Australia have dropped opener Cameron Bancroft the three-match Test against New Zealand starting December 12. Rest of the members who played against Pakistan have been retained, although the players will be released from the squad if not included in the playing XI. Australian openers David Warner and Joe Burns put up a comprehensive show in the two innings that they played, which saw Bancroft getting dropped.
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Warner started the series with a century and followed up with his maiden triple-century in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. In total, he scored 489 runs in the series. Joe Burns also shone with the bat and scored 101 runs. Marnus Labuschagne was the surprise from Australian camp as he scored his maiden Test century in Brisbane and followed up with another century in Adelaide.
Australia continued their domination in all departments as the hosts won the first Test by an innings and five runs and followed up with an innings and 48-run victory in Adelaide.
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Tim Paine is unlikely to tinker with the playing XI at least for the first Test, which means James Pattinson might have to sit out again. However, the rotation play might see him return during the series. He could have played the series against Pakistan but had to miss the first Test due to breach of Cricket Australia’s code of conduct.
The first Test of the series will be played in Perth with a pink ball from December 12. Australia will then host Kiwis in a Boxing Day Test from December 26 in Melbourne. The third and the final Test will be played from January 3 in Sydney.
New Zealand had already announced their Test squad for the series but it remains to be seen if Trent Boult is fit. He walked out during the first Test against England due to pain in his ribs and missed the second Test.
A likely debut for Lockie Ferguson is on the cards in Perth. He was named in the Test squad earlier but didn’t make his Test debut as Matt Henry was got the nod.