NZ pacer Sears to debut against unchanged Australia

CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand pace bowler Ben Sears will make his Test debut against an unchanged Australia in the second and final match in Christchurch as the Black Caps look to square the series 1-1.

Wellington quick Sears was drafted into the squad following a hamstring injury to rookie pacer Will O’Rourke sustained in the 172-run thumping at the Basin Reserve.

Sears will join captain Tim Southee and Matt Henry in the pace attack at Hagley Oval from Friday, though Southee said no decision had been made on whether Scott Kuggeleijn will retain his spot or be replaced by spin-bowling all-rounder Mitch Santner.

“It’s just around that fourth seamer or spinner — hopefully we get it right this week,” Southee told reporters on Thursday.

New Zealand selectors were under fire in Wellington for not picking a spinner on a pitch that Australia’s Nathan Lyon took 10 wickets on.

Picked as the fourth seamer in his second test, Kuggeleijn was expensive for his two first innings wickets and barely bowled in the second innings.

Southee, meanwhile, has not been pulling his weight in the bowling, managing only four wickets in his past three tests.

“Each week you’re trying to go out and put your best foot forward,” Southee said on Thursday.

“But there’s no hiding from the fact that the last couple of test matches have been disappointing. I know that. I’d always like more wickets. And hopefully, there’s some to come.”

Australia, on the other hand, are celebrating a milestone of their own — one which is likely to have a greater bearing on the result.

Their bowling ‘fab four’ of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon will combine for an unprecedented seventh straight test, a rare run of injury-free action for one of the nation’s great attacks.

“I think I said at the start of the summer I’d be surprised if we played all seven because it’s rare that something doesn’t pop up,” Australian captain Cummins told reporters on Thursday.

“But thankfully we’ve all managed the little niggles … pretty well.

“We’re not limping over the line, and we feel like we’re in a greater position than I thought we’d be in a couple of months ago.”