NZ_AUS_T3_PREMATCH_02DEC93

New Zealand (from): Pocock, Young, Jones, Rutherford (c), Greatbatch, Patel, Cairns, Blain, Doull, de Groen, Morrison, Haslam Australia (from): Taylor, Slater, Boon, Waugh (M), Border (c), Waugh (S), Healy, Reiffel, Warne, May, McDermott, McGrath Australia were always going to be unchanged and, listening to Border this evening, it looks as though they will play the two spinners again. New Zealand would not have wanted to hear that. Presumably McGrath will carry the drinks again. New Zealand can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that Australia have nowhere to go. They could hardly have played better than at Hobart. New Zealand have dropped Harris and Su'a who, in the opinion of most, were the two most poorly performed players at Hobart. Su'a, indeed, performed porly at Perth as well. They have brought in Bryan Young to open with Pocock. This can best be described as a gamble. However, he will very likely have been chosen for his ability in the slips (he is a 1st class 'keeper). This is by no means unprecedented in test cricket. Way back in 1963, Phil Sharpe was similarly chosen for England, versus the West Indies. He was successful at slip, AND with the bat. A good omen? Cairns, mercifully, returns as well. The team was taken straight from the TV. The batting order is definite from 1 to 5. It is to be hoped that 6-8 was a little garbled. Swap Blain and Patel and it would be about right. The selection of Haslam is interesting, but it may have been made just to keep Australia guessing. This team is just about the strongest possible from the current players on tour and now has a definite solidity about the middle that was lacking in Hobart. If only the start is good. It is pleasing to see de Groen retained. Haven't heard anything about the pitch. Australia will be pretty certain to bat if they win the toss. New Zealand - well it may depend on Haslam, but their best chance of wickets, really, is the first day.

====> MORE New Zealand's all-rounder, Chris Cairns, who contentiously withdrew from the second Test against Australia on the first morning, has been told he must play or go home by the tour management. Cairns has to declare his fitness today for the final Test, which starts in Brisbane on Friday, or return to New Zealand. Australia are 1-0 up in the series. (Source: The Daily Telegraph)

====> MORE New Zealand await Cairns injury verdict Geoffrey Dean in Brisbane finds little to suggest a revival by the tourists as in-form Australia need only a draw Following their complete disintegration in Hobart, seldom has a side gone into a Test with apparently so little chance of victory as New Zealand when they meet Australia in Brisbane tomorrow in the final match of the three-game series. Australia, already 1-0 up, need only a draw to regain the Trans-Tasman Trophy held by New Zealand since early 1991. The tourists were still not sure yesterday whether all-rounder Chris Cairns will play. Their management was furious with him for declaring himself fit on the eve of the second Test only to withdraw two hours before the start. His bruised heel is still sore but, unless he is prepared to play through the pain, he will become the third member of this ill-fated tour party to be sent home with an injury. He would then miss the three World Series one-day internationals that New Zealand have before Christmas when they return home for a fortnight. Without Cairns, the only Test-class seamer currently available apart from Danny Morrison, the New Zealand attack can expect another battering from the Australian batsmen, all now played into form. The Gabba is less of the green seamer it used to be, according to Allan Border, but there should be help in the first session for Morrison and hopefully Cairns, making it a critical toss for New Zealand. For Australia, this is much less important given Border's view that pitches are turning more here. Australian spinners have been conspicuously unsuccessful at the Gabba in the last 10 years, during which time they have taken only 11 wickets. The last time that two played together here was seven years ago. Indeed, the last spinner to take five wickets in an innings in Brisbane was John Emburey when England won by seven wickets in 1986-87. The last Australian was John Gleeson against West Indies in 1968-69. Shane Warne, however, has never played at the Gabba. New Zealand are reshaping their batting order after the spineless performance in Hobart. Mark Greatbatch, who has failed in all four innings in the series as an opener, is expected to drop to No 5. Bryan Young, who replaces Chris Harris, will open but his form on tour is hardly cause for optimism - four noughts in eight innings with no fifties. Either Murphy Su'a or Simon Doull, both so ineffectual in Hobart, will make way if Cairns does play. The Australians are unchanged. (Thanks : The Daily Telegraph)