New Zealand captain Tim Southee has confirmed that Wellington seamer Ben Sears will make his Test debut in the second Test against Australia, which begins in Christchurch on Friday. Sears, 26, will replace Will O’Rourke, who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained in New Zealand’s 172-run defeat in the first Test.
“Offers real pace. We saw him clock 150 (kmh) earlier in the summer in a T20 against Bangladesh, so excited to see what he’s got at test level,” Southee said on the eve of the Test. “He’s a tall fella. He’s got pace, he’s got something about him. Obviously, the job Will O’Rourke did in the couple of test matches he played… again another tall guy with a bit of pace and skill about him, so excited to see what Ben has got.”
Southee declined to say whether the arrival of Sears would be the sole change for the hosts. New Zealand chose to play an extra seamer, Scott Kuggeleijn, on a green-looking pitch in Wellington, leaving out left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. In retrospect, the choice was a blunder considering the aid it provided to Nathan Lyon, who became the first spinner since Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006 to produce a 10-wicket match haul in New Zealand.
While conditions at the Hagley Oval have tended to favour the faster bowlers, who have taken 349 wickets to the spinners’ 34 in the last 12 Tests, Kuggeleijn was not penetrative enough in Wellington, taking 2 for 87 in the first innings and then being used for only three overs in the second as Glenn Phillips produced an excellent display of spin.
The series scoreline and Southee’s own bowling form add to New Zealand’s selection conundrum. The New Zealand captain, who will become the first fast bowler to appear in 100 games in all three international formats this week, has only taken four wickets in three Tests this year, with an average of 80.25. It’s a record he didn’t hesitate to set amidst the excitement of his upcoming 100th test.
“You always want to be performing at your best and I think there’s no hiding from the fact that the currency we deal in as a bowler is wickets, and the last three Test matches I haven’t got the wickets I would have liked,” he said.
“I still feel like there’s more to it. There’re roles within that as well. I have probably not been where I should be as the most experienced bowler of the side. But like everyone, each week you’re trying to get better. Each week you’re trying to go out and put your best foot forward. Prepare as well as you can to give yourself the best chance and that’s the same over the last couple of days. I’ve done that.
“I’ve felt okay at times. Sometimes you feel good and you don’t get the wickets. Sometimes you feel not so good and you actually pick up a few wickets. So, I think it’s just about trusting your game. Trusting what you do.
“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.
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