Sears confirmed for Test debut, final call between Kuggeleijn and Santner
The fast bowler replaces Will O'Rourke in the New Zealand XI but a decision on the final spot remains to be made
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Mar-2024 • 54 mins ago
Ben Sears will be part of New Zealand's pace attack for the second Test • Getty Images
Fast bowler Ben Sears will make his Test debut against Australia in Christchurch as New Zealand aim to level the series.
Sears, 26, comes into the side for Will O'Rourke who picked up a hamstring injury in Wellington. He has previously played 13 T20Is and impressed with his pace during the recent matches against Australia.
In first-class cricket he has taken 58 wickets at 27.03 from 19 matches.
Tim Southee, who will play his 100th Test in Christchurch, did not confirm New Zealand's final XI with the last call to be made between pace bowler Scott Kuggeleijn and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. Kuggeleijn, playing his second Test, was underwhelming in Wellington where he claimed two wickets and made scores of 0 and 26.
Head coach Gary Stead has admitted New Zealand made a mistake in their previous two Tests by leaving out Santner in favour of four pace bowlers with the pitches in Hamilton and Wellington then spinning more than expected.
Glenn Phillips took five wickets in Australia's second innings of the first Test while Nathan Lyon claimed ten in the match.
However, Hagley Oval has the highest spin-bowling average of any venue in New Zealand with wickets taken at 55.79.
Australia are expected to name an unchanged XI which means their frontline bowling attack will have played all seven Tests during the season against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand.