Image Credit- AFP
Ben Sears, a fast
bowler, will make his Test debut against Australia in Christchurch. However,
during the toss, New Zealand will decide whether to select Mitchell Santer, a
specialist spinner, or Scott Kuggeleijn, a fourth seamer.
Sears, 26, replaces Will O’Rourke in the starting lineup after the latter
sustained a hamstring injury in Wellington. He has played 13 Twenty20
Internationals before, and in the most recent matches against Australia, his
pace really stood out.
He has taken 58 wickets at a strike rate of 27.03 from 19 appearances in
first-class cricket. Tim Southee, the captain of New Zealand, expressed his
excitement in Sears’ potential.
“He’s obviously
had a little taste of international cricket in the other formats. He offers
real pace,” Southee said. “We saw him clock 150kph earlier in the
summer in a T20 against Bangladesh so we’re excited to see what he’s got at his
level. He’s a tall fella. He’s got pace. He’s got something about him.
Obviously, with the job that Will O’Rourke did in a couple of Test matches he
played, again another tall guy with a bit of pace and a bit of skill about him.
We’re excited to see what Ben’s got. It’s a special time for him as well.”
The decision on the
final XI for New Zealand will be taken by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner and
pace bowler Scott Kuggeleijn, and Southee, who will play his 100th Test in
Christchurch, did not confirm it. In Wellington, Kuggeleijn performed poorly in
his second Test match, taking two wickets and scoring 0 and 26.
In the two previous Test matches, New Zealand made the error of benching
Santner in favour of four speed bowlers, which caused the surfaces in Hamilton
and Wellington to spin more than anticipated. This was acknowledged by head
coach Gary Stead.
“Hopefully we get it right this week,” Southee said.