Big picture: Australia look to improve overseas record, NZ eye rare victory

It's little wonder anticipation is feverish for Australia's Test return to New Zealand after eight years with matches in Wellington and Christchurch to be played in front of capacity crowds. Even though they are neighbours, sharing a long history on the field, the two sides don't play against each other very often in Test cricket.

And things aren't changing any time soon with the next series after this set for 2026-27 in Australia, according to the FTP.

It underscores the saturation of Tests being played between powerhouses Australia, England and India but, when they do belatedly meet, the Trans-Tasman rivalry has been decidedly one-sided.

Continually overmatched, New Zealand have only beaten Australia once from 29 matches over the last three decades at Test level. But they will finally get a chance to break Australia's stranglehold in the series-opener at the Basin Reserve starting on Thursday.

In likely seam-friendly conditions on a green surface, New Zealand's potent pace attack will be aiming to exploit an Australia batting order that struggled at times against the hostile quicks of West Indies and Pakistan on tough surfaces during the home summer.

This two-match series marks the culmination of a hectic period of Test cricket for Australia, who by the end of it will have played 22 Tests in 15 months before a long break until next summer. It's been a strong period for Australia across formats, cementing a legacy for their core group of stars, but overseas Test series victories have been rare.

Drawing the Ashes twice was somewhat impressive, and they did push India in 2017 and last year, but this ageing Australia team should feel extra motivated as they near the finishing line of a gruelling run.

Form guide

Australia LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand WWWLW

In the spotlight: Cameron Green and Daryl Mitchell

Green started nervously against West Indies with a couple of low scores, but looked more assured with 42 in the second innings at the Gabba before Shamar Joseph went berserk. Green was not part of Australia's T20I series against New Zealand as he prepared for the Tests by playing in the Sheffield Shield and justified that decision with a century for Western Australia against Tasmania. There will be pressure on Green to cement the No.4 role, but it's his preferred position while his seam bowling should also prove invaluable on favourable surfaces in New Zealand.

Team news: Australia unchanged, Conway ruled out

Australia 1 Steven Smith, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Cameron Green, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood

New Zealand (probable) 1 Tom Latham, 2 Will Young, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Mitchell Santner/Scott Kuggeleijn, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Tim Southee (capt), 11 William O'Rourke

Pitch and conditions

There is set to be early movement on a grassy surface with plenty of pace and bounce before the pitch flattens out. There has been rain in the lead up to the match, but clear and cool conditions in Wellington are expected over the first four days. Showers are forecast on day five.

Stats and trivia

Quotes

"I don't think it's as scary as perhaps what it looks. Seems like there's been plenty of first inning scores that have been big."
Australia captain Pat Cummins on the Basin Reserve's green surface

"We'll have one final look, obviously with the weather around, so one final decision on whether an extra seamer or a spinner will play."
New Zealand captain Tim Southee