New Zealand will be bolstered by the comeback of senior pacer Trent Bolt for the Boxing Day Fixture against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Boult had missed the first Test in Perth due to pain in his ribs. He was confirmed to be back for the second Test and with Lockie Ferguson ruled out, New Zealand didn’t have to make a call on any of the pacers.
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Boult had suffered pain in his ribs during the opening Test against England, following which he missed the second Test. Ferguson, who was called for the England Tests, wasn’t given his debut cap. He played his first Test in Perth but couldn’t play the full game due to calf issue.
Apart from Boult, the Kiwis will also have Tom Blundell in the playing XI. The wicketkeeper-batsman will replace opener Jeet Raval, who averages 7.3 in past nine Test matches. New Zealand continued to back him despite diminishing returns but have taken a call him following his scores his poor outing in Perth.
Blundell has played two Tests, both in 2017 against West Indies. Coming in for BJ Watling, he scored a century on his debut but had to be dropped when Watling returned. He was also a part of World Cup 2019 squad but didn’t get to play a match despite his century in the practice match.
He will play the Test as a specialist batsman. Other members who played the Perth Test will keep their spots.
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Australia, on the other hand, have decided against revealing their playing XI and will wait until the toss. Interestingly, there is every possibility that Michael Neser, who has sat out for eight Test matches now, could be included in the playing XI.
James Pattinson has already been confirmed to make a return in place of an injured Josh Hazlewood. Peter Siddle, his replacement, is next to Neser in the pecking order and stands no chance to be included in the playing XI.
David Warner, who suffered a blow to his left hand during the training session, is fit and will open the innings along with Joe Burns.
New Zealand’s playing XI: Tom Blundell, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner