Dec 26 - Dec 30, 2019
05:30 IST / 0:00 GMT
Melbourne Cricket Ground - Melbourne, Australia
The "Chance of Winning" Widget shows winning percentage depending upon live betting odds of teams participating in the match. The winning percentage is changed immediately when odds are updated.
Australia are favorites to win
Australia crushed New Zealand by 296 runs in the opening test at Perth to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. The hosts will look to seal the series when the two teams face each other in the second test which gets underway from December 26. The Boxing Day test will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and live telecast is scheduled to begin at 11 AM local time each day of the match.
TV channels: Fox Sports, Channel 7, Sky Sports NZ, Sony Six, BT Sport
Live Streaming: Bet365, SonyLIV, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports
This is definitely a bat-first pitch. Moreover, the side batting first at this venue has enjoyed more success. The toss-winning team, therefore, is more likely to bat first in this match.
The weather forecast for this game looks good with no chance of rain on any of the match days. There could be a little bit of cloud cover during the morning session of the opening day.
The pitch at the MCG generally offers something for both batsmen as well as bowlers. The quicks are likely to find a fair amount of assistance with the new ball early on in the innings.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Australia vs New Zealand, 2nd Test 2019...
James Pattinson is all set to play the Boxing Day test as he has been selected ahead of Peter Siddle and Michael Neser. The fast bowler will be coming in as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood who picked up a hamstring injury in the Perth test. The rest of Australia's line-up for this match is likely to remain unchanged.
Steven Smith: The former Aussie captain has four centuries and two fifties in the six test matches he has played at the MCG. Smith is having an incredible average of 136 at this ground.
Marnus Labuschagne: The top-order batsman is looking in terrific form. He cracked 143 at Perth in the first innings and followed it up with a fine half-century in the second innings.
Mitchell Starc: The fast bowler received the 'man of the match' award in the first test for his outstanding match-haul of nine wickets. He will be a big threat at Melbourne as well.
Australia have had a very good year as far as test cricket is concerned; they have now won seven out of their eleven matches and the last three on the bounce. They have lost only two of those - both against England during their recent Ashes tour of England in August-September. The Aussies came into this series on the back of a 2-0 drubbing of Pakistan.
David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c/wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson
| BATSMEN | ALL ROUNDER | WICKET KEEPER | BOWLER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Burns | Marnus Labuschagne (vc) | Tim Paine | Pat Cummins |
| Steven Smith (c) | Colin de Grandhomme | Neil Wagner | |
| Kane Williamson | Trent Boult | ||
| Ross Taylor | Mitchell Starc |
New Zealand will be making a couple of changes for this second test. Jeet Raval is going through poor form with the bat and he will make way for Tom Blundell who will be opening the innings at the MCG with Tom Latham. Pacer Kyle Jamieson was called up as a replacement for the injured Lockie Ferguson who has been ruled out of the series with a calf strain. However, Trent Boult is fully fit now and he will be replacing Ferguson for this must-win game.
Kane Williamson: The Kiwi captain is the world's third-best batsman in the longest format. Williamson is averaging 52.21 in tests and is one of the most reliable batsman for New Zealand at the top of the order.
Ross Taylor: The veteran is the team's second-highest run-getter in this format at an average of 47.17. He scored 80 in the first innings of the last match and looked in good touch in the second innings as well..
Neil Wagner: He is ranked third in the ICC test bowling rankings and has nine fifers to his name. The left-arm quick was impressive at Perth where he notched up seven wickets.
New Zealand have blown hot and cold of late in test cricket. The defeat in the last game at Perth was their second loss in the seven matches they have played so far this year. The Kiwis had a terrible game with the bat last time being bowled out for 166 and 171 in their respective innings.
Tom Blundell, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult
Australia have dominated New Zealand in the longest format, boasting a 32-8 scoreline after the 58 matches that have been played between them. The Aussies have now won their last four test encounters against the Kiwis.
| Matches Played | AUS Won | NZ Won | Tie | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 32 | 8 | 0 | 18 |
Australia enter this second test match as favorites to win at 1.33 with Bet365 and 1.30 with Betway and 10CRIC. New Zealand are the underdogs at 5.50 with Betway, 6 with Bet365 and 5.95 with 10CRIC. A drawn game stands at 7 with Betway and 7.50 with Bet365 and 10CRIC.
The MCG has witnessed a drawn game on just two occasions in its last 21 tests. And also since there won't be any rain interruptions during the match, a draw seems to be the least likely outcome here. Australia extended their test dominance over New Zealand with a morale-boosting win at Perth and they will be going into this match with momentum on their side. The Aussies have lost only three matches at the MCG since 1999 and we expect them to maintain their impressive record at this venue with a series-clinching win.
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