Published: Oct 23, 2015, 10:07 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 01, 2015, 03:32 PM (IST)
Canberra: New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI in their day-night One-Dayer at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Friday. It is the Black Caps’ first tour match ahead of next month’s three-Test series against Australia. The game will be played with a pink ball in preparation for the historic day-night third Test in Adelaide next month. A handful of Australian players are fighting for a spot in the Test line-up, including Usman Khawaja, Cameron Bancroft and Joe Burns, following the retirement of Chris Rogers, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson. Former Australian batsman Michael Hussey will be captaining the side in the warm-up fixture. Peter Siddle, who featured in the final match of the Ashes 2015, is expected to lead the bowling attack.
New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, who recently returned from giving evidence in Chris Cairns’ perjury trial in London, will sit out the traditional fixture, as will BJ Watling and Kane Williamson. The side will be captained by pacer Tim Southee, who will open the bowling with left-arm bowler Trent Boult at the other end. The New Zealand XI also features other regular faces such as Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Luke Ronchi, etc.
Teams:
Prime Minister’s XI: Michael Hussey (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, David Hussey, Ryan Carters, Ashton Agar, Peter Siddle, Jason Behrendorff, Mark Steketee. Ben Taylor (12th man)
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Hamish Rutherford, Ross Taylor, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Mark Craig, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee (c), Trent Boult. Kane Williamson (12th man)
