CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand: Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second test against New Zealand today (Friday) in Christchurch.
Captain Pat Cummins decided to bowl first on the green-tinged wicket.
“It looks pretty good with a touch of green there,” the captain said while highlighting the need for a more complete performance from his side at Hagley Oval.
New Zealand captain Tim Southee said the first hour would be tough for the openers because of the wicket, but said the team batting first in Christchurch had scored well in the past.
With Southee and batsman Kane Williamson in his 100th Test appearance, New Zealand need a win to maintain their unbeaten at home series record since 2017.
The record came under threat after Australia impressively won the first Test by 172 runs in Wellington.
Australia retained the same line-up that had won the first Test.
New Zealand made one change, with Ben Sears making his Test debut in place of injured paceman Will O’Rourke.
The weather in Christchurch is forecast to remain sunny throughout the Test.
Teams
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Glenn Phillips, Scott Kuggeleijn, Matt Henry, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Tim Southee (capt), Ben Sears
Australia: Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Nitin Menon (India)
TV Umpire: Michael Gough (England)
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
