Bowling combination - The key to success for New Zealand at The Gabba

Doug Bracewell in action for New Zealand against Cricket Australia XI

The Test series between Australia and New Zealand is going to be mouth-watering contest as both teams have displayed quality cricket in the recent past. Australia might have lost the Ashes series, but they are a fantastic team at home, and on the other hand, New Zealand have not lost a Test series over the last couple of years. This is set up for a humdinger contest between the two teams, when they kick-off in the first Test at the Gabba on November 5.

New Zealand have had excellent preparation before going into the first Test at the Gabba, as they have already played three warm-up matches. Their key players – Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum had good outings at Canberra.

True, they have wonderful players at the top of the order, who have the perfect technique for Test match cricket. Martin Guptill, and Latham have a good backfoot game, and Kane Williamson has been fantastic for New Zealand at first drop.

However, the batting wouldn’t be problem for New Zealand as they have a settled look, it’s the bowling combination that will be the key factor for New Zealand at the Gabba.

Possible Kiwi bowling combinations

They have picked four pacers in the 15-member squad, and it will be interesting to see whether McCullum decides to play all the four seamers in the squad, as the wicket at Brisbane will offer plenty of assistance to the fast bowlers. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, and Doug Bracewell are capable of exploiting the conditions effectively, but since Mark Craig can be handy with the bat lower down the order, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to field three pacers and a spinner.

Trent Boult and Tim Southee have been stupendous with the new ball, and will certainly play an important role at the Gabba as the duo have the capability to swing the ball at pace. However, it will be interesting to see who the third pacer will be, as the Kiwis may prefer Matt Henry to add variety to the bowling attack.

But it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have Bracewell as the third pacer as the first couple of Test matches will be held at Brisbane and Perth, where the wickets offer a lot of pace and bounce. Matt Henry will not offer the same pace when compared to Bracewell, and thus, Bracewell’s inclusion would give the captain an option of using him at critical phases as he has the ability to take wickets at different situations of the match.

And when it comes to the spin department, Mark Craig has done a decent job with the ball, and also proved to be handy with the bat in England as well as in the three-day warm-up match at Canberra. The Brisbane surface may not aid him too much, but still he will play an important role for the team. With David Warner susceptible to off-spinners, and with Usman Khawaja likely at number three, it gives McCullum the choice to attack their top order even with Craig.

Therefore, on the whole, New Zealand have the resources to shine in the first Test, and also in this series.