• Match: New Zealand vs Australia, 1st Test Match, Australia tour of New Zealand 2024
• Date and Time: February 29, 10:00 pm GMT( 28 Feb ) / 03:30 am IST( 29 Feb ) / 11:00 am local
• Venue: Basin Reserve, Wellington

The upcoming Test match between New Zealand and Australia is poised to deliver a gripping showdown, with both sides eager to assert their dominance in the Test arena. New Zealand’s recent triumph against South Africa, albeit against a weakened opponent, would have bolstered their confidence heading into this clash. However, the absence of Devon Conway due to injury will undoubtedly be a significant setback for the Kiwis, given his stellar contributions with the bat across all formats.

Meanwhile, Australia enters the contest buoyed by their successful T20I series against New Zealand. Opting to persist with Steve Smith as the opener alongside Usman Khawaja underscores Australia’s aggressive approach from the outset. With valuable World Test Championship points up for grabs, both teams are set on securing nothing short of a victory in this pivotal encounter.

As the teams gear up for battle, cricket enthusiasts can anticipate a thrilling duel between bat and ball, with the outcome likely determined by which team can better adapt to the conditions and execute their game plan with precision.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Will Young, Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Will O’Rourke, Mitchell Santner.

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Who will win the toss? – New Zealand
Who will win? – Australia

Captain: Kane Williamson
Vice-Captain: Steve Smith

Tom Blundell, Usman Khawaja, Daryl Mitchell, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins.

Upon winning the toss, the team captain should choose to bowl first. The current conditions heavily favor the bowlers, leading captains to lean towards limiting the opposing team to a low score in the opening innings by electing to bowl first.

The presence of a visible green tinge on the pitch surface suggests that bowlers will enjoy a considerable advantage on the opening day of the match. Nevertheless, as the game advances, the conditions are likely to ease off in the following days before the appearance of cracks, thereby reinstating the challenge for batsmen to score runs effectively.

The weather forecast predicts clear skies for the entire duration of the test match, providing a positive outlook with no expected rainfall throughout all five days. This update will surely be welcomed by the participating teams.