 The first Test between Australia and New Zealand will be played
at the Westpac stadium in Wellington. The ODIs were won by the Aussies, but the
Kiwis can take heart from the fact that they were reasonably evenly contested
and in the end, the New Zealand side managed to win two out of three games that
were played in the series.
The Test matches could be a different cup of tea altogether. For one, the Kiwis
have shown how much they lack talent, as they have gone back to their old, and
the comeback man, Mathew Sinclair to provide cover in case the Kiwi management
think that Peter Ingram is not the right man to open for the side. This
speaks volumes about how confused the management is, given that you have a cover
for someone whose fitness is a concern, not for someone who may or may not be
nervous!
Click Here to Watch New Zealand Vs Australia LiveHowever, to counter that, the Aussies have a slight issue of their own. Michael Clarke may have announced a break-up with his fiancé, but that does
not mean that he will be fit enough - mentally - to be able to give it his 100%.
Of course, it has happened before as well, as he had returned back from his
fiancé's dad's funeral and gone on to score a century in the very first
match he played. The same could repeat again, and the Kiwis will need to be
well aware of the situation.
The Aussies have said that sledging Clarke will be off-bounds, but it is surprising
that it is they who should be setting up the rules for the same. After all,
they have been the masters at getting personal against players and have barely
been able to take it back when it is dished out at them.
Talking of their line-up, the Australians will go in with a stable one; Simon Katich will continue opening with Shane Watson, with the likes of Ponting,
Clarke, Hussey to follow. It is the number six position that is one, worth pondering
about, as Marcus North hasn't been in the best of forms, whereas the others
in the squad are Phil Hughes and Steve Smith. Personally, given that
both, North and Smith can bowl spin, there will be a competition between them
for that elusive number six slot, and it will be interesting to see if Smith
can make it through as a batsman who can bowl.
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