

Australia are looking for an unbeaten summer against the Black Caps in the Chappell-Hadlee series, which features three games in Australia and two in New Zealand.

Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke had this week labelled the series a waste of time for the Baggy Greens.

Australian's motivation for an afterthought series amid a packed schedule, played in throwback teal and yellow strips, was in question.

Clarke had declared it essentially pointless and questioned who would turn up in Sydney for the two matches, and Hobart as the National Rugby League season kicked off.

The ICC also reacted today, saying that In light of the continued global spread of COVID-19 the ICC Board would to hold meetings scheduled for Dubai at the end March via conference call only.

In New Zealand, the Ministry of Health advice to sporting bodies has been that games can proceed as usual, and that situation would change only if there were an escalation in local cases.

As well, NZC has briefed players who are headed to the Indian Premier League.

"All New Zealand players, men and women, are being updated on latest developments, including best practice and preventive measures, as new information comes to hand," NZC Head of Public Affairs Richard Boock said in a statement.

Jimmy Neesham (KXIP), Lockie Ferguson (Kolkata Knight Riders), Mitchell McClenaghan and Trent Boult (both Mumbai Indians), Williamson (Sunrisers Hyderabad) and Mitchell Santner (Chennai Super Kings) are set to play in the IPL.

"NZC is in constant communication with its chief medical officer, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry of Health, and Sport NZ, and is monitoring updates from the World Health Organisation to ensure compliance with best practice," Boock said.

Organisers, the BCCI have said they are going ahead with the IPL as scheduled from March 29.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/he...-on-black-caps-odi-with-adandonment-an-option
 
Kane Richardson released from coronavirus quarantine

Fast bowler returns negative result to COVID-19 testing after he had reported symptoms on return from South Africa tour

UPDATE: Kane Richardson has been cleared of contracting coronavirus after he returned a negative result to COVID-19 testing today. He received the all-clear about 8pm AEDT and was released from his hotel room quarantine to travel to the SCG for the opening Gillette ODI against New Zealand.

EARLIER: Australia arrived to the Sydney Cricket Ground today one squad member short, with fast bowler Kane Richardson quarantined after reporting a mild sore throat last night.

Having returned from South Africa this week with the Australia’s ODI squad, Richardson informed the team's medical staff last night of the complaint and has been tested for COVID-19.

The 29-year-old is reportedly feeling fine and will immediately come to the ground if tests return a negative result.

"Our medical staff are treating this as a typical throat infection but we are following Australian Government protocols that require us to keep Kane away from other members of the squad and perform the appropriate tests given he has returned from international travel in the last 14 days," a Cricket Australia spokesperson said.

"Once we receive the results of the tests and Kane recovers in the next few days we expect he will re-join the team. We will not be making further comment until something changes."

NSW quick Sean Abbott has joined the squad as cover. Abbott was part of Australia's T20 squad in the recent tour of South Africa.

It was unlikely Richardson was going to play in the Gillette ODI Series opener against the Black Caps in Sydney, where both sides will play in front of empty stands after Cricket Australia shut the doors to the general public in the wake of the spreading pandemic.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/kan...solated-australia-pandemic-illness/2020-03-13
 
New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson has been placed into isolation after suffering a sore throat following Friday’s one-day international against Australia.

Ferguson has undergone tests on the ailment following the 71-run loss, given his international travel from New Zealand in the past week.

It comes with the series played under the cloud of the coronavirus pandemic, with crowds banned from attending matches in a bid to limit its spread.

“In accordance with recommended health protocols, Lockie Ferguson has been placed in isolation at the team hotel for the next 24 hours after reporting a sore throat at the end of the first ODI,” a New Zealand Cricket spokesman said.

“Once the test results are received and diagnosed, his return to the team can be determined.”

Australian quick Kane Richardson missed the series opener at the SCG on Friday, after also suffering a mild sore throat.

The 29-year-old was also quarantined from his team sent for tests for coronavirus, but was cleared of the issue and returned to the ground late in the game.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...s/news-story/0ed169e649390e87718492d7ad48c672
 
MEDIA RELEASE

March 14, 2020

Gillette One Day International and T20INTL Series postponed as New Zealand returns homeIn response to the New Zealand Government's latest travel restrictions, Cricket Australia has been advised the New Zealand Men's Cricket team will be returning home immediately.

The two remaining scheduled matches of the One-Day International series in Australia and the upcoming three-match T20 International series in New Zealand are both being postponed until further notice.

Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket will work together to identify a future opportunity to play both series.

The Australian U19s Indigenous team was also due to tour New Zealand later this month for a T20 Series. This tour has also been postponed.

CA will continue to monitor the situation with a primary focus on the health and well-being of players, employees and the public.
 
Good decision. With the India - SA series being called off as well, I can see a period of no cricket and rightfully so.
 
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Lockie Ferguson’s test has come back clear and he will return to New Zealand tomorrow morning from Sydney
 
Cricket Australia has announced the following actions in response to the global coronavirus pandemic:

SHEFFIELD SHIELD

The final round of the Sheffield Shield season has been cancelled in an effort to reduce travel.

The matches impacted are: South Australia v Queensland (March 17), Western Australia v New South Wales (March 17) and Victoria v Tasmania (March 19).

A decision as to whether the Final (March 27) will continue will be made in due course.

UNDER 19s
The Australian under 19s women’s tour of South Africa for the Women’s Emerging Tri-Series has been cancelled.

The matches impacted are: Australia under 19s v England Women Academy (April 15), Australia under 19s v SA Emerging (April 17), Australia under 19s v England Women Academy (April 21), Australia under 19s v SA Emerging (April 23), Australia under 19s v England Women Academy (April 27), Australia under 19s v SA Emerging (April 29), Final (May 1).

This follows the decision on Friday to postpone the Australian women’s tour of South Africa.

As was announced earlier today, the Australian under 19s Indigenous team’s T20 tour of New Zealand scheduled for later this month has been postponed.

MEN’S INTERNATIONALS

As was announced yesterday, the two remaining matches of the Chappell-Hadlee One-Day International series (March 15 and 20) in Australia and the three-match T20 International series (March 24, 27 and 29) in New Zealand have been postponed until further notice.

This follows new travel restrictions announced by the New Zealand government announced today, which resulted in the New Zealand men’s team returning home with immediate effect.

The first match of the Chappell-Hadlee series was played behind closed doors at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket will work together to identify a future opportunity to play both series.

Kevin Roberts, Cricket Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, said the measures were appropriate given the current global health crisis.

“At times like this, cricket must take a back seat for the greater good,” Roberts said. “We have been in consultation with relevant government agencies, our own medical team and an infectious diseases expert for quite some time now, and we have taken all their advice into account in making these decisions.

“In recent days, it has become evident that we must play our part in helping limit the spread of the virus by reducing person-to-person contact wherever possible. These measures reflect that.

“The decisions made this week are not something we are accustomed to in cricket. But by making them, we hope we can contribute to the global effort to slow, and eventually stop, the spread of coronavirus.”
 
The Australian cricket team had to cancel their ODI series against New Zealand due to the outbreak of coronavirus outbreak. The first match of the series in Sydney, which was played out in an empty stadium, was won by the hosts by 71 runs, before the series was called off. Now after the series, Australia skipper Aaron Finch and his fellow opening partner David Warner have questioned the government’s new rules to tackle with COVID-19. Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison, earlier this week, said that the country will impose a 14-day self isolation on all international passenger arrivals from midnight Sunday to try and contain the spread of coronavirus.

In response to the announcement, a journalist named Veronica Eggleton tweeted: “Genuine question - how does the Government know if new arrivals are actually self-isolating?” Finch retweeted the tweet with a comment: “Have been wondering the same thing!!”

In response to Finch’s remarks, Warner added: “Or, what about the uber/taxi/bus/train they catch from the airport to their place.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday urged people not to gather in groups of more than 500 from Monday but said he would still go to a weekend rugby game, as officials warned millions of residents would contract coronavirus within months.

Australia has recorded 156 infections and three deaths from the flu-like disease, figures that authorities expect to increase rapidly in the coming weeks.

Morrison said his government will advise against non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday, though this does not include schools, airports or public transport

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...us-measures/story-aq4SazeOZZr0U1BVfKaJRM.html
 
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