WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 11 2019 SPORT 37 Unchanged Test side to face New Zealand in series opener Langer finds stability SCOTT BAILEY It will mark the first time in the team are playing well. some kind of return to the old, around from Melbourne and game plan on how we thought his coaching career – and since We’ve played well in the past with the side enjoying its best the possibility of a spinning we were going to retain the JUSTIN Langer is eyeing a re- the ill-fated tour of South Afri- couple of Test matches. winning percentage across all wicket may come into the Ashes. turn to the stability of Austra- ca in early 2018 – Australia has “There are definitely advan- formats since Langer’s last full equation. “There are some different lia’s Test side from his playing kept the same team for three tages in keeping the core group year of cricket in 2016. With that in mind, Langer conditions here in Australia. days as the hosts prepare to successive Tests. of players together, and hope- Australia hasn’t gone un- said it didn’t mean the rotation “But at the moment, the face New Zealand with an un- “I’ve said for 18 months fully this will be another op- changed through a whole policy of fast bowlers was three guys – Mitchell Starc, Pat changed XI for a third straight there used to be a philosophy portunity too this week.” home summer since the Ashes necessarily gone. Cummins and Josh Hazle- match. in the Australian team that When Langer was playing whitewash of 2013-14, but “There was benefit in that in wood – are a formidable com- Langer confirmed yester- worked so well for us: it was in Australia’s prime at the turn could possibly repeat that feat England, we had six healthy bination with Nathan Lyon. day he did not envisage any harder to get into the team of the century, the Aussies fre- this summer. and fit fast bowlers available to “They are bowling really changes to his winning com- than get out of it,” Langer said. quently went unchanged as Barring injury, the only real us and they were different con- well and are fit and healthy; bination for tomorrow’s series “That usually happens they built up winning streaks. likely change could come in ditions,” Langer said. there is a bit of a gap between opener against the Black Caps. when guys are playing well and This year has already seen Sydney where the quick turn “We had a very specific Test matches.” Wickets on improve far and wide FIGURES show Test wickets are on the improve around the world despite the fears over the MCG’s deck for Boxing Day. The fallout from the failed efforts to liven up the MCG continue to dominate the lead- Steve Smith up to Australia’s series against New Zealand, after the Shef- field Shield abandonment. Smith sees Cricket Australia remains positive Boxing Day won’t be himself in affected, despite fears the dangerous weekend wicket could see it revert to being low Williamson and slow. But world over, it ap- pears pitches are at least get- SCOTT BAILEY ting better after more than a decade of bat dominating ball. STEVE Smith sees a little bit of There have only been three himself in Kane Williamson as draws in 31 Tests this year – all Australia prepares to take on rain-affected – making it the New Zealand’s best ever bats- least of any year since 1956. man. Teams have also averaged Williamson has arrived in less than 30 runs per wicket Perth as New Zealand’s most both this year and last, for the important player for the first time since 2000. Trans-Tasman series, starting Australia’s coach Justin tomorrow. Langer labelled flat pitches one Williamson doesn’t get the of the biggest threats to Test headlines that Virat Kohli does cricket yesterday. in cricket-mad India or Smith “I see flat pitches as a huge attracts in Australia, but he problem for the health of crick- comfortably sits aside them as et,” Langer said. “I’ve said this the world’s best. for 20 years, for the health of The right-hander has aver- Test cricket, first-class cricket aged 59 or above in five of his and even one-day cricket you past six years in Test cricket. want to play on wickets where His overall average of 52.68 is Trent Boult during a New Zealand cricket team training session at Perth Stadium Picture: RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/AAP there’s a contest.” the highest of any Black Cap in history. “He plays the ball incredibly Black Caps hold hope for in-doubt Boult Marsh fine with late. He is patient,” Smith said. “I think we actually hold the SCOTT BAILEY New Zealand had its first low quick Tim Southee said. a fitness test last Friday to Cam’s potential bat reasonably similarly. He hit out at Optus Stadium on “He’s here and if he can get prove he could fly to Austra- has got quite a closed grip. TRENT Boult remains in Monday night, and while through the next couple of lia. ALLROUNDER Mitch Marsh “I like that in Test cricket doubt for tomorrow’s first Boult completed light warm- days I don’t see why he Allrounder Colin de is embracing the emergence of personally. It just helps playing Test against Australia as the up duties he did not bowl wouldn’t play. Grandhomme is in a similar Cam Green as a potential fu- the ball a bit later and I think New Zealand quick battles to given he only arrived on Sun- “He is an experienced guy position, after also tearing his ture star, saying the competit- he plays it a bit later than any- overcome a side strain. day. and if he’s good to go, he’s abdominal in the same Test ion for spots will be a good body else in the world. Terrific Black Caps officials re- “He’s here which is a good good to go.” Boult, who was win over England. thing for Australian cricket. work ethic and a good eye and mained hopeful the left- start. He will be assessed over injured in New Zealand’s But it is Boult whose fit- Marsh is still sidelined with plenty of time. I think he has armer would pass a fitness the next couple of days over Test win over England a fort- ness will attract the most at- a self-inflicted hand injury, but loads of time against quick test. how his fitness pulls up,” fel- night ago, was forced to pass tention. is hoping to return in time for bowling.” the start of the BBL season. V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.