The Adelaide mantra: win toss and bat first

The batsmen let New Zealand down in the first Test in Brisbane, but a better performance would be expected at the Adelaide Oval, an Australian ground where overseas batsmen have traditionally done well in recent years. Since 2000, visiting batsmen have averaged over 30 in Adelaide, and the only venue where they have averaged higher is the Sydney Cricket Ground - 31.46 - while the average at the Gabba is 21.64. However, the conditions in Adelaide have also been exploited by the Australian batsmen - they average 49.47 - and the combined average of 39.56 makes the ground the second-best venue for batsmen since 2002 (among those that have hosted five Tests).

While the Gabba has been a ground where Australia have been undefeated in nearly 20 years, their record is also formidable in Adelaide, with only one loss - to India - since 2000.

The Test will be Matthew Hayden's 100, and he and the other batsmen in Australia's line-up have enjoyed playing at the Adelaide Oval: Ricky Ponting has over 1000 runs at the ground, Michael Hussey averages over 300 and Michael Clarke has two centuries in four innings. The only home batsman in the current line-up who has failed to cash in is Andrew Symonds.

Australia dropped allrounder Shane Watson from the squad for the second Test, and they would be mulling the use of a specialist spinner - either Jason Krejza, who is struggling with an ankle injury, or Nathan Hauritz, drafted in as cover. New Zealand, too, have called up Jeetan Patel to their squad. Peter Siddle comes in place of Watson, and he could be a handy back-up in case the team management decide to drop Stuart Clark, who has struggled in his past appearances at the Adelaide Oval.

In matches since 1990, spinners have done well in the third innings in Adelaide. Both spin and pace bowlers, though, have struggled in the first innings of a game. Fast bowlers average below 20 in the third and fourth innings of a Test since 2000.

In the last 19 Tests in Adelaide, only once has the team winning the toss chosen to field. Of the 19, Australia have won six of the eight Tests in which they have won the toss and batted first - the 2003 Test against India being the only loss. Opposition teams winning the toss in the same period have won two, lost six and drawn three.