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!

However, 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.

Tag :- Australia   Michael Clarke   New Zealand   Peter Ingram   Simon Katich   Steve Smith