Aussies' NZ tour.

[Donny]

First up: T20s.

February 21: First T20, Wellington, 5.10pm AEDT

February 23: Second T20, Auckland, 5.10pm AEDT

February 25: Third T20, Auckland, 11am AEDT

Australia T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

[Donny]

A squad for the two-Test series that follows the T20 fixtures is expected to be named later this week.

[Pies4shaw]

Disappointed that JF-McG hasn't been picked. On those postage-stamp sized grounds, there's a fair chance he'd be the first opener to make 300 in a T20.

[Donny]

The Tests:

February 29 – March 4: First Test, Wellington, 9am AEDT

March 8-12: Second Test, Christchurch, 9am AEDT

[Donny]

"The recall of Michael Neser to Australia's Test squad indicates selectors are expecting seam-friendly pitches at Wellington and Christchurch for the upcoming two-match Qantas Tour of New Zealand.

Neser's inclusion in the 14-player squad is the only notable change to Test personnel from recent home series against Pakistan and West Indies, and comes with a couple of other pace-bowling options currently nursing injuries."

CA.

[K]

Conn:

Are Kiwis saving veteran quick for another Wagnerian bouncer barrage on Smith?

'New Zealand appear to be priming Steve Smith’s nemesis Neil Wagner for another full-frontal attack in the Test series later this month.

The veteran left-arm paceman dismissed Smith with short balls in all four innings of the first two Tests when they last met in Australia...

Much to the surprise of a weakened South African side, Wagner did not play in the first Test at Mount Maunganui...

New Zealand are more likely to return to their traditional four fast bowlers for the second and final Test at Hamilton beginning on Tuesday. But even so, Wagner, 37, is no certainty to play.
...

New Zealand’s preparation for the two Tests against Australia includes resting batsman Daryl Mitchell from the second Test against South Africa and the three Twenty20 matches against Australia which precede the Test series. Kane Williamson will also miss the T20 series because of the imminent birth of his third child.

Trent Boult, now a T20 gun for hire, is available for both the T20 and Test series, but having played no recent red-ball cricket it is unlikely he will be considered for the Tests.'

(SMH)

[K]

^^^ Smith is lucky. He is the bunny of both Wagner and Boult.

But Wagner is 37. Last time I saw him play, he had a bulging disk and a torn hamstring.

And Conn says Boult is unlikely to be considered.

[Pies4shaw]

I think the Best Batsman Since Bradman was probably deeply concerned about New Zealand's below-Sheffield-Shield-standard attack. After all, SPD BradSmith's career average in Tests in New Zealand is just the bare 131.00.

A better line of investigation would, perhaps, be: when has BradSmith ever been dismissed in a Test in New Zealand for under 50? The answer, of course, is never. The NZ "think tank" will probably be worried about whether they can get BradSmith out on their dead, stupid pitches - not whether he is anyone's "bunny" - stupid notion that that is.

By the way, he averages over 50 in all Tests specifically against the bowling of both Wagner and Boult, so if you're hoping that Bradsmith is going to turn into some inept New Zealander's "bunny", it's probably good for your that neither of those second-raters will be pitted against him.

Anyway, carry on with the situation comedy.