New Zealand vs Australia Prediction: Australia are going as favourites

New Zealand and Australia are going head to head in the 1st Test Match of the Test Series at Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand on 29 Feb 2024. Australia are going as favourites in the test series. Who will win this game of cricket?

New Zealand suffered a defeat in the previous T20I series against Australia, losing all three matches. The home team is looking forward to the upcoming test series as a chance to start afresh against their long-standing rivals. Despite the advantage of playing on their home ground, the Black Caps will face a tough challenge against a determined Australian team.

An important development in the New Zealand camp is that Kane Williamson and Tim Southee are on the verge of playing their 100th Test matches, with both set to reach their 99th matches in the series opener. This is a significant milestone for both the current captain, Southee, and his predecessor, Williamson.

Unfortunately, New Zealand will be missing fast bowler Trent Boult for this match and the remainder of the series, with Scott Kuggeleijn called up as his replacement. All-rounder Daryl Mitchell is expected to return to the playing XI after being sidelined, and there is also an opportunity for Rachin Ravindra to showcase his skills as a promising young batter in Test cricket.

Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Santner(c), Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Ben Sears

Australia is determined to maintain their position as the top-ranked Test team by the ICC. However, they also need to secure more points in order to catch up with New Zealand on the World Test Championship points table for the 2023-25 season. The inclusion of Michael Neser in the squad has been announced, although Lance Morris is sidelined due to injury. The bowling attack will be led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, with Cameron Green also a key player. The possibility of Steven Smith opening the batting is an exciting prospect, but Matt Renshaw has been selected as a backup option. This is a crucial moment in Renshaw's career, especially in the absence of David Warner, and he will be eager to capitalize on the opportunity.

Travis Head, Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh(c), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

The Basin Reserve in Wellington will host the opening match of this series. Recent results at the venue suggest that we are likely to see more teams being dismissed rather than declarations. A score of 400 or more in the first innings could be competitive if the bowlers maintain discipline and accuracy. Expect to see pace-heavy bowling attacks with at least one specialist spinner in each team. The weather forecast for Wellington indicates little to no rain during the five-day match.

Australia appears to be in a stronger position to win this match compared to New Zealand. Fast bowlers like Cummins will be crucial for Australia.