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Wright follows England example

New Zealand will follow the England blue-print for defeating Australia in the two Test matches to be played in December, the coach John Wright has said

Daniel Brettig
Daniel Brettig
16-Nov-2011
'England did provide in some ways a template of how to play best against Australia'  •  AFP

'England did provide in some ways a template of how to play best against Australia'  •  AFP

New Zealand will follow the England blue-print for defeating Australia in the two Test matches to be played in December, the coach John Wright has said.
As he named the 13-man squad to play Tests in Brisbane and Hobart, Wright also said the visitors expected to be challenged by pace, and forsaw the 18-year-old fast bowler Pat Cummins playing a significant role in the Australian attack.
While New Zealand have not won a Test match in Australia since 1985, Wright felt the combination of England's example last summer, and the traumatic events of the Cape Town Test when Michael Clarke's team was splintered for 47 to surrender a commanding position, gave the tourists a chance.
New Zealand's last Test resulted in a narrow win over lowly Zimbabwe, but the team will be bolstered by the return of the swing bowler Tim Southee and the aggressive batsman Jesse Ryder from knee and calf injuries, respectively.
"We've got a fair idea [of how to beat Australia], England provided a really good example of how to bowl at them particularly last year, and the batting of Alastair Cook was exemplary at the top of the order, he was very patient, played very straight," Wright said. "So England did provide in some ways a template of how to play best against Australia.
"You look at that and then you look at your own side. To be honest, game-plans at this level aren't that complicated, we know we have to bat four sessions, and we've got to find a way of taking 20 wickets. We'd like to keep as settled a line-up as we can. I think we've got the basis there, we have to be patient, but there's some very talented young players who look like they might have an opportunity to succeed at the next level.
"You can only go there in good form and with belief, it is a big step up from Zimbabwe. Australia have got a good record in Brisbane, but that's what we're hoping to create, that belief that if we apply ourselves and work really hard, and win our sessions, that we'll be very competitive."
Cummins may yet debut for Australia against South Africa in Johannesburg, and Wright reckoned he would play a part in Brisbane or Hobart. New Zealand's batsmen have been ratcheting up their bowling machines to maximum velocity in preparation.
"I've heard he's pretty quick, and that will be interesting because we have a feeling they might look to expose us to a lot of pace, and we're going to have to stand up and be brave," Wright said. "But having said that, those types of bowlers can provide you with scoring opportunities.
"That [speed] is one adjustment we'll have to make, because we don't have too many bowlers in this country running around bowling 145kph plus. The boys are aware of that and have been doing some work on bowling machines etc. to simulate those conditions."
The new face in the New Zealand squad is the left-armer Trent Boult, who has turned heads in domestic cricket and will provide another swing bowling option to support Southee and Chris Martin at the Gabba if conditions are suitable.
"[Trent is] the player who's really stood out in the last two games, so his efforts in the first two games have earned him the opportunity," Wright said. "I think a left-armer's always handy, but he does swing the ball, and possibly that's an area we'd like to exploit. The conditions in Brisbane sometimes suit swing bowling, but it does give you a different balance."

Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo