Aus v NZ: Boult set to strike in Boxing Day rematch

Trent Boult was a frustrated spectator during NZ’s bruising Bodyline revival in Perth and is keen to partake in the second instalment.

Trent Boult missed the first Test with injury but is ready to play the second

Trent Boult was a frustrated spectator during New Zealand’s bruising Bodyline revival in Perth and is naturally keen to partake in the second instalment come Boxing Day at the MCG when hostilities are renewed.

“There were some tactics used the other night,” Boult conceded. “It’s just hard Test cricket is what I’d put it down to, both ends. It’s a way of intimidating and trying to get up in the batsman. It worked well for them. I’ve read there’ll be a bit more this series. It will be exciting to see.”

It is a most civil of wars that both attacks have launched in this series.

Australian captain Tim Paine notes that he has the big weapons on his side, that Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and whoever replaces Josh Hazlewood are going to be coming faster and harder than the somewhat less well-equipped Black Caps.

Boult’s broad-shouldered South African convert, Neil Wagner, bowled 60 overs in the Perth heat with statistics suggesting that he dropped short 193 times and that 21 of the 31 wickets that fell to pace bowling were a result of short deliveries.

Steve Smith was out twice to Wagner’s bouncer and should he fall short of a half-century in Melbourne it will officially be the longest period in his career without passing the minor milestone — seven innings.

Boult, the left-armer, is more likely to rely on his ability to move the ball both ways past Australian bats than batsman’s heads.

Trent Boult, left, and Neil Wagner talk tactics during the Perth Test

New Zealand opening batsman Jeet Raval was one of the few at training yesterday, but there is significant doubt he will play the Test after scoring one in both innings at Perth.

Starc appeared to predict the visitor’s fate before dismissing him in the second innings.

“The last chance of your career,” the quick was heard to say to Raval. “Christmas is pretty good when you have it off though. They do good lunches for Christmas in Melbourne.”

Starc has experience of missing the Boxing Day Test himself. He was “shattered” to miss selection in 2012 as part of a rotation policy, particularly after taking five wickets in the last innings of the previous match. He then had to wait until 2016 to make his debut at the game, missed 2017 with another injury, but was back last year for the match against India.

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The MCG wicket has been a graveyard for bowlers over the years and is unlikely to offer either side’s pacemen the sort of advantages they got from the pace, bounce and cracks in Perth.

Australia have to replace Hazlewood for Melbourne and every indication is that James Pattinson will join Starc and Cummins. There has been some suggestion the selectors could opt for four pacemen, but that would mean Travis Head, who is averaging over 40 in Test cricket, would miss out.

Head is the only batsman remaining from the team that took on India at the same venue 12 months ago. Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Mitch Marsh have all fallen by the wayside in the past year.

Harris even missed selection for the Melbourne Renegades Big Bash squad which plays in Geelong tonight.

Khawaja celebrated his 33rd birthday on Wednesday, but his milestone brought no joy with selectors cutting him from the one-day squad named ahead of January’s three-match tour of India.

Richard Hadlee at the MCG in 1987, the last time New Zealand played a Test there

Finch is still captain of the one-day team and has not given up hope of returning to Test cricket. Like Khawaja, Shaun Marsh has been cut from both the long and short format sides. At 36 it seems unlikely he will play for Australia again.

Mitch Marsh is only just re-emerging from the medical rooms after breaking his hand early in the season.

The Kiwis played Australia at the MCG in the 2015 World Cup final but have not played a Test at the venue since 1987.

“I want to embrace it and appreciate the big stage for what it is,” Boult said. “Test cricket is my favourite format, this is the stage a lot of people dream of being on. To get this opportunity in my career is something I’m looking forward to.”

He conceded the MCG may not offer the bowlers the sort of assistance Perth stadium did.

“It’s hard to know what to expect, we’ve just touched down really,” he said. “The nets seem pretty solid, if that is any indication there’s going to be some hard work.”