Cricket: New Zealand seek salvation Down Under

Australia’s depleted bowling line-up gives hope to tourists in first Test.

BRISBANE:

New Zealand have won only three of their last 22 Tests but remained confident of winning their first in Australia for 26 years as they take on the hosts’ weakened bowling attack at the Gabba today.

Captain Ross Taylor said that New Zealand, ranked eighth, were confident as they take on Michael Clarke’s Australians in the throes of an injury crisis that has hit their new-ball attack. The Australians have named three pace bowling newcomers with James Pattinson, Ben Cutting and Mitchell Starc in their most inexperienced Test squad since 1985, when the Kiwis last won a Test across the Tasman.

Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Pat Cummins and Shane Watson have been all ruled out of the first Test.

Taylor senses New Zealand, for so often second-best in the Trans-Tasman Trophy, have their chance to win only their eighth Test in 51 encounters going back to 1946.

“Every time you play against Australia, you don’t need any more motivation with the trans-Tasman rivalry,” said Taylor. “We want to win every game. I wouldn’t say we’ve got a better chance here.”

Australia have not lost at the Gabba since 1988 and the Kiwis have only won a total of two Tests in Australia, both in 1985, on their way to a series win.

“It’s impressive, no doubt about it but we’ve everything to play for,” said New Zealand coach John Wright, who played in the triumphant Kiwi team in 1985.

Clarke hints at playing spinner Lyon

Meanwhile, Clarke hinted at playing spinner Nathan Lyon and leave out one of the three fast-bowling newcomers against New Zealand at the Gabba.

Clarke, lining for his seventh Test as captain and first at home, did not reveal his selected eleven, but suggested left-armer Lyon’s finger-spin could get its rewards on the bouncy Gabba strip.

“The experience I’ve had at the Gabba, a lot of spinners have had success with bounce,” said Clarke. “So I’m not concerned in regards to how much the ball spins if there’s bounce.”

The Australian captain also cautioned the Kiwis about taking too much confidence from their run feast against Australia ‘A’ at the batsman-friendly Allan Border Field across town.

“The senior guys have played a fair bit here and we have to give the youngsters as much knowledge as we can.”

Johnson faces five months on the sidelines

The huge worry for Australia is that Johnson is expected to be out of cricket for up to five months if he has to have foot surgery later this week, said Cricket Australia.

In a further blow to Australia’s injury-depleted fast bowling stocks, Johnson is being assessed as to whether he will require an operation on his big left toe, injured during this month’s tour to South Africa. If needed, the erratic left-armer, 30, who has taken 190 wickets in 47 Tests, will undergo surgery within the next 24 hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2011.