Ian Chappell: New Zealand sure to offer more of a challenge to Aussies after Pakistan debacle

If Pakistan’s puerile, lamentable cricket left a sour taste then New Zealand is sure to restore some faith. But whether they possess the all-round capabilities to topple the Aussies is questionable.

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After feasting on a substantially soft entree, the steadily improving Aussie Test team is now ready for a much tougher main course of New Zealand lamb.

There’s no doubt that New Zealand will present a far greater test than that provided by a Pakistan team that emulated many of its predecessors in stretching their lamentable record in Australia to 14 consecutive Test losses.

Where many New Zealand sides in the past have toured Australia possessing only ill-equipped medium-fast seamers, this time they come armed with pace as well as cagey swing bowlers.

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The Kiwis need Trent Boult fit and firing if they are to topple the Aussies.

A key to their bowling success will be the fitness of left-armer Trent Boult. Without his confidence-boosting presence, the remainder of the attack will be stretched to capture 20 Australian wickets at a respectable cost.

Apart from his obvious class, Boult has also troubled Steve Smith with the ball swinging into the right-hander. This type of delivery provides Smith with more of a challenge than any other as it constantly threatens his stumps and is likely to produce — a rarity in his case — an lbw or bowled dismissal.

The New Zealand attack will need to be at its best because Australia’s top order, which was so Smith-reliant in England, is rounding into a formidable force.

David Warner’s spectacular return to peak form and the continued improvement of Marnus Labuschagne means Australia has recaptured a taste for posting big scores.

Labuschagne has met each challenge since his dramatic return to Test cricket, with a resolute defence and a confidence in his ability that defies his inexperience at the highest level.

His success is no surprise as he’s worked hard to improve his technique and he has an all-round game that can cope equally with pace or spin bowling.

Kane Williamson averages close to 53 in Tests.

New Zealand’s solid attack will provide Labuschagne with yet another challenge, a prospect he appears to relish.

The one concern for Australia will be the the middle and lower order’s lack of time at the crease caused by the puerile nature of Pakistan’s cricket.

This provides New Zealand with a precious opportunity but it will require bursting through the top-order quickly as their batsmen then have to face the formidable challenge of Australia’s four-pronged attack.

This daunting proposition is further enhanced by the return to form of Nathan Lyon, with the off-spinner claiming his first five-wicket haul against Pakistan. A confident Lyon is crucial for Australia as it provides another potent force and that allows Tim Paine to carefully rotate his excellent trio of pace bowlers.

Chastened by being largely ignored during the Ashes success, Mitchell Starc has made a small adjustment at the point of delivery and is once again a lethal threat.

Australia’s attack now poses a variety of constant challenges, with no easy runs for batsmen who are under continuous pressure.

Starc and Lyon are key for the Aussies.

Marnus magic has taken Australia by storm.

The result is New Zealand will be pitting their weaker suite up against Australia’s ace. This could be a recipe for a trumping as distinct from a thumping.

New Zealand’s batting is heavily reliant on skipper Kane Williamson and the experienced Ross Taylor, who have enjoyed good form in Australia. The rest of the top order has either no history in Australia or one of little success and they’ll be severely tested by a rampant attack.

The batting challenge for New Zealand is exacerbated by starting the series with a day/night contest at a venue — Perth’s Optus Stadium — where they have no previous experience.

I’m not sure why a day/night fixture in Perth is necessary when they are already three hours behind Sydney and Melbourne and, even worse, five in arrears of New Zealand.

The outcry over late-night viewing from across the Tasman if New Zealand are excelling in Perth could resemble what followed the notorious underarm incident in 1981.

For New Zealand, it’ll be the ability of the batsmen to provide adequate support for Williamson and Taylor, and the bowlers to keep Australia’s total in check, that will decide the outcome of this contest.

For a rejuvenated Australian team, it’ll be a realistic test of how much their batting has improved since the Ashes series.

If the improvement is genuine and not just a reflection of Pakistan’s ineptitude, then the Trans-Tasman Trophy will remain in the Cricket Australia cupboard, in close proximity to the replica Ashes urn.

Originally published as Ian Chappell: New Zealand sure to offer more of a challenge to Aussies after Pakistan debacle