Australia is still favourites in this Test and should win the series. But New Zealand has a sniff. They haven't won a Test in Australia in 26 years, back when Richard Hadlee was at his peak and Allan Border's Australians were stressed at the start of their innovation phase. New Zealand are far from their peak right now they almost lost to Zimbabwe a month ago and be seated eighth on the Test rankings - but Australia are not far from their mid 1980s position. They are coming off a fine victory in Johannesburg less than a fortnight ago, but at least three of the men who played in that win are out of this Test, including the Man of the Match Pat Cummins.
Australia will play at least three debutants at the Gabba. David Warner will open in the nonappearance of Shane Watson; James Pattinson is expected to share the new ball with Peter Siddle; and either Mitchell Starc or Ben Cutting will come on at first change. The captain Michael Clarke even oblique that there was a chance all four fast men might play if the pitch looked as "green and juicy" on the morning of the match as it did two days before. There is also a new coach, Mickey Arthur, who has spent barely a week in the job and is still finding his feet.
Not that New Zealand is much more settled. This will be the second Test for the fast bowler Doug Bracewell and the batsman Dean Brownlie, while the wicketkeeper Reece Young is also in his first year of Test cricket. Like Australia, New Zealand have a new selection panel, installed by their director of cricket, John Buchanan, a man who coached four of the opposition players during his time in charge of Australia. But Ross Taylor's side is still learning how to win - they have won only four of their past 28 Tests.
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Australia will play at least three debutants at the Gabba. David Warner will open in the nonappearance of Shane Watson; James Pattinson is expected to share the new ball with Peter Siddle; and either Mitchell Starc or Ben Cutting will come on at first change. The captain Michael Clarke even oblique that there was a chance all four fast men might play if the pitch looked as "green and juicy" on the morning of the match as it did two days before. There is also a new coach, Mickey Arthur, who has spent barely a week in the job and is still finding his feet.
Not that New Zealand is much more settled. This will be the second Test for the fast bowler Doug Bracewell and the batsman Dean Brownlie, while the wicketkeeper Reece Young is also in his first year of Test cricket. Like Australia, New Zealand have a new selection panel, installed by their director of cricket, John Buchanan, a man who coached four of the opposition players during his time in charge of Australia. But Ross Taylor's side is still learning how to win - they have won only four of their past 28 Tests.
Shotput Technique
Athletic News
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