Australian captain Pat Cummins has won the toss and chosen to bowl first in the second Test at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.
The Black Caps openers have survived the first 45 minutes unscathed, with the only chance being a dropped one-handed grab from Travis Heasd at short leg, handing Will Young a reprieve on 8.
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Australia has won seven straight Tests against the Kiwis dating back to 2015, their longest-ever win streak over the neighbouring nation.
While Australia go in with an unchanged XI, New Zealand have handed a debut to right-arm quick Ben Sears after Will O’Rourke pulled up with a hamstring niggle, with the paceman surging into the Test team after just 19 first-class games (58 wickets at 27.03).
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Australia’s victory in the first Test meant New Zealand dropped from top of the ladder in the WTC, with India now leading with a points percentage of 64.58.
Another win for Australia would move them above New Zealand – with the Aussies set to rise to 62.5 per cent and drop New Zealand to 50 per cent.
India meanwhile are in action against England in the fifth Test of that series, and a strong first day has them in a strong position to reaffirm their position atop the table.
The ladder is ranked according to points percentage. The top two teams will play against each other at Lord’s midway through next year.
Australia leads the two-Test series 1-0 (after winning the First Test at Wellington by 172 runs) and are out to avoid a first Test defeat on NZ soil since 1993.
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Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand XI: Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Scott Kuggeleijn, Matt Henry, Tim Southee (c), Ben Sears
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